376 On ALLANITE, a new 
5. From the preceding analyfis, fuppofing it accurate, it fol- 
lowed, that the mineral was compofed of 
Silica, - - - 37.16 
Lime, - - - 9-23 
Alumina, ~ - - - 4.14 
Oxide of iron, - * - 42.40 
Volatile matter, ita - 3-98 
96.91 
Lofs, - - - 3.09 
100.00 
But the appearance of the fuppofed oxide of iron, induced me 
to fufpect, that it did not confift wholly of that metal. I 
thought it even conceivable, that the yttria which the mineral 
contained, might have been rendered infoluble by the applica- 
tion of too much heat,.and might have been concealed by the 
iron with which: it was mixed. A number of experiments, 
which it is needlefs to {pecify, foon convinced me, that, befides 
iron, there was likewife another fubftance prefent, which pof- 
fefled properties different from any that I had been in the ha- 
bit of examining. It poffefled one property at leaft in com- 
mon with yttria ; its folution in acids had a fweet tafte ; but few 
of its other properties had any refemblance to thofe which the 
chemifts to whom we are indebted for our knowledge of yttria, 
have particularifed. But as I had never myfelf made any ex- 
periments on yttria, I was rather at a lofs what conclufion to 
drawy. From this uncertainty, I was relieved by Mr ALLAN, 
who had the goodnefs to give me a finall fragment of gadoli- 
nite, which had been received dire@ly from Mr Exeserc. 
From this I extracted about 10 grains of yttria; and upon com- 
paring its properties with thofe of the fubftance in queftion, I 
found 
