i 



h^mt^^: )f^ is not^J[e8S^.^when the ad^^ gas has been prevL fected by the 



pusly ei:pqsed ^o the action of salts having, a strong attrac- P'^<^"<^t<>f 



tion for water: nor is it greater in relation to the quantity 



of muriate formed, when liquid muriatic acid is used. 



When metallic oxides are acted on by oximuriatic gas, Oximnriatic 



oxigen gas is evolved ; and when acted on by muriatic acid nietaror!^^ 



gas, water is produced. In the one instance the oxigen oxide, andex- 



diseneajjed is the exact quantity contained in the oxide : ^^'^ ^^^ T^l' - 



and in the other case, the water produced has as much muriatic acid 



hidro'^en, as existed in the muriatic acid gas, and as much g^"^'^^'<?rppi'>y- 



. ^ ... ., -1 •' ed, combines , 



oxigen as the metallic oxide contained. with its hidro- 



Such I conceive are the principal facts, which constitute g^n>an<if^«nns 

 the foundation of my brother's theory, that oximuriatic gas j^^ Davr*» 

 is a simple body. He combines this gas with hidrogen gas theory. 

 and forms muriatic acid gas. In his theory muriatic acid 

 gas is a compound of oximuriatic gas and hidrogen. He 

 combines oximuriatic gas with sulphur, phosphorus, and 

 the metals: and in his theory, the resulting substances 

 are compoi^nds of the inflammable and metallic bodies re- 

 spectively, and oximuriatic gas. Here w^e perceive no sup- 

 position, but a simple expression of facts, and this I hum- 

 bly conceive is pure and genuine theory. 



Having stated my opinion respecting Mr. Davy*s views, Mr Murray'^, 

 I shall proceed to examine Mr. Murray**. This gentle- "'' ^^^^ "'*^ ^^^' 

 man is of the old opinion, that oximuriatic gas is a com- 

 pound body, consisting of muriatic acid and oxigen ; that the 

 muriates, substances formed by the combustion of the metals 

 in oximuriatic gas, are composed of muriatic acid and me- 

 tallic oxides: and likewise, that the constituents of the 

 compounds resulting from the combustion of sulphur and 

 phosphorus in oximuriatic gas are the respective acids of 

 these two bodies and muriatic acid. 



Let it be kept in remembrance, that Mr. Murray does not Mr. Murray's 



mean, when he speaks of muriatic acid, the rjonderable "»"'"'*^'c acid 



„ .. ,., ,-ii • nor, the who}« 



part ot muriatic gas, which combined with ammonia, con- ponderable 



stitutes muriate of ammonia. The idea he attaches to the V^'^^^}' "»'>ri*» 



word is very different, for he says, that water is absolutely * ^ 



necessary to the existence of muriatic acid in the gaseous 



state; that muriatic acid has not yet been decomposed ; ai;d 



that it has an impoirtant and an atiomulous relation to wa- 



O 2 W, 



