Jn Jccomt of a Mass of Native Iron in Brasil. 4 1 7 



But the Doctor endeavours to persuade the public that the 

 doctrine consists in .the calculation of the weight of particles, 

 atoms and molecules, and that I had no conception of such a 

 doctrine, 



Thus the Doctor craftily endeavours to throw the fundamental 

 principles of the system iiito the back-grovmd, while he brings 

 forward its effects or natural consef|uences as the theory itself. 

 Any person that reads mv Atomic Theory will readily perceive 

 that I attended not only to the relative weight of the gases, but 

 also to that of their elementary particles; and the doctrine of 

 definite proportions could never be brought forward by any other 

 means, as I have already observed. 



Although the Doctor, in defiance of the most glaring evi- 

 dences possible, has endeavoured to strip me of the doctrine in 

 question, I entertain not the smallest doubt but his efforts will 

 prove abortive. 



Were the Doctor to confine his assertions to his Annals, 1 

 should make no reply:— nothing but misrepresentations in a great 

 national work could' induce me to step forward ; and it is to be 

 hoped that the proprietors of that work will, in their next volume, 

 or in their next edition, correct the errors and prejudices in the 

 article in question, for in its present state it is a disgrace to 

 their pages. . 



As my Comparative View has long since been out ot print, 1 

 refer the reader to my Ei'periments and OhscrvatioJis on the 

 Atomic Theory and Electrical Phceiiomeini, where the wliole of 

 this affair is more fully stated. It is sold by Longman and Co., 

 London, 



I am, sir, 



Your very humble servant, •» 

 Dublin Society House, Dublin, " " Wm. MiGGINS. • 



Nov. 13, 131(). 



LXXXin. An Acconvt of the Discovery of a Mass of Native 

 Iron in Brasd. By A. F. Mounav, Esq. in a Letter to 

 . W. H. "VVoi.laston,'M./3. Sec. R.S.* 



Drau Siu,— Near five years have elap^^ed since 1 presented 

 vou with a specimen of native iron from Brasil. Particular 

 reasons prevented me at that time from making it more gene- 

 rally known; and since then my private affairs liave not allowed 

 me a moment to look into my notes, and give you this short 

 account of the block from which your specimen was cut, al- 

 though I have so often promised it you. 



• From the Ti-an!«»ctioiis of tlic Royal Society for laiG, part u. 



Vol. 48. No. 224. Dec. 181(1. D d l>» 



