138 Analyses of Books. [Feb. 



chemical papers so many years after they have been read. In 

 1813, Mr. Dalton, I believe, had he printed his paper, would 

 scarcely have been anticipated in any publication ; though I have 

 mentioned three persons who were aware of the facts at least as 

 early. 



Mr. Dalton is not disposed to give credit to Gay-Lussac's 

 assertion that one volume carbonic acid gas and two volumes of 

 ammonia condense each other into solid carbonate ; but I can 

 give my testimony to the accuracy of this fact, which indeed I 

 have had occasion to repeat more than once. If you mix one 

 volume of ammonia and one volume of carbonic acid gas toge- 

 ther, or two volumes of ammonia and one volume of carbonic 

 acid gas, in either case you get a dry solid salt. The first is a 

 bicarbonate, the second a carbonate ; for what Mr. Dalton calls 

 a carbonate, I consider to be a bicarbonate ; while his subcar- 

 bonate I consider as a carbonate. 



Mr. Dalton conceives that other carbonates of ammonia exist 

 besides these, and has given his reasons for believing in the 

 existence of a subtricarbonate. It may be true that such a salt 

 exists ; but his reasons are not sufficient to establish the fact. 



III. Memoirs of the late Charles White, Esq. F.R.S. S;c. with 

 Reference to his professional Life and Writings. By Thomas 

 Henry, F.R.S. Sec. — Mr. White was for many years one of the 

 most celebrated surgeons, and possessed one of the most exten- 

 sive practices in the north of England. He was born in Man- 

 chester on Oct. 4, 1728. His father. Dr. Thomas White, was 

 an eminent practitioner of the different branches of medicine, 

 especially of surgery and midwifery. Mr. Charles White was 

 educated in Manchester under the Rev. Mr. Russel, a respect- 

 able clergyman, a good scholar, and a polite and well-bred 

 gentleman. The pupil made a fair progress in classical learning, 

 and at a very early age was taken under his father's professional 

 tuition. In this situation he soon evinced great activity and 

 talent, and began, when almost a boy, to practise in a fine which 

 was then generally confided to men of mature age. This early 

 introduction Isiid the foundation, and, perhaps, was a principal 

 cause of the high character which Mr. White afterwards 

 acquired in that department of the medical profession. 



In due time ke was sent to attend lectures and hospital prac- 

 tice in London. Here he had for a fellow student Mr. John 

 Hunter, who became afterwards so celebrated as a surgeon and 

 a lecturer, while attending the lectures of Dr. William Hunter. 

 Here they contract-ed a friendship which lasted for life. During 

 his residence in London, Mr. White devoted his time most dili- 

 gently to professional objects, scarcely allowing himself any time 

 for amusement. He afterwards passed a winter- at Edinburgh, 

 at a time when that University was rapidly rising into reputation 

 as a school of medicine. 



Having availed himself to the utmost extent of these opportu- 



