Oxymuriatic Gas and Oxygen, ec. 411 
dium ought to absorb, nearly 2 cubical inches of oxymuriatic 
gas, and that the same quantity coriverted into soda,.would 
must be conceived to contain double proportions of acid, On either datum 
the proportion of oxygen in water must be taken as 7-5, and that of hydro- 
gen as 1, though other numbers might be foutid as divisors or multiples of 
those which would equally larmonise with the jgeneral doctrine of definite 
proportions. In my last communication to the Society, I have quoted Mr, 
Dalton as the original author of the hypothesis, that water consists of one 
particle of oxygen, and one of hydrogen; but I have since found that this 
Opinion is advanced, in a) work published in 1789, 4 comparative Frew of © 
the Phlogistic and Antiphlogistic Theories, by William Higgins. In this ela- 
borate and ingenious performance, Mr. Higgins bas developed many happy 
sketches of the manner if which (on the corpuscular hypothesis) the par- - 
ticles or molecules of bodies may: be conceived to cotbine; and some of his ~ 
views, though formed-at this early period -of investigation, appear to meto * 
be more defensible, assuming his data, than any which have been since ad- 
vanced; for instance, he considered nitrous ¢as as composed of two particles 
of oxygen|and one of nitrogen!) oMri Higgins bad-likewise drawn the just 
conclusion respecting. the, Onstitution, of 's Iphuretted hydrogen, from its 
electrical decomposition. ‘As hydrogen is ‘the substance which combines 
with other bodies in the smallest quantity, it 1 perhaps'the most fitted to be 
represented by unity; and om this idea the proportions in ammonia will be 
three of hydrogen to one of nitrogen, and the number, representing the 
smallest proportion in which,nitrogen, is known to combine.will be 15-4. 
Mr. Dalton, New System of Cheniical Philosophy, ‘pages $23 and 436, has 
adopted 4-7 on 5-1y| as the mumber representing the weight 6f ithe atom of 
nitrogen; and has quoted my, experiments, Researches, (Chemical and Philoso- 
phical, as authorising these numbers ;, but al eae inquiries on nitric acid, 
nitrous’ ‘gas, nitrous oxide, and on the decomposition of nitrate of ammonia 
stated in that work, conform much more nearly to the number 154. 
According to Mr. Dalton, nitrate of ammonia,contains one preportion of 
acid and one of alkali, and-nitrate of potash two proportions of acid and one 
of alkalf; but it is easy to see that the reverse Abse be this case. Nitrate of 
ammonia is known:to be an-acid) salt and nitrate‘of potath aneutral salt; 
which yharmonizes with the views aboye-stated.|) Mrs Daltemestimates the 
quantity of water in nitric acid of specific gravi yj leod, at 27:5 per cent.; and 
this, deedtding to him, isa sttoseer acid ante ateaied by decomposing 
fused mitre by sulphuric acid, which contained only 9 per cent. of water 5 
and one AparHey of, su abet be according. to,hin}, will) produce from 
nitre more than an equal weight of nitric acid, and he supposes, no water 1n- 
nitre} GH EHAL Rie cchiehition Eto the quantity Se oates saciid nitric acid 
on his ownjdata must ibe incorrect. |} find water’ in fused hitre, by decom- 
posing it by boracic acid.) Bort dtoeds. oi ice 
I shall enter no further at present into an examination of the opinions, 
result, and! conclusions of my learned friend ; lam however obliged to dis- 
sent from most of them, and to protest against the interpretations that he 
has been pleased to.make of my experiments; and L¢tust)teshis judgement 
and candour for a correction of his views. Sab) atte tes iar « . 
It is impossible not to admire the ingenuity and talent with which Mr. 
Dalton has arranged, combined, weighed, measursd, and figured his atoms; 
‘but it is not, I conceive, oh any speculations upon the ultimate particles of 
matter, that the true theory of definite proporsioys must ultimately rest. It 
has a purer basis in the! mutual decomposition of the neutral salts, observed 
by Richter and Guyton! de Morveau, in the mutiial decompositions of the 
compounds of hydrogen.and nitrogen, of nirroven and oxygen; of water and 
the oxymuriatic compounds; in the multiples of oxygen in the nitrous com-= 
pounds; and those of acids in salts, observed by Drs Wollaston and Thom- 
son; and above all,in the decompositions by the Voltaic apparacus. bs here 
oxygen aid hydrogen, oxygen and inflammable bodies, acids and allkalies, &c, 
must separate in uniform ratios. decompose 
