AND SCHONBEIN 69 



ozonic acid ; now if such an acid does exist and can 

 be prepared, it seems fairly evident that nitrogen 

 cannot be hydrogen ozonide. It would therefore be 

 better to put on one side all theoretical conjectures 

 as to the constitution of ozone and nitrogen and to 

 study the properties of ozone itself. When once you 

 have caught it, it will be easier to theorize about it. 

 I hope you will excuse my candid remarks. 



With the kindest regards, 



I have the honour to remain, 



Yours obediently, 



JAC. BERZELIUS. 



From the postmark this letter reached Bale on the 26th 

 of February ; Schonbein therefore answered it by return 

 of post. 



XIV 

 Schonbein to Berzelius 



MY DEAR BARON, 



I must ask you to forgive me for troubling you 

 so soon with another letter ; but some remarks which 

 you were so good to make on my larger research con- 

 cerning ozone, in your honoured letter of the 14th of 

 last month, have induced me to send you a few words 

 in reply. In the first place I take the liberty of re- 

 marking that the paper in question, in the last 

 number of de la Eive's Archives, absolutely teems 



