92 DOUBTS OF THEIR CORRECTNESS. 



11 i * JlwJ T W 



oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen, are not to be found (per ce) in 

 the solidified state, but are always discovered in combination 

 with other fixed matter ; which therefore would strongly indi- 

 cate that there is not any solid ivhat ever, which can be reduced 

 to the perfectly homogeneous elastic, or gaseous state ; and 

 thereby an evidence is adduced, that all solids must Ic com- 

 pounds, and if such is the case, the propriety of admitting any 

 solid to assume the rank of an original element, does not 

 appear to be justified ; and all the other gases, save three, are 

 evidently of a compound nature, including chlorine, which by 

 its color (green), its odour, and its chemical qualities, affords 

 every indication of being, like the others, a compound. 



One of the evidences in favor of the establishment of the 

 compound nature of carbon, is the fact that it cannot be re- 

 duced to the state of a homogeneous gas, while it readily forms 

 heterogeneous elastic fluids, in conjunction with oxygen, &c. 

 Now, if it were truly an original element, it would exhibit itself 

 as such, and we should have a carbonic gas, the attainment 

 of which has not been effected with all our efforts hitherto 

 applied; the colour of carbon being black, and its originating 

 from the combustion of vegetable substances of known compo- 

 sition, exhibit strong proofs in favor of its compound nature, 

 while the vegetable origin so recently imputed to the diamond, 

 by Sir David Brewster, from its glutinous and laminar forma- 

 mation*, affords every reasonable expectation that carbon will 

 not long retain the appellation of an original element. 



The difference which appears to exist in the constitution of 

 terrestrial, from that of celestial light, is, that the former is 

 produced from the combustion of oxygen, hydrogen, and car- 

 bon : the two latter forming carburetted hydrogen, while the 



* If it shall be finally established that the diamond is of vegetable growth, 

 and that in its incipient state it is that viscous or gelatinous production occa- 

 sionally discovered in gardens and the open fields, it may be ultimately traced 

 to the beautiful dew drop, that brilliant, pure, and splendidly pelucid proto- 

 type of the diamond, we may fairly add of the first water. 



