330 On the 'Discovery of the Atomic Theory. [Mat, 



unite in determinate proportions which are multiples of the mini- 

 mum proportion. The atomic theory was taught by Bergman, 

 Cullen, Black, &c. just as far as it was by Higgins. Ths letter 

 indeed states some striking facts respecting the gases, a-id pntici- 

 pated Gay-Lussac's theory of volumes ; but Mr. Dalton rirst gene- 

 ralized the doctrine, and thought of determining the weights of 

 the atoms of bodies. He showed me his table of symbols and the 

 weights of the atoms of six or eight bodies in 1804 ; and 1 believe 

 the same year explained the sul:iject in London in a course of lec- 

 tures delivered in the Royal Institution. The subject could scarcely 

 have been broached sooner. But about the same time several other 

 persons had Iieen struck with the numbers in my tables of metallic 

 oxides published in my Chemistry ; and the doctrine would have 

 certainly been started by others if Dalton had missed it." 



Mr. Nash makes the following assertions by way of animadver- 

 sion on this note. 



1. That I have endeavoured to deprive Mr. Higgins of the 

 honour due to the first author of the atomic theory. This theory, 

 he says, is now generally received and admired. Sir H, Davy, 

 Berzelius, and others, have spoken of it in terms of unqualified 

 approbation. 



2. That I have endeavoured to give the credit of the discovery to 

 3\Ir. Dalton. 



3. -That I have disingenuously termed Mr. Higgins's book a 

 work upon phlogiston, instead of A comparative View of the Phlo- 

 gistic and Antiphlogistic Theories with Inductioijs, its real title. 



4. That I have affirmed falsely that, when Mr. Higgins wrote, 

 metallic oxides were too little known and too imperfectly analysed, 

 to render it possible to found an atomic theory upon them : whereas 

 Mr. Higgins has fully treated of this subject in page 295 of his 

 book, and what I term in my note the grand fact constitutes the 

 great leading principle which Mr. Higgins endeavours to establislx 

 throughout his book. 



5. That Bergman, Cullen, and Black did not teach the atomic 

 theory as far as Mr. Higgins ; for Mr. Nash has looked over tlieir 

 writings without finding any traces of such a doctrine. 



C. That the doctrine was first generalized by Mr. Higgins, as 

 appears from pages 15, 37, SO, and 81 of his book. 



7. That my remark, that the doctrine would have been started by 

 others if Dalton had missed it, is most disingenuous; 1. Because I 

 make Dalton the starter while he was only the pursuer. 2. Be- 

 cause the sentiment is unworthy of any scientific man, and is 

 equally disparaging to the merit of any discovery whatever, and the 

 best answer is to remind me of the story of Columbus and his egg. 



a. Mr. Nash disclaims atrributing to my mis-statement any un- 

 worthy motive, and says he has no intention of vindicating or ex- 

 plaining any of Mr. Higgins's theories and positions. 



These, 1 take it, are all the assertions contained in Mr. Nash's 

 paper. Every reader, 1 presume, after perusing them, will agree 



