1826.] Col. Beaufoy\ Astronomical Observations, \11 



below the white flame in a candle. Blue flame is characteristic 

 of oily ingredients, in vegetable, animal, and coaly inflammables, 

 as cotton, paper, coals, &c. Thus if the point of a penknife 

 blade is put through the blue flame, it returns coated with con- 

 densed oil. But oil may be drawn from any part of both flames 

 by holding the surface of a polished pair of snuffers near them. 

 In this case, they grow dim with mist, that, on being rubbed 

 with the finger, passes into small globules of oil. This is a 

 plain indication that the interior of the flame is chiefly filled 

 with the vapour of oil ; and that a part of it is constantly escap- 

 ing through the flame. Some of the evaporated oil is probably 

 oxidated in the faintly luminous medium which surrounds the 

 cone of flame ; at least this conclusion is more apparent from 

 the mixture of blue in the low part of that medium. 



The interposition of the volatihzed parts of a burning candle, 

 between the wick and air, transfers the power of generating 

 flame from the wick to the surface of the cone of ascending 

 volatilized matter ; and hence points out the origin of flame in 

 bituminous inflammables. The ready oxidation of their volati- 

 lized parts is represented by flame, the less rapid oxidation of 

 their more fixed or carbonaceous parts by the pervasion of their 

 bodies with red heat. Next the surface only, can that process 

 (oxidation) act on the former, while the air can pass into the 

 porous texture of the latter, and oxidate in every part at the same 

 time. Thus flame and red heat both represent oxidation with 

 previous decomposition. 



Article VI. 



Astronomical Observations, 1826. 

 By Col. Beaufoy, FRS. 



Bushel/ Heath, near Stanmore. 



Latitude SI" 3T 44'3" North. Longitude West in time 1' 20'93". 



Jan, ?. Immersion of Jupiter's first f I6h 48' 37" Mean Time at Bushey. 



»ateUite ^ 16 49 58 Mean Time at Greenwich. 



Jan. II. Immersion of Jupiter's first (13 10 22 Mean Time at Bushey. 



satellite (13 11 43 Mean Time at Greenwich. 



New Series, vol. xi. n 



