On the Union of Copper with Iron, fefc. 107 



«f futurity. 1 like not that cold philosophy whose end and aim 

 is Stoicism. For my ovvti part, I trust 1 shall he permitted to 

 add " my stone to the cairn :" and, though feeble the tribute, it 

 will be iionesllv and cheerfully bestowed. 



I hope it will not be said that the question rests with the pro- 

 prietors of coal-mines. This narrow and contemptible idea can 

 only be entertained bv those whose puerile and contracted views 

 are mean and despicable. On the great and glorious cause 

 in question, there can be but one voice. Let it be expressed, 

 and the great and good will be glad to meet the appeal, and 

 honour and sanction it. — I fondly trust the suggestion will not 

 be despised because it emanates from so humble an individual 

 as myself. I feel somewhat gratified that, touched with the 

 awful recital of the destruction of human beings, I was among the 

 earliest in the field ; — and when the distinctions of fortune shall 

 sink into oblivion, the name of Davy shall live, and be associated 

 with that of Newton and other benefactors of the human race, 

 'and be venerated, and ever named with gratitude. 

 I always am, sir, 



Your faithful and obedient servant, 

 Surf)- Institution, Feb. 3, 1817. J. MURllAY. 



P. S. — Dr. John Murray is required to interpret the following 

 passage from page 154 of my '* Elements of Chemical Science," 

 pubUshed 2Uth of June 1815, and five momhs before his pa- 

 per was read before the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and not con- 

 fine himself to a violent invective against ex parte and garbled 

 extracts from suggestions of an unconnected and independent de- 

 scription. 



'• A pipe might supply an air-tight lamp from the mine, and 

 the orifice of the tube receive the supply from the stratum of air 

 contiguous to the floor. The carburetted hydrogen being lighter, 

 and ascending, would occupy the upper part, and thus could not 

 enter the tube." J. M. 



XXVI. On ike Union of Copper with Iron, &c. By Mr. 

 P. N. Johnson. 



To Mr. Tilloch. 



Sir, — JL ou have several times favoured me by inserting in 

 your valuable Magazine the results of experiments I have made 

 on various substances, exhibiting effects very different from what 

 would be suggested bv mere theoretical speculation. 



I now wish particularly to call the attention of your readers 

 to the combination of copper with iron, which, although stated 



by 



