262 Klaproth on the Chemical Analtfsis 



ness, in order to expel the oxidized arsenic, is, I believe, gene- 

 rally abandoned. Uncertain portions of the arsenic used to lurk 

 in the platinum, and to deteriorate its valuable qualities. The 

 platinum of England and France seems to be at present equally 

 pure, malleable, and ductile ; and the price is nearly the same. 

 There is, therefore, no ground for those jealous preferences 

 which the narrow-minded of both nations are apt to give to their 

 labours in this respect. As they form the most enlightened 

 portion of Europe, so they should unite in the most cordial and 

 generous co-operation, for the improvement of Science and the 

 Arts. These reflections have been suggested by the following 

 handsome remarks of M. Vauquelin, written during a period 

 of national hostility : — " Though Dr. Wollaston operated only 

 on 1000 grains of the ore of platinum, and of course had only 

 six or seven grains of the new metals at his disposal, yet he 

 determined their principal properties, which does infinite honour 

 to his sagacity; for the thing appears at first view incredible. 

 For my part, though I employed 60 marcs (about 39^ troy 

 pounds) of crude platinum, I found it very diflficult to separate 

 exactly the palladium and rhodium from the platinum and the 

 other metals, which exist in that ore, and especially to obtain 

 them in a state of purity *." Indeed, the most eminent men of 

 the one nation are most ready to allow due merit to their rivals 

 in the other. Jealous detraction is cultivated only by the 

 subalterns, to lessen the sense of their own inferiority, or to 

 gratify the prejudices of the great and little vulgar, whose suf- 

 frages they court. 



Art. VII. Contributions towards the Chemical Knowledge 

 of Mineral Substances. By the late Martin Henry 

 Klaproth. 



[Continued from Page 40, of Vol. XII.] 

 Analysis of Cerent. (Cerite.) 

 I RECEIVED the specimens employed in the following Ana- 

 lysis from M. Geyer, of Stockholm, in the year 1788. 



* Atmules lie Chimie. for Nov. 1813. 



