78 LETTEES OF BEEZELIUS 



no ozone is formed, from which it would seem to 

 follow that the production of light depends chiefly 

 on the oxidation caused by the ozone. At least it is 

 a fact that the amount of ozone formed is exactly 

 proportional to the intensity of the luminescence 1 

 of the phosphorus. The great similarity between 

 ozone and chlorine leads one to think of the old views 

 about the latter, and it is possible that sooner or later 

 this hypothesis, which you supported for so long, may 

 again become the subject of discussion. 



Pray communicate the contents of this letter to 

 the Eoyal Academy if you find it sufficiently interest- 

 ing. 



With the greatest respect, 

 I have the honour to remain, my dear Baron, 

 Yours very sincerely, 



C. F. SCHONBEIN. 



BiLE, mnd March 1845. 



It seems from this letter, from the paper, "Uberdie 

 Natur des Ozons" [Poggend. Annal, vol. Ixv. (1845) 

 p. 69], which is dated Holy-Thursday, 1845, i.e., 20th 

 March, and from the simultaneous publication of the two 

 works in the Archives de VMedridte, vol. v., Marignac, 

 pp. 5-11 ; Schonbein, pp. 11-23, that Schonbein was not 



1 We do not yet know why the catalytic influence of phos- 

 phorus is not exerted in oxygen of the ordinary density, but 

 only when the gas is rarefied to a certain extent either by itself 

 or by dilution with certain other gases. [This note is by 

 Schonbein.] 



