469 



Copper, 85*232 



Tin, 13-112 



Lead, 1-142 



Sulphur and Carbon, 0-150 



99-636 

 Loss, -364 



100 

 And the horn consisted of 



Copper, 79-345 



Tin, 10-873 



Lead, 9-115 



99-333 

 Loss, . . . . . -667 



100 

 " The loss in both cases may be partly accounted for by 

 the escape of copper in the nitrous gas, as already mentioned, 

 which it was not in my power to prevent. The ratio of lead 

 in the celt is so small that advantage to the properties of the 

 alloy could scarcely be derived from it, yet it is too great to 

 suppose that the lead was a mere impurity of the copper. I 

 believe antiquarians are not agreed with regard to the purpose 

 to which celts were applied. Whatever it was, the composition 

 of that one examined by me was admirably calculated for fab- 

 ricating weapons. The metal admitted of a fine polish, and 

 was then of a beautiful colour. Its toughness was so great 

 that it was capable of sustaining the fiercest encounter without 

 fracture ; while its edge, by the mere process of hammering, 

 became so hard and keen that it would cut not only through 

 flesh but bone. It was a matter of great interest to me to 

 discover the skilful proportions of the constituent metals, 

 which, in times of remote antiquity, our ancestors employed in 

 order to combine beauty with utility, and both of these objects 

 they appear to have fully accomplished. 



