the Anali/sci of M. Klaproth. 85 



l6th. It has never yet been possible to convert it into 

 ■oxalic acid by means of nitric acid. The only ciiange which 

 M. Klaproth remarked was, that its brownish colour be- 

 came a straw -yellow. 



The precipitate of lime water by this acid immediately 

 redissolves by the addition of nitric acid. 



These first trials, in regard to the affinities of melitic 

 acid, are si.ifficient, however, to prove tiiat it is susceptible 

 of combining with several earths and metallic oxides ; and 

 that its affinity is stronger than ihat of 'be acetic acid and 

 Jess than that of the mineral acids. This acid, composed 

 of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which is susceptible of 

 decomposition by heat like the vegetable acids, participates 

 then in their nature ; but differs from them by its proper- 

 ties as well as by the proportion of its principles. This 

 induced M. Klaproth to consider it as a particular vegetable 

 acid, to which he has given the name of melitic acid. 

 Ac'uhim meliUthicuvi. 



What place will be now assigned in the methodical clas- 

 sification of fossils to that which affords the first instance of 

 aluminc, combined with a vegetable acid ? Melilite belongs 

 to the mineral kingdom by its base, and to the \ f^elaole oy 

 the constituent principles of its acid, and by the origin of 

 its formation amidst beds of coal : but coals being con- 

 .sidered as fossils, though they arise from vegetable remains, 

 niineralosiists will have a rip;ht to class mehUte amona; the 

 fossils with a base ot alum^ne. 



The following is the proportion of the principles of which 

 it is composed : 



Melitic acid - - - 46 



Alumine - - - 16 



Water of crystallization - 38 



100 



Analysis of the miinated Lead Ore ofDeriijshlre. 



The regular crystals of this muriate of IcaJ, already dc- 

 oriljcd by Mr. Kar^un in his mineralogical tables, are formed 

 uf cubes of Irom four to six lines, with blunttd edges ; llie 

 decrements on the edges produce a great many varieties in 

 Ibcir exterior form. Muriate of lead exposed on charcoal, 

 at flic extrcmily of the iiami? of the blow-pipe, immedi- 

 ately i'uses into an op-ikc globule of a beautiful orau; e- 

 C(-lour, which becomes lemon-yellow, and ihen white, by 

 cooling J Oiid the surface of th • button seems to be sbirhtly 

 *' F 3 striated. 



