On the Identity of Silex and Oxygen. 163 



especially in all geological inquiries, that leads directly to 

 others of the utmost importance. It might be asked — What 

 was the primary state of carbon ? Why can we not separate 

 it from its compounds, and, as may be done with all other 

 simple substances, exhibit carbon in its pure state or dia- 

 mond, were it even in form of powder only ? 



However pure common charcoal may have been obtained, 

 it always seems perfectly dissimilar to the true diamond, so 

 much so as lo lessen greatly the supposed identity of these 

 bodies ; thus, by whatever means they are reduced to the state 

 of a powder, the diamond is always white and more like pow- 

 dered glass, while the charcoal is intensely Hack, in proportion 

 to its division. Whatever be the real nature of carbon, and 

 whether it may prove to be the basis of hydrogen, which*, 

 I believe, has been suggested by some author, I shall leave 

 to others to decide ; from what I have detailed, however, 

 respecting its alliance with silex, I am justified in this in- 

 ference at least, that the coincidence is not casual, but ra- 

 ther the effect of design, and, consequently, that it is essen- 

 tial to the perfection of every thing of a material nature, in 

 which it is present. 



It has been noticed by several authors, that the peculiar 

 smell, which is evolved when flint or any siliceous stone 

 gives out sparks of fire, is precisely the same to our senses, 

 as that which succeeds the electrical excitation or the strong 

 effects of lightning from the atmosphere. Though conclu- 

 sions favourable to my theory might be deduced from this 

 singular fact, I shall not now avail myself nf the oppor- 

 tunity; the electric fluid is imponderous, and I wish to con- 

 fine these observations to material bodies only. One remark, 

 however, may he tolerated, and not deemed an intrusion 

 on the present occasion, it is ibis ; that this identity of smell 

 stamps silex with such a degree of consequence as to assimi- 

 late it, in tjiis quality at least, with one of the most impor- 

 tant objects in nature, tTie electric fluid of the atmosnhere. 



From numberless phaenon)ena that admit of no other in- 

 terpretation, it mav be justly inferred, that Nature possesses 

 means of converting silex into other forms, and of so inter- 

 weaving it into the constitutions of her varied works that 



L2 it 



