368 Miscellanies. 
Those who knew Davy, will best conceive the enthusiasm with 
which this hasty record of his success was dashed off, and will re- 
cognize supnxe in his “ capital experiments "Ibid. 
5. Decomposition of Water by Atmospheric and by common Elec- 
tricity.—Mr. Bonijol, conservator of the reading society of Geneva, 
has constructed many very delicate apparatus, by means of which 
water may be readily decomposed by the electricity of the ordinary 
machine, and also by atmospheric electricity. ‘The electricity of the 
atmosphere is gathered by means of a very fine point fixed at the ex- 
tremity of an insulated rod; the latter is connected with the appara- 
tus, in which the water is to be decomposed, by a metallic wire, of 
which the diameter does not exceed half a millemeter, (75 of an 
inch.) In this way the decomposition of the water proceeds in a 
continuous and rapid manner, notwithstanding that the electricity of 
the atmosphere is not very strong. Stormy weather is quite sufficient 
for the purpose. M. Bonijol has also succeeded in decomposing 
potash and the chioride of silver, by placing them in a very narrow 
glass tube, and passing a series of electric sparks from the ordinary 
machine through them. ‘The electricity was conducted into the tube 
by means of two metallic wires fixed into the ends. Where a quick 
succession of electric sparks had taken place for about five or ten 
minutes, the tube containing chloride of silver was found to contait 
reduced silver; and where potassa had been submitted to the elec- 
tric current, there the potassium was seen to take fire as it was pro- 
duced.—Jbid. 
6. On the state of Chlorides, Iodides, §c. in solution. —Carlo Mat- 
teuci, decomposed the Chlorides and Iodides, by means of the pile, 
with the expectation of being able to deduce the nature of these com- 
pounds when dissolved in water. If it were possible to decompose 
these combinations by means of electric currents, incapable of = 
composing water, one might then justly conclude that their alll 
tion was not changed by solution in that liquid. He, therefore, 10° d 
a pile composed of two elements only, charged with water render 
slightly saline, and which had no power of decomposing water ev 
a little acidulated. The platina conductors were then dipped al 
lution of muriate of copper, and after some time, the negative i 
ductor was covered with metallic copper, whilst the positive COP oe 
tor evolved bubbles of gas. Having replaced the latter conducto 
