Royal Instihition. 307 



acids contain it, there are many without it ; and that it exists 

 in the alkalies and in the earths : this was well illustrated by 

 the combustion of sulphur iu oxygen, which produced sulphurous 

 acid : the acid thus formed was then transferred to a retort 

 containing potassium, which was made to burn in it, and thus 

 generate an alkali : oxygen was therefore exhibited alternately 

 as an element of an acid, and an alkali. 



Hence we are to conclude, in direct opposition to the tenets 

 of the French School, that acidity is not dependent upon oxygen, 

 but upon the basis it unites to ; and that combustion may be 

 equally independent of oxygen, and must be considc^red as a re- 

 sult of powerful chemical action, or other violent motion of the 

 atoms of bodies, not as ensuing from the mutual agencies of any 

 apprnpriale principles. 



The identity of charcoal and the diamond was one of the most 

 singular and important of Lavoisier's original discoveries: he had 

 shown that both produced fixed air or carbonic acid during com- 

 bustion ; and it was since supposed to have been proved that the 

 quantity of fixed air generated by burning the diamond in oxy- 

 gen, was exactly equal to that obtained from the same weight 

 of charcoal. The Professor said that the most eminent chemists 

 had been engaged in this inquiry; he exhibited their different 

 modes of experimenting, and noticed particularly the elegant re- 

 searches of Air. Tennant, whose loss society has lately had to de- 

 j)lore. 



Mr. Brande concluded this part of his subject with the in- 

 vestigations instituted by Lavoisier to ascertain the nature of the 

 atniosphere, and the proportions of its component parts, and 

 terminated his lecture with a short account of the character of 

 that philosopher, and of his melancholy death during the vio- 

 lence of the revolution in 1794. 



" By some," said the Professor, " he has been extolled as the 

 most towering genius of his age, by others stigmatized with the 

 dishonour* of plagiarism; but these are the extremes of panegjaic 

 and malevolence, each equidistant from candour and truth. 

 His merits were distinct and peculiar ; but those who have cen- 

 sured him with the uncandid appro])riation of the thoughts and 

 discoveries of Rey and Mayow, of Black and of Priestley, have 

 unquestionably some grounds for the accusation. Let us re- 

 member, however^ that Lavoisier was never fairly confronted 

 with his rivals and antagonists ; that unintentional inadvertency 

 often hangs upon scientific ardour ; that in the eagerness of pur- 

 suit he may have neglected that which in a calmer hour he would 

 have seen, regretted, and acknowledged ; and that in the hurry 

 of discussion, and heat of controversy? he was summoned to 

 eternity with all hi'-, imperfections on his head." 



U 2 KIRWAMAN 



