59' •-Cit the Nomtliclature of Alialis, Uc, 



3. But a very fmall proportion of alkali is obtained from tartar comparatively with that 

 got from other fourccs ; and it feems at lead as improper to call it tartarin becaufe it is 

 gotten from tartar, as it would be to call it fern alkali, wormwood alkali, beech alkali, &c. 



I agree that the name pot-njlj is very objedlionable, and I wifli that another could be 

 thought of that is approprijte, cfpecially becaufe this word is commonly underflood in 

 commerce and in the arts to denote the vegetable alkali in its ordinary mild but impure 

 (late, as ufed In manufactories ; in which ftate the alkali is only partially faturated with 

 carbonic acid, and which therefore fliould be called, according to the new nomenclature, 

 hb-carhonate ofpot-ajh ; whereas, in the new fyftem, the name pot-afli is intended to fignify 

 the alkali in its pure or caullic ftatc. 



Confidcring, ift. That the alkali called pot-afli is very generally diffufed through the 

 •whole vegetable kingdom, which neither of the other fpecies of alkali are — 2. That the 

 Other fixed alkali, commonly called foffil alkali, or foda, exiils principally in the mineral 

 kingdom — 3. That the volatile alkali or ammoniac is obtained almoft entirely from the 

 animal kingdom— 4. That the denomination •vigeiabU alkali is dill very generally employed, 

 and has been fo for a very long time — 5. That the three alkaline falts refemble one another 

 in fo many properties as to form a natural genus which may continue to be denominated 

 alkali: — I fay, from theCe confiderations it feems beft to retain the former fpeclfic terms vege- 

 table, folTd, and volatile alkali; but abbreviated, as propofcd fomc years ago by Mr. Chriftie, 

 and accordingly to employ the names vegalkaliyfo/kali, and volkali, till more appofite names 

 be fuggefted. 



Give me leave to remark, that Englifh writers are not uniform in their orthography 

 of feveral terms of the new fyftem, and I apprehend fomc of them write improperly ; 



for Inftance : 



Ox/gen and oxygeni' for oxygen, 

 H/drogen and hidrogen? for hydrogeu, 

 Oxi'd and ox^de for oxide. 

 Sulphfl/ and fulfate (ax fiilphate. 

 Sulph;'/ and fulfite ior futphiie. 

 Murirt/, &c. &c. &c. for muriate. 

 Calorrjw for caloric. 



"We hear alfo fomet'imes erroneous profody, for Inftance caloric for caloric. 



The French writers uniformly vnrite gaz, and die EngUfli generally ga/. In tlie Englifli, 



either mode may be employed ; but the French probably prefer their orthography gaz on 



account of the word gas founding too much like another word in their language which 



excites an indelicate idea, 



I am, Sir, your fincere friend, 



A VLRY HUMBLE PHILOLOGER. 



Feb. 17, 1798. 



NEW 



