Error discovered ly Dr. Kelly in the Nautical Almanac. 45 1 



perty possessed by distilled vinegar, when diluted with wa- 

 ter, of dis^ulving the phosphate ot lime without sensibly at- 

 tacking the oxalate with the same base. 



Although the walnut sliell has a particular odour, it offers 

 nothing remarkable by distillation in a water bath; there is 

 only obtained an insipid liquor, which is of a brownish co- 

 lour: on the surface of this liquor may be perceived sinall 

 variegated crystals, which are at length deposited in the 

 form of a sediment at the bottom of the fluid. The inci- 

 neration of the shell gave for its product potass, carbonate 

 of lime, phosphate ot lime, and oxide of iron. 



From this analysis it appears that the green fleshy shell 

 of the walnut contains, 



1. Starch. 2. An acrid and bitter substance extremely 

 ■destructible, and which is converted into a carbonaceous 

 state by the contact of air. 3. Malic acid. 4. Tannin. 

 5. Citric acid. 6. Phosphate of lime. 7. Oxalate of lime. 

 •fi. Potass. 



LXXXIV. Additional Facts relating to the Error discovered 

 by Dr. Kelly in the Nautical Almanac. 



To Mr. Tilloch. 



Sir, -L he statement of facts respecting the Nautical Al- 

 manac and Coiinoissance des Terns, which I sent you, and 

 which was honoured with insertion in your Journal of 

 October last, has been, I understand, read with very general 

 interest ; and considered as a plain, honest, und unassuming' 

 statement that required neither voucher nor signature. It 

 was not inserted through any motive of vanity, but through 

 the necessity of a very disagreeable and very singular case, 

 which a further iiecessily now compels me to explain.— 

 Neither was the statement dictated in terms likely to give 

 offence, and yet it has called forth two letters of animad- 

 version in your last Number, which are not of the rnost 

 gentle tone or texture, and which 1 mu.-t therefore consi- 

 der a kind of partnership production. Eut notwithstand- 

 ing their nianiftst disposition, such is the force of truth, 

 that all the leading facts in the statemcut remain nncontro- 

 verted, and indeed wholly untouched. 'J'hcy allow that an 

 error has been committed in the Nautical Alman-ac, that the 

 French and American astronomers have copied it ; and that 

 i have discovered it: but these writers must contradict 

 Ff2 something. 



