346 THE EOYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. VI. 



On the 27th harytes heated to whiteness did not 

 become a conductor. 



On October 30 he was still at work on the gas. 



On October 31 he says, 'When the substance amalga- 

 mated with mercury, was distilled in a glass retort, and 

 the contents received over mercury, no air was gene- 

 rated ; nor over water till the sublimed substance came 

 in contact with the water, when hydrogen was evolved.' 



On November 2 he was still working on potagen. 



' Probably this substance combines with oxygen in 

 two proportions, the red colour owing to this ; and it 

 is owing to this that it acts upon plate-glass.' 



'The first oxide a peculiar substance capable of 

 being procured with much difficulty, the second potash.' 



In the midst of his discovery the condition of the 

 laboratory made him write in the book * some regula- 

 tions with regard to the state of the laboratory.' 



' 1. Everything is to be put in its proper place in 

 the evening, and everything to be arranged for the 

 next day's operations. 



' 2. The fire to be lighted at eight o'clock, and the 

 apparatus for the experiments to be prepared by nine.' 



On November 4 he writes, ' The result of the dis- 

 tillation of as pure a piece (of potagen) as I could 

 obtain seemed to be hydrogene nearly pure. 



'The gas given out from an amalgam of it with 

 mercury likewise hydrogene.' 



On November 5 many experiments were made. 



On November 6 he still worked on the gas. His 

 notes say ' on the combustion of sodagen and potagen 

 with oxygen.' 



