466 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



changing symbols is not confined to me and Berzelius" (ego et rex 

 meus!). It gives us (.v. and 1\ O) = 1\ atoms of oxygen, in the 



equivalent of phosphoric acid, for (S) an atom of soda. As to the 

 water, it is most probable, that since Clarke's experiment, Turner 

 would add \ an atom to the 12 ; and Johnstone and Rose an atom to 

 the 24. Mr. Phillips's specimens, and my comments upon them, re- 

 lated to the compostion as understood in Berzelius's symbol Na- P 

 + 24 H ; but he now maintains that Rose and Johnstone are still to 



write 24 water, while Turner has 12^. 



Of my scale it needs only be observed, that the variations were in- 

 tended tor it alone, for reasons thereon given, with their explanation. 

 ITad the symbols been generally understood in this country, at the 

 time of its publication, no such variations would have been made, or 

 needed. ^ ^ 



The symbol given as Warrington's was (vol. iii. 445) Po + So + 

 24 H ; in which Mr. Phillips has now been enabled to discover, "by 

 a microscopic examination of Mr. W.'s new symbols," " that the O 

 following the P is rather larger than the OO over* which it is placed, 

 whereas they ought to have been the same size ;" and seems to think 

 it hard that an O may not be misplaced and magnified ad libitum, 

 without changing phosphate of soda into quadroxide of potassium 

 and soda. When he resumes his microscopical investigations, I sus- 

 pect he will find Warrington's new symbol for crystallized phosphate 





 JLJL 



of sodaf something like this, t' + 2 So + 25 H; differing in one or two 

 other particulars from the specimen, besides the magnitude and po- 

 sition of the O ; which, however, placed in the same relation to the 

 P, Po ; as in the following symbol to the S, So, sodium ; was quite 

 enough to change its meaning from one substance to another having 

 the same initial, i. e. from phosphorus to potassium. Warrington 

 has most probably seen, before now, the additions made by Berzelius 

 (Traite de Chimie, iv. o'09.) to express the sulpho-salts, &c. j and 

 will perhaps agree that they have rendered his new system unne- 

 cessary. 



I have never represented the symbols of Berzelius as "absolutely 

 perfect," but the contrary (see Phil. Mag., &c); yet holding and finding 

 them to be concise, expressive and readily acquirable, I am desirous 

 of their general adoption, as a means of clearness and precision in 

 our chemical notions, and of facility in their communication. 



* The microscope seems to have had an inverting power. 



t [I ought, perhaps, to notice some incorrect statements contained in the 

 above communication; but though not at all " offended" as Mr. Prideaux 

 supposes, I am somewhat weary of the subject, and shall content myself 

 with confessing my own blunders, and leaving those of Mr. Prideaux. I 

 blundered in putting .v. over P in Turner's formula, and give the science 

 of symbols the full benefit of the admission. I blundered in saying over in- 

 stead of under, but "the correction is too obvious to require notice." — R P. I 



