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ON MURIATIC AND OXIMVRIATIC ACID* £2t 



been rather against my argument than for it; since the cor- data m«re fa- 

 rected nunpvbers give a still larger diminution, thari I ^ad J^^^^^^^^^j^" 

 before asserted ought to take place. But taking the 

 specific gravity of muriatic acid gas, after Mr. Davy, at*^ 

 only 1'558, and that of oxigen at 11 19, still the dimiriutiotl- 

 ought to be greatly larger, than what really occurs, wheft^ 

 100 parts of oximuriatic, and an equal bulk of hidrogen 

 gaages are detonated together, if the former contained oxi- 

 gen. In thi»c*se, It should be in 200 parts 73*8, a propor*i^ 

 tiou considerably more than ^. This indeed approaches to.H 

 what Mr. Dal ton says he should have expected ; but hovT 

 can he reconcile even this difference with the real dimiiiu- , »i.*"jq<i 



tion that happens, and still support the old hypothesis? ' ' ^ *- 



Whatever data be taken, I think the argument is decisive, ? 



in favour of Mr. Davy's views. 



X cannot close this communication without expressing my The real 



wish, that some philosopher, who has leisure, ability, in- ^^*^^" ?,^ ^^! 

 ^ 1111 gasses stUl anj 



dustry, and instruments adapted to the labour, woiold make important de- 



the real ype%ght. qf, the ditterent gasses, in their perfectli/ dry *'^^'"*^"** 

 staUt Xhe ©b^fcfeooi' his investigations. It is a subject of ma- 

 terial consequence, in many experiments of the refined 

 nature that chemistry now happily begins to admit of, and 

 most desirable, that they should be correctly ascertained ; 

 for as the case stands at present, specific gravities of these " 

 bodies may be found in our elementary works so widely 

 differing from one another, that a man arguing for victorf^';,* 

 rather than truth, may select data almost at will, as best 

 Ijappens to suit his purpose. — That this is not mv case, I 

 trust you and Mr. Dalton will readily believe: for I beg, 

 to assure that gentleman, that irulh only is my object, andsq 

 if he can bring forward /ac/s, that prove his arguraent«^:^ 

 correct, I shall be one of tlie first to acknowledge their ' 

 justice, and to thank him for having rescued me from er- 

 rour. — I coul4 noV^^liie again subscribe myself, 



ydut,aadVr«li5ml>le servant, 



feB. \%\\. 



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