55.4 On the Possililily of alloying 



fleeted back again to the optic nerve to produce vision, or sen- 

 sation, as nothing but nerves is sensible. 



It appears to me, then, that Mr. Horn's theory demands two 

 reflections which are neither proved, nor necessary, nor con- 

 sistent with the nature of transparent fluids ; and tlicrcfore I 

 feel inclined to retain my old opinion, that light acts upon the 

 optic nerve and excites sensation. 



I know the difficulty of getting rid of notions which have be- 

 come habitual, and therefore I suppose my want of conversion 

 is owing to my having long tiiought as 1 do, and to Mr. Horn's 

 reasons and reflections not being sufricientiv caustic to reach mf/ 

 case, and produce in me a new and juster way of thinking : at 

 the same time I by no means expect that my opinions will pro- 

 duce any change in Mr. Horn's ideas: however, there can be 

 no harm in diversity of opinions on doubtful subjects, if good- 

 humour be pi-esideut. I am, sir, 



Your most obedient servant, 

 SkilV-li.ivcii, Nov. T, laiG. W. Pater» 



LXXII. On the PossibiUly of alloy in o Iron with Manganese. 

 By David Mushet, Escj. of Coleford, Forest of Dean*. 



J- HAVE in your last number shown the difficulty of combining, 

 to any material extent, metallic manganese with cast iron, by 

 fusing the latter with tiie lilack oxkle of manganese and certain 

 proportions of charcoal. I next attempted to form the alloy of 

 the two metals by fusing certain proportions of the ore of each 

 metal in mixture, considering that results obtained under such 

 a mode of operation, would indicate the practicability of working, 

 if necessary or advantageous, ores of manganese along with the 

 ordiiiary ores of iron smelted in our blast furnaces, either for 

 the production of good bar iron or steel. 



I selected a large piece of argillaceous iron ore, which I pre- 

 pared by roasting and subsequent pulverization; I then passed it 

 through a small wire sieve : the oxide of manganese and char- 

 coal were prepared in a similar way, and the whole kept shut 

 up from access to atmospheric air, to prevent as much as possi- 

 ble any irregularity in the results by the absorption of moisture. 

 The crucibles and lids were accurately ground and fitted to each 

 other, and entrely free (by being })reviously baked) of any coaly 

 or extraneous nuifter. 



No. 1. Fused of the argillaceous iron ore .. 500 grs. 



charcoal 1 -5th, or .. .. 100 



A erystallized metallic button was the result of this fusion, 



* Comuiuuicaicd bj ihe Author. 



weighiiig 



