[> 4940]. 
LXX. On M.De Lue’s Electric Column. By Tuomas 
Forstsr, Esq. 
To Mr. Tilloch. 
Sir, Vi consequence of Mr. Dé Luc’s Electric Columns 
having been described in your Philosophical Magazine, { 
think it right to inform your readers of a circumstance re- 
Jating to it, which may prove interesting. 1 have observed 
that the action of this column is materially influenced by 
the state of the atmosphere: your readers are acquainted 
with the manner in which two bells, attached to the plus 
and minus end of the column, are made to ring by means 
of an insulated conducting clapper being suspended between 
them, and with the circumstance of their having rung for 
many months together in an instrument of Mr. B. M. For- 
ster’s at Walthamstow. Now T have observed that they 
sometimes pulsate very strong and regularly, at other times 
weak and regularly, at others strong and irregularly, or 
with intervals of quiescence, and sometimes both weak and 
irregularly ; and these variations seem to me to be con- 
nected with peculiarities in the electric state of the atmo- 
sphere. For I cannot perceive that there is any correspon- 
dence betiveen the kind of action of this column and the 
state of the hygrometer, barometer, or thermometer; but 
there seems to be a connection between it and certain ap- 
pearances of the clouds, the peculiarities of which are (ac- 
cording to the modern theory) caused chiefly by electricity : 
when the air is dry, with strong easterly winds, when the 
cirrus cloud ramifying about in all directions, and occa- 
sionally accompanied by the other modifications, continues 
of sulphur, was formed, which, when neutralized by ammonia, gave muriate 
of ammonia, and a combination of ammonia and oxymuriate of sulphur. 
When a mixture of oxymuriatic gas in excess, and sulphuretted hydrogen, 
was suffered to pass into the atmosphere, the smell-was that of oxymuriate of 
sulphur: there was not the slightest indication of the presence of any sul- 
phuric or sulphureous acid. 1f Mr. Murray had used ammonia, instead of 
water, for analysing his results, [ do not think he would have concluded, 
that oxymuriatic gas is capable of decomposition by such methods. 
shall not, at present, enter upon adetail of other experiments which I 
have mace on this subject, in co-operation with my brother, as it is his in= 
tention to refer to them, in an answer to Mr. Murray’s paper. . 
__Ishall conclude, by saying, that this ingenious chemist has mistaken my 
views, in supposing thein hypothetical; I merely state what I have seen, and 
what I have found There may be oxygen is oxymuriatic gas; but I can 
find none. I repeated Mr. Murray’s experiments with great interest; and 
their results, when water is excluded, entirely confirm all my ideas on the 
subject, and afford no support to the hypothetical ideas which he has Ia- 
poured so zealously to deicnd, 
. . for 
