LAVOISIER. 269 



no calcination without oxygen we know of no metallic 

 oxygenation without calcination.* 



2. The importance of the blow thus given to the 

 theory of phlogiston induced him to follow it up by 

 denying that combustion is a process which evolves any 

 component part from bodies ; but, on the contrary, that, 

 like calcination, it always consists of some other sub- 

 stance being added to, or united with, the inflammable 

 body. 



3. The ascertaining the nature of fixed air, that is, 

 the combination of oxygen gas with the carbonic prin- 

 ciple, and the ascertaining also the existence of that 

 principle, is another discovery of the same great master; 

 and we owe it to the well-contrived experiments by 

 which he proved it. 



4. The analogy of the diamond to this carbonic prin- 

 ciple is another discovery of his, though he did not make 

 the final step of shewing or even suspecting the identity 

 of the two bodies. 



5. The composition of sulphuric and of phosphoric 

 acid, and perhaps of saccharic too, were first clearly 

 explained by his experiments, and by his judicious and 

 original reasoning upon the experiments of others. 



6. There is more doubt of the composition of the 

 atmosphere having been first proved by him. Certainly its 

 nature was by him first fully ascertained ; but it was plainly 

 known to Priestley at an earlier date. Lavoisier, however, 

 added much to our accurate knowledge of the function 



* If it should be said that metals absorb oxygen when dissolved 

 in oxygenous acids, we answer, that still they are in the state of calx 

 or oxide, though united to an acid menstruum. 



