350 THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. VI. 



'But are these singular bodies themselves compounds ? 

 Have we reached the limits of our analysis More 

 capable of combining with oxygene than the basis of 

 water ? 



6 The basis of potash serves almost as an accurate 

 indication of the proportion of oxygene in bodies and 

 exactly in proportion camphor, spermaceti, wax, 

 volatile oils. 



* In the course of my inquiries many circumstances 

 arose at first anomalous, but which soon were capable 

 of being explained, and which, when understood, seemed 

 to extend the general facts which had been detailed.' 



A long break here occurs in the Laboratory Notes. 

 On November 23, 1807, Davy was taken ill with fever. 



On December 7 the Managers' Minutes say, 'Mr. Davy 

 having been confined to his bed for the last fortnight 

 by a severe illness, the managers are under the painful 

 necessity of giving notice that the lectures will not 

 commence until the first week in January next.' 



On January 18 the managers of the Koyal Institution 

 ordered 500 copies of the following paper to be printed : 



NEW DISCOVERY IN CHEMISTRY. 



January 18, 1808. 



For the satisfaction of those proprietors who were not 

 present at the opening of the Rev. Mr. Dibden's introduc- 

 tory lecture on Wednesday last the managers have obtained 

 and printed the following note of it : 



' Before I solicit your attention to the opening of those 

 lectures which I shall have the honour of delivering in the 

 course of the season, permit me to trespass upon it for a 

 few minutes by stating the peculiar circumstances under 



