Carbon^ Silicon, and Nitrogen. 5 



' different quarters, from any, or from all of which, the power 

 to effect the desired reduction may come. One method open 

 to the chemist, is analysis ; another synthesis. The experiments 

 I am about to notice illustrate the application of both ; for the 

 same researches which seem to Dr Brown to establish synthe- 

 tically the compound nature of silicon, appear to Mr Knox to 

 demonstrate analytically the compound nature of nitrogen. 

 The third method is not so easily defined ; it may be termed 

 that of reduction, by mutual isomeric transmutation. 



The application of analysis to the reduction of the elemen- 

 tary bodies is easily understood. Without any addition to the 

 resources, in the way of agent and instrument, we at present 

 possess, it may suffice to produce more remarkable decompo- 

 sitions than we have yet seen it effect. If Mr Rigg's and Mr 

 Knox's experiments are confirmed, it certainly will. More- 

 over, we may anticipate the discovery of novel agents, or of 

 new powers in those we are familiar with, as we have recently 

 become aware of the presence of marvellous modifying forces 

 in the sunbeam, and in light and heat from other sources, of 

 the existence of which we had scarcely a suspicion ten years 

 ago. We may farther expect greatly to improve our instru- 

 ments, and thereby to increase enormously our power over 

 matter. Not to speak of what we should effect, could we re- 

 alize certain improvements which theory indicates as possible 

 in our voltaic batteries, the simple discovery of a substance 

 which would resist the action of very high temperatures as 

 effectually as platina and fireclay do our ordinary furnace heats, 

 would put in the chemist's hands a weapon for conquest of the 

 highest value. Many of the bodies which appear at present, 

 to use the quaint words of old Sir Thomas Browne, " to lie 

 immortal in the arms of fire," might then be found susceptible 

 of resolution into simpler forms of matter. The possibility of 

 all this is so apparent, that it is needless to enlarge on it at 

 greater length. Before passing from it, however, I would ob- 

 serve, that the attempts of chemists to decompose the so-called 

 simple bodies, appear to me to have been hitherto too much 

 directed against the naked elements themselves, and not upon 

 them in a state of combination ; and, further, to have too 



