Malleable platina, ^7 



procefs of ignition, which is performed in four or five minutes) 

 how the platina contrads every way into itfelf> as if preflTed by 

 feme external force.* 



I have alfo lately obtained triple falts of muriate of platina "triple muriatic 



with muriate of ponderous earth; and alfo with muriate of ^^'^t°^Pl^f'"*» 

 ' witn earths and 



ttagnelia; and I ftrongly fufped that every other earth except x^ithmctals} 



the filiceous, and even the metals, arefufceptible of fuch triple 



combinations. 1 have likewife obtained a very beautiful fait —beautiful fait 



of platina by the combination of foda and platina with the mu- withfoda^ 



riaticacid; a combination which Bergman and feveral other 



chemifls deny. The beft manner of obtaining it is by diffolvi 



ing the platina in nitrous acid, to which, for that purpofe, two 



parts of muriate of foda and one of platina are added. The 



platina mufl: be made in a retort with its receiver, and after 



about four fifths of the fluid have come over, the procefs muft 



be interrupted, and the whole left to cool in the fand bath. 



The fait cryftallizes in fineprifms, which are fometimes four or 



five inches long, and either red brown, like titanium, yellow, 



like amber, or of a beautiful coquelicot colour, according to 



the purity of the platina. I enclofe here my addrefs during 



my abfence, and hope you will receive with indulgence the 



contents of this letter. 



I am with great regard. Sir, 

 Yourmoft humble and obedient fervant. 



Count Apollos Moussin PoirsHKiNi 



* In the Count's letter to Mr. Hatchett, requefting him to pub- 

 lifh the method in the text (communicated to Mr. H. feme years 

 bgo) the following addition is given : (in French.) 



** As foon as my amalgam of mercury is made, 1 comprefs the 

 fame in tubes of wood, by the preflTure of an iron fcrev^r upon a cy-» 

 linder of wood, adapted to the bore of the tube. This forces out 

 the fuperabundant mercury from the amalgam, and renders it folid. 

 After two or three hours I burn upon the coals or in a crucible 

 lined with charcoal, the flieath in which the amalgam is contained, 

 and urge the fire to a white heat; after which I take out the platina 

 m a very folid ftate, fit to be forgtd.''* 



t^ On 



