26S On the Origin of the Atomic Theonj. 



cept in those of sulphurous and sulphuric acids, which are re- 

 presented in erroneous proportions, as I had shown in the ahove 

 work, and lately confirmed by additional experiments in my 

 Atomic Theory. There is another error in this table of dia- 

 graais or symbols which I cannot pass over; that is, the leaving 

 out an intermediate state of the combination of azote and oxy- 

 gen between the nitrous and nitric acids, which I represented as 

 containing one of azote and four of oxygen. Thus the Doctor 

 takes a stride from 1 and 3 of those elements to 1 and 5. He 

 falls into the same error respecting some metallic oxides. But 

 prol)ably those gentlemen had a motive to difler from me, right 

 or tvroiis^. ' 



" It would be easy," continues the Doctor, " to multiply these 

 symbols much further ; but the preceding specimen is sufficient, 

 we conceive, to make the use of them understood, and even to 

 make Mr. Dalton's doctrine more simple to those who are still 

 strangers to it." 



I agree with the Doctor ; and I will go still further, by saying 

 that they develop the whole essence and spirit of the Atomic 

 System. 



I will now proceed so far, in as concise a manner as possible. 

 Oil what J advanced on the very same subject in the year J 78§, 

 twenty vears before Dalton published his first volume. 



The Union of Oxygen and Hydrogen. 



1. Two volumes of hydrogen unite to one volume of oxygen, 

 and in no other proportion whatever. 



2. The two volumes of hydrogen contain the same number of 

 nitimate divisions or particles tliat is contained in the one of 

 oxygen, notwithstanding the difference of their specific gravities; 

 and this difference depends on the size of their respective jjar- 

 ticles. 



3. Hydrogen and oxygen unite chemically, — a single ultimate 

 particle of the one to a single ultimate particle of the other, — to 

 constitute an atom of water. A diagram representing this com- 

 bination, with numbers representing the energy or force of union 

 of it'? elements, was given. 



Have not the foregoing facts clearly shown the weight of an 

 atom of water ? 



Snlphur and Oxygen. 

 1, An ultimate particle of sulphur unites to a single ultimate 

 particle of oxygen, and the compound constitutes an atom of 

 sulphurous acid gas; and as oxygen gas suffers no material di- 

 minution by the union, and as pure sulphurous acid gas is but 

 twice the weight of oxygen, it was presumed that the ultimate 



particle 



