196 STASIAN FOLLY AND FRAUD. 



have just presented, namely, the ratio of Silver Nitrate to 

 Potassium Chloride. See p. 192 and our diagram Plate III. 



The " general mean," which according to Clarke, repre- 

 sents the data of obstrvation given by him on page 65, is 

 Ag Oa N = 168.731, with probable error 0.0046. 



By subtracting the numerical value of Ag Os, which 

 according to Clarke's atomic weights is 154.745, we obtain the 

 corresponding atomic weight of nitrogen as the difference. 



Simple subtraction gives us 



N =13.986 



from the u general mean" of the analytical ratios deter- 

 mined by Marignac and Stas, given on his page 65, and 

 represented on our page 192. 



This value, 13.986, therefore, is the value from the same 

 facts deduced by Clarke. 



On our diagram, Plate III, of the facts, this value is 

 exactly located on the line of means at the point marked N" 

 in the uppermost margin of our diagram; far above all the 

 actual observations, and very far above the actual values of 

 Stas. 



This is certainly something remarkable. A "general 

 mean " that is of so horribly and despicably mean a charac- 

 ter as to crawl away from the observed facts of which it is 

 the ''general mean," ought to be branded e< unavailable " 

 for atomic weight determinations, the same as Lord 

 Rayleigh's densities of true nitrogen. 



Our Chief Chemist il ivho lives ufon Atomic Weights' 1 ' 1 

 (see the statement of his lieutenant, p. 25, of our False 

 Atomic Weights of the Smithsonian Institution) never does 

 anything by halves, in "exact science." 



So mean a Mean, lying far beyond the facts, especially 

 those determined by Stas, must possess a very despicable 

 " Probable Error." 



So it does, indeed. We have above copied (from 

 Clarke, p. 70) this lt probable error " of that u general mean" 

 located at N" in our diagram; and tve have encircled that 

 meanest of Means N" by its given Probable Error. 



In fact, with a radius exactly equal to the probable error 

 of 0.0046 calculated by the Exact Scientist of our Govern- 



