34 WRITINGS OF JAMES SMITHSON. 



ON QUADKUPLE AND BINARY COMPOUNDS, 

 PARTICULARLY SULPIIURETS. 



From the Philosophical Magazine, London, Yol. XXIX, 1807, p. 275. 

 Bead December 24, 1807. 



A paper, by Mr. Smithson, on quadruple and binary com- 

 pounds, particularly the sulphurets, was read. The author 

 seemed to doubt the propriety of the distinction, or rather 

 the existence, of quadruple compounds, believed that only 

 two substances could enter as elements in the composition 

 of one body, and contended that in crises of quadruple com- 

 pounds, a new and very different substance was formed, 

 which had very little relation to the radical or elementary 

 principles of which it was believed to be composed. This 

 opinion he supported by reference to the sulphurets of lead 

 (galena) and of antimony, and to the facts developed by 

 crystallography. In the latter science he took occasion to 

 correct and confirm some remarks of his in the Transac- 

 tions for 1804, on different crystals, which he acknowledged 

 have not hitherto been found in nature. 



ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE COMPOUND SUL- 

 PI1URET FROM HUEL BOYS, AND AN AC- 

 COUNT OF ITS CRYSTALS. 



From the Philosophical Transactions of the Koyal Society of London, 

 Vol. XCVIII, Part I, 1808, p. 55. Pvead January 28, 1808. 



It is but very lately that I have seen the Philosophical 

 Transactions for 1804, and become acquainted with the two 

 papers on the compound sulphuret of lead, antimony, and 

 copper contained in the first part of it, which circumstance 



