98 ^TANXIXG MATTER, &C. 



Experiments, as I have already stated, I entertain very sanguine expect- 



:£ial°sub"tance ^^i^ns, that eventually it will prove econoniically useful ; 



havingthecha- and should any be inclined to pursue the inquiry, I v/ould 



racters of tan- recommend particular attention to those processes which 

 mng matter. , ^ , , , , j ^ 



relate to the roasted vegetable substances, and to peat. 



Almost any refuse vegetable matter, such as twigs, 

 dead leaves, &c. will serve for the former ; whilst the 

 latter, as I have shewn, does not require to be roasted, 

 and in many, especially the northern counties, peat is 

 found in such abundance, that but a small proportional 

 quantity is consumed in the only useful way to which it 

 has hitherto been applied, namely, fuel. 



B^'fore I conclude this Paper, I shall alsa observe, that 

 the experiments which have been described, must be re- 

 garded only as a mere sketch of that which may be per- 

 formed, whilst the facts which have been ascertained 

 respecting the resins, balsams, gum resins, and gums, 

 serve to prove, that much may be expected from regular 

 chemical examinations of these bodies. But such inves- 

 tigations_, in order that science may truly be promoted, 

 should be strictly regular : that is, they should not be 

 taken up in a desultory manner, but these substances 

 should be comparatively and systematically examined 

 with all the accuracy which can be employed in the pre- 

 sent state of chemical knowledge; for as this knowledge 

 concerning the composition of organized bodies is con- 

 fessedly very imperfect, I am persuaded, that like other 

 of the sciences^ chemistry will be less liable to error, when 

 guided by comparative experiments and comparative ana- 

 lysis. ' 



III. 



D/ycussiom relating to (he Claims of Lavoisier as an In* 

 ventor of Chemical I'heorj/. In a Letter from Jon a- 

 THAN Stokes, M. D. ' 



Chesterjieldj Jug. 31, IS06. 



To Mr. Nicholson. 



_ HAVE -perused with. much satisfaction your re- 

 that l.a\oi3ier niarks and those of your correspondent E. D. on the sub- 

 in his last me- • ject 



