1810. ^T. 32.] PEOFESSOE DAVY. 365 



The experiments which were detailed in the Bakerian 

 lecture read during the absence of Davy on November 

 15, were made in July and August. 



On August 30, after entering things wanted, he 

 wrote in the Laboratory Book : 



<Xo experiments are to be made or carried on 

 in the laboratory without the consent and approbation 

 of the Professor of Chemistry. The attempt at original 

 experiment, unless preceded by knowledge, merely 

 interferes with the progress of discovery. There are a 

 sufficient number of new and interesting objects which 

 a modest student would wish to pursue, and in which 

 the path is marked and distinct.' 



On September 8 he was again experimenting on the 

 decomposition of nitrogen. He wrote, ' And if it be 

 said that no air and no water were present (in the 

 potassium, boracic acid, and ammonia), the experiment 

 is decisive as to the destruction of nitrogen and its 

 containing the same kind of elementary matter as 

 water.' 



To the like experiment, September 13, he wrote, 

 ' This experiment seems almost decisive on the decom- 

 position of nitrogen.' 



Soon after he wrote, ' Query, Does not the general 

 tenor of the last experiments lead to the suspicion 

 of the decomposition of nitrogen ? ' 



entertained that opinion before me. On the subject of the originality 

 of the idea of chlorine being a simple body I have always vindicated the 

 claims of Scheele, but I must assume for myself the labour of having 

 demonstrated its properties and combinations and of having explained 

 the chemical phenomena it produces, and I am in possession of a letter 

 from M. Ampere that shows he has no claims of this kind to make.' 



