170 Miscclhmeoiis Lilel/lgctice. 



of the oxygen will immediately be taken from it ; no ebullition 

 or escape of gas occurs, whether it be cooled gradually, as in 

 specimen No. 4, or when poured into water, as in No. 5. By 

 comparing these two specimens with Nos. 1 and 2, a very great 

 difference will be observed, which is occasioned wholly by the 

 escape of gas from the latter, while no such circumstance attend- 

 ed the former. 



The bottle of gas v.'hich you will receive herewith, was collect- 

 ed in the following manner. Some silver, after cupellation, till in 

 a state of perfect purity, was poured, by a few pounds at a time? 

 into a vessel containing about 30 gallons of water, and an inverted 

 bottle previously filled with the water, and with a funnel in its 

 mouth, being instantly placed over the silver, as it was each time 

 poured into the water, the gas, as it was given out and arose from 

 the silver, was thus collected in the bottle until it was filled. 



Care is necessary, that the neck of the bottle be kept below 

 the surface of the water to prevent the access of atmospheric air, 

 and I am not very certain that there is not a little admixture *. 



In addition to the above, I have enclosed two samples of cop- 

 per, in two dift'orent states, both, however, equally pure, except 

 that the one is believed to be combined with oxygen, and the 

 other not. 



No. 1, is a sample taken from a furnace-full of about 5 cwt., 

 when in a melted state, and which had been exposed uncovered 

 to a current of atmospheric air for about two hours before and 

 during the time it v/as melting. This, when poured into water 

 exploded most violently, as will be seen by the small, which was 

 attempted to be granulated. 



The specimen No. 2, is a sample from the same copper, after tlie 

 surface had been covered with charcoal for about half an hour. 

 This, you will perceive, is in a very dift'orent state from the other, 

 and, when poured into water, granulated v/ithout any explosion, 

 as the small bits will shew. I remain, §c. 



(Manchester Transactions.) Samuei, Lucas. 



* I fouud this gas to coutaiji8(j or B7 ))cr cent, ol' oxygcu. J. D. 



I 



