276 Societj/ of ylntiquarics. 



enter as elements in the composition of one body, and con- 

 tended that in cases. ot" (juadruple compounds, a new and 

 very difterent substance was Formed, which had very little 

 relation to the radical or clenicntaiy principles of which it 

 vas believed to be composed. This opinion he supported 

 by reference to the sulphurets of lead (galena) and of anti- 

 munv, and to the facts developed by crvslallography. In the 

 latter science he took occasion to correct and confirm some 

 Tcmarks of his in the Transactions for 1804, on diflcrent 

 crystals, which he acknowledged have not hitherto been 

 found in nature. 



Tii consequence of the Christmas holidavs, the Society 

 adjourned till jSJoaday the 14th of January 1808. 



SOCIETV OF ANTIQUARIKS. 



ISfr. S. Lvsons laid before this Society some curious ex- 

 tracts ironi the anticnt records, containing directions to a 

 bailiff for the management of land, and also a recommenda- 

 tion of oxen in preference to horses for agricultural pur- 

 poses, written in the reign of Edward III. 



Mr. R Smirkc, in a letter to sir H. C. Engleileld, bart. 

 gave an account of his observations on the substances used 

 as colouring in the paintings found in Saint Stephen's. It 

 appeared to Mr. Smirke, that oil had been used as a varnish 

 for these paintings ; and as they were executed prior to the 

 Supposed period of the discovery of oil painting in 1410, it 

 was inferred that this art may have been of English origin. 

 This is the more probable, since several English words exist, 

 even since the beginning of the 1-lth century, in which, 

 among the articles of the viaferia pictoria^ is enumerated oil 

 for the painting of public edifices. Hence it was extremely 

 probable, that, as oil was used; it was at least combined with 

 some one colour, in this country, nearly a century before the 

 reputed fera of the discovery of oil painting. Of some of the 

 colours in these paintings, which are now completely en- 

 closed from the view bv the new improvement.^, the compo- 

 •ition could not be determined. 



BRITISH 



