348 Fusion of Plumbago. 
or looks a little like pumice stone, only, it has the whiteess 
of porcelain, graduating however into light grey, and oth- 
er shades, as it recedes from the intense heat. In a 
few instances I obtained upon the charcoal, when this 
substance terminated both poles, distinct, limpid spheres, 
and at other times they adhered to the frit like beads ona 
string. Had we not been encouraged by the remarkable 
facts already stated, it would appear very extravagant to ask 
whether this white frit and these limpid spheres could arise 
from carbon, volatilized in a white state even from charcoal 
itself, and condensed in a form analagous to the diamond. 
The rigorous and obvious experiments necessary to deter- 
mine this question, it is not now practicable for me to make, 
and I must in the mean time admit the possibility that alka- 
line, and earthy impurities may have contributed to the result. 
n one instance contiguous to, but a little aside from the 
charcoal points, I obtained isolated dark coloured globules 
of melted charcoal, analogous to those of plumbago. 
The opinion which I formerly stated as to the passage of © 
a current from the copper to the zine pole of the deflagrator, 
is in my view, fully confirmed. Indeed, with the protec- 
tion of green glasses, my eyes are sufficiently strong, to en- 
able me to look steadily at the flame, during the whole of 
experiment, and I can distinctly observe matter in different 
forms passing to the zine pole, and collecting there, just as 
we see dust, or other small bodies driven along by a com- 
mon wind; there is also an obvious tremor, produced in 
the copper pole, when the instrument is in vigorous action, 
and we can perceive an evident vibration produced, as if, by 
the impulse of an elastic fluid striking against the opposite 
1 : 
very little better, I cannot say I had any serious hopes o 
