TERRESTRIAL LIGHT NATURE OF PHOSPHORUS. 23 



When nitrogen (the yellow ray) obtains pre-eminence , the 

 material becomes ALKALESCENT, or if an acid, obtains the 

 great and extraordinary qualities of a universal solvent ; as 

 aqua regia, composed of two acids ; which, when united, as 

 the nitric and muriatic acids, give the excess of nitrogen as 

 a powerful agent from mutual contribution ; thus gold, which 

 resists either acid separately, submits to their combined and 

 paramount power, when they form aqua regia. And, on the 

 same principle, gold resists the action of common terrestrial 

 light and flame, being formed of oxygen, hydrogen, and CAR- 

 BON ; the latter being a compound substitute for nitrogen, 

 which is the indispensable, controlling, and solvent constituent 

 in celestial light ; the solar rays, condensed, 



Hydrogen, in its gaseous state, extinguishes all ignited 

 bodies ; but such power arises solely from its want of imme- 

 diate combination by the exercise of the appropriate polarity 

 with the other original elements, which constitute LIGHT. 



If, for instance, oxygen and hydrogen are mingled by a jet, 

 from two receivers, or vessels, holding each gas separately, the 

 flame and light are very feeble ; but the HEAT very INTENSE. 

 Yet let carbon be present as carburetted hydrogen, or sulphur 

 as sulphuretted hydrogen, or phosphorus as phosphuretted 

 hydrogen gas, the light is much more perfect. But if the 

 stream of the two simple gases, oxygen and hydrogen, be 

 thrown on a piece of quick-lime (alkalescent eartK), the LIGHT 

 is so intense, that the organs of vision cannot sustain its power, 

 or rest upon it; being the most perfect approximation to 

 celestial light yet discovered; affording to the prism all the 

 colors of refracted light, in the most VIVID SPLENDOR. 



Phosphorus obtained from animal matter, (bones, fyc.), 

 appears to be a body of fixed matter, in such a state, as to 

 possess the power spontaneously to assume the radiant form of 

 light with great energy. 



It must be a compound of matter in both states, of fixity, 

 and radiancy, intimately combined, possessing such polarity 



