[ 80 ] 



X\ll. Ackhdalion of Si/Jphaf.e of Potash, ^ij 

 JM. Oersted*. 



Jl/uring my stay at Berlin, I had begun in the laboratory 

 ot M. Hermbstadt a series ot" experiments on the inert or 

 insipid sulphurous acid of Winterl. Tiie sulphurous acid 

 Writh which I conducted mv operations was made after the 

 manner prescribed by Fourcroy and Vauquelin ; but in 

 place of obtaining a neutral sulphate I obtained an acidu- 

 lous sulphate, of which the solution turned blue vegetable 

 colours into red, and made an eftervescence with acids* 

 The neutral combination was scarcely crystallizable. 



The sulphate of potash could no longer change itself into 

 a. sulphite, as Fourcroy and V^uiquelin suppose; but a triple 

 salt was formed, composed of sulphuric acid, sulphurous 

 acid, and potash. This salt crystallizes itself in hexangular 

 prisms: it is less soluble in water than the sulphate of pot- 

 ash, but more so than the sulphate of the same alkali ; and 

 if treated with an acid more powerful, such as sulphuric 

 acid, it spreads an odour of sulphurous acid gas. 



XVIII. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



ROVAL INSTITUTION. 



JL h£ lectures will conmience on Monday, the 11th of 

 .November, and the several courses will succeed each other 

 la the following order : 



Mr. Davy, on chemistry. 



Mr. Allen, on natural philosophy. 



Rev. T. F. Dibdin, on English literature, 



Mr. Landseer, on engraving. 



Kev. Sydney Smith, on moral philosophv. 



Dr. Reeve, on moral and physical history of man. 



Rev. William Crowe, on poetry. 



Mr. Opie, on paintinij. 



Dr. Shaw, on zoo!oG;y. 



Rev. .John Hewlett, on belies Icttrci?. 



Dr. Crotcii. on music. 



Rev. Edward Forster, on comnurce. 



Mr. Craig, on drawing. 



Dr. Sniitli, on botany. 



* From fan Mo/n') Journs'., vol. vi. 



LITERARY 



