On phlogiston. 465 



two ounce mcarurcs, of inflammable air came over in tor- 

 rents, mixed with one-tenth part of carbonic acid gas. 



This experiment has puzzled all the advocates of the au- 

 •tiphlogiftic fyftem, to whom it has been mentioned. Many 

 confider it as a powerful blow at the new dodtrine, and 

 every perfon explains it in a different manner. 



Dr. Prieftley's theory of it is very unfatisfadory, for he 

 fays the water from the finery cinder, uniting with the 

 charcoal makes the inflammable air, at the iam.e time that 

 part of the phlogifton from the charcoal, contributes to re- 

 vive the iron. 



This explanation will not do, for the iron is not revived, 

 and it will not account for the produftion of the carbonic 

 acid. 



By confidei-ing the fcales of iron, as a combination of 

 iron, oxyg-en and water, there will be no difficulty in the 

 bufinefs. The finery cinder fupplies the coal with water, 

 which is decompofed ; its oxygen unites with the coal and 

 forms carbonic acid, while its hydrogen efcapes, diffolves 

 part of the coal, and forms the carbonated hydrogen gas. 



The celebrated Mrs. Fulhame, a lady whom I am proud 

 to quote on this occafion, is the only perfon I know, who 

 feems properly impreffed with the idea of the agency of 

 water, in many chemical operations. This diftinguilhed 

 lady, who is equally an example to her fex, and an orna- 

 ment to fcience, has properly confidered a metallic oxyd 

 as a combination of a metal, oxygen and water. 



There are other fubifances befides finery cinder, which 

 mixed with coal and expofcd to a red heat, yield hydro- 

 genous gas and carbonic acid, in large quantities. Thefe 

 airs may be obtained from the common ruft of iron, or 

 from any precipitate of iron, and coal which has ceafed to 

 yield air. They may alfo be procured, from the flowers 

 of zinc and red hot coal. 



^ P One 



