266 Col. Beaufoy's Astronomical Observations. [April, 



proved to be a triple salt of sulphate of potash and magnesia ; a 

 salt so easily analysed, that it would be quite superfluous to 

 relate the particulars of the process. 



It now remained to be ascertained, whether potash might not 

 also exist in sea-water in the state of muriate of potash, or of 

 triple muriate of potash and magnesia. That a considerable 

 quantity of potash remains in the bittern, even after the separa- 

 tion of the triple sulphate, is easily ascertained; and by careful 

 evaporation it may be made to crystallize as a triple salt in rhom- 

 bic crystals ; but the constitution of this salt is so delicate, that 

 it is liable to be separated into muriate of potash and muriate of 

 magnesia by water alone ; and it is with certainty decomposed 

 by alcohol, which takes up the magnesian muriate, and leaves 

 the other undissolved. .... 



From the foregoing observations and experiments it may, 

 therefore, be inferred, . , , • , 



1 . That there is no mercury, or mercurial salt, in the waters 

 of the ocean. 



2. That sea-water contains no nitrates. 



3. That it contains sal ammoniac. 



4. That it holds carbonate of lime in solution. 



5. That it contains no muriate of lime. 



6. That it contains a triple sulphate of magnesia and potash. 

 Some of these circumstances will, of course, require that 



former analyses of sea-water, and my own in particular, should 

 be corrected and revised ; but this I shall not attempt to do, 

 until I have obtained further, and still more precise information 

 on the subject. 



Article V. 



Astronomical Observations, 1823. 

 By Col. Beaufoy, FRS. 



Bushey Heath, near Stanmore. 



Latitude 51° 37' 44'3" North. Longitude West in time 1' 2093". 



Feb. 24. Emersion of Jupiter's second < 6>> 29' 19" Mean Time at Bushey. 



satellite \ 6 30 40 Mean Time at Greenwich. 



