of Atmospherical Air, &c. 195 
which is nearly the weight of the gas consumed. 
And if a proper allowance were made for the oxygen 
contained in the fixed air, and the previous loss of 
weight of the iron by the combustion of its carbona- 
ceous matter, the increase of weight of the iron 
would still more nearly correspond with the weight 
of the oxygenous gas consumed. 
_ The conclusion from these experiments, or (more 
properly speaking) the fact, that the oxygen combined 
with the iton, was too obvious to escape the Doctor’s 
observation, as we see by his own declaration: but he 
soon changed his mind and reverted to his theory: 
for, in a note to the same article, he declares, that 
it was not dephlogisticated air that was imbibed by 
the iron, but only the water, which, he says, is by 
far the greatest part of it.* But, if that were the 
case, what, it may be asked, is become of the air? 
Or, if six grains of water were absorbed in this pro- 
cess, where is the inflammable air that must have 
been produced? ‘There should have been formed 
20 ounce-measures of it at least. For Dr. Priest- 
ley says, that in passing steam over red-hot iron, the 
iron imbibes the water and emits its phlogiston in 
the shape of inflammable air; and though this is his 
doctrine and not mine, I may avail myself of the 
argument. Moreover it has been shewn by M. de 
* I shall hereafter have occasion to consider the experi- 
ments on which the opinion rests, that water enters into 
the constitution of gases, 
