Experiments on the Fufton of Platina. 469 



I am almoft a ftranger to what has really been 

 done on the continent, having heard fo many 

 contrad.aory accounts; and I have not availed 

 myfeJfof any thing that has hitherto been per- 

 formed. The experiments were conduced, 

 exaaiy, as they are defcribed, and feveral 

 gentlemen of veracity and experience in che- 

 miftry were generally prefent. The great price 

 platma bears in London has prevented me from 

 makmg many more operations, but it is hoped 

 thefe will be received with candour. 



Experiments on the Fusion of Platina. 

 EXPERIMENT I. 



Mr. Nowell having mixed one ounce of platina 

 with a flux of nitre, fand and borax, after three 

 hours expofure to a confiderable degree of fire 

 in a wind furnace, figns of fufion were perceived 

 m the mafs in general, and feveral globules 

 larger than I had ever feen before, appeared in 

 different parts of the vitreous flux^ of thefe, 

 the largeft were nearer the middle and top of the 

 mafs, and there was much lefs appearance of fu- 

 fion at bottom. 



EXPERIMENT II. 



On feeing the above produd, it occurred to 



me, that ,f a bed of charcoal powder was put 



into the crucible to the heighth of one fourth 



part, and the charge of platina, &c. put on it, it 



^ ^ 3 would 



