J 0-1 On the apparent Rcpt/hion 



Before I conclude, I mast beg leave to observe, that a^ 

 the substance which is found with the Bovey coal is, in 

 everv rqspcct, so totally diflerent from any of the bitumens 

 hitherto discovered, it seems proper that it should receive 

 some specilic nanie ; and, as it has been proved to consist 

 partly of a resin and partly of a bituminoud substance, I am 

 iiiduccd to call it nilnaspkuUnm.*, a name by which a full 

 definition of its iiature is conveyed. ' 



I have latclv seen, in No. 85 of the JowtmI des JSl'meSy 

 p. 77, an account of a peculiar combustible fossil, found 

 near Helbra, in the countv of Mansfield, and described by 

 Mr. Voight, in his Fcrsiich c'tiier Gesc/iicJife der Sleinkohle, 

 der BrauukohJc, &c. p. 188. This substance is of an ash- 

 coloured gray, passing to grayish white; it is found in i| 

 bed of bituminous vesretable earth, which has apparently 

 been produced by the dcconipoosition of fossil wood. The 

 purest specimens arc in the form of nodules : the fracture is 

 earthv ; it is opaque, soft, brittle, and is very light. When 

 applied to the flame of a candle, it burns and melts like 

 scaiing-wax, at the same time diffusing an odour which is 

 not disagreeable. This substance appears to accord in sq 

 jnanv properties with the retinasplialtum of Bovey, that I 

 cannot but suspect it to be of .a similar nature; and I have 

 little doubt that, by a chemical examination, it vi'ill be founc^ 

 to consist partly of resin and partly of bitumen. 



XX\\ Experiments and Reflections of Dr. .Toachim Car- 

 T!ADO«T Dii PuATO Oil the apparent Rtpulsion between 

 .iojjie Kinds oj' Fluids observed by IDraparnauj:) f. 



J. HE observations which M. Draparnaud published in 

 the ylmitiles de C/iimieX are not new, and the conse- 

 quences which he deduces from them are false. Several 

 vcars ago § I observed that fluids are impelled by others on 

 the surface of the water; and I have proved that these re^ 

 jnilsious arc only apparent, and are owing merely to the 

 dilierent degrcts of attraction which these fluids experience 

 from the suriace of the weittr. I have several times in dif- 



»■ From puTi'm, resin ; an.! S-tr^yayrit;, bitumen. 



+ Anar-l' .' ill' Cij.hrin-, No. 152. 



'I: Monioiic s\ic Its Momciiiins que rertaiiis Fiuidcs re(,oivent par le 

 Contact <l"-iutrts Fluidcs, an 11, no. 141. 



§ Giorniie '"isic McJic. ui Pavia 170;^ : A.^v^. Chim. di Pavia ; Opus- 

 culi i>i.i.lii di Mildno. 



fvren\ 



