PREFACE. 



THE subject treated of in the following pages is of more 

 importance than any other which can at the present mo- 

 ment occupy the attention of the chemist ; since it is no 

 other than an attempt to establish the fundamental princi- 

 ples of the science upon a sure and steady foundation. 

 The analytical labours of the chemist and mineralogist 

 depend upon these principles, and can only be accurate 

 after their truth has been fully established. All the 

 operations of the chemical manufacturer are equally 

 dependant on them, and can only be prosecuted with 

 perfect certainty and success by those who are acquainted 

 with them. Several chemical manufacturers in this coun- 

 try have already availed themselves of the atomic theory 

 to rectify their processes. This they have done to such 

 an extent, that unless all the other manufacturers follow 

 their example, they will find it impossible to compete with 

 their more skilful rivals. One of the great objects of the 

 present work is to reduce the whole doctrine of atoms to 

 the utmost degree of simplicity and accuracy; so as to 

 put it in the power of chemical manufacturers in general, 



