372 Meteorie Iron of Texas and Lockport. 
ably contains in its interior parts, a small portion of. chlorine, 
which has escaped from its surface, and hence only the — 
section of the mass, gave evidence of its presence. 
The frequent chemical examinations, by able investigators, of 
meteoric masses, have shown that their rhode of combination is 
frequently peculiar, but so far no new elements in addition to 
ose before known, have rewarded the search. Although our 
ideas of the unity and simplicity of eosmical laws are thus enlar- 
ged, we are not yet warranted in the conclusion that the matter 
of meteors is in all respects the same as that of our earth. From 
the fact that almost yearly additions are made to our list of ele- 
ments, in minerals brought from parts of the earth long known 
d seemingly well investigated; may we not hope that these 
celestial visitors may yet present us from the distant regions of 
space, with some element before unknown? Perhaps an obscure 
affirmative answer is given to this question, by a fact noticed in 
this paper as observed in the Texas iron. Thus far our search 
has been far too limited to authorize us in asserting from the neg- 
ative evidence obtained, that new el ts do not exist m meteors. 
The attention of chemists has been too generally confined to the 
detection of a few bodies, which are already recognized as ingre- 
dients of meteoric masses, and no substance. has fora id ‘ame 
been added to that list. — ii 
We have spent some time in the examination of various mete- 
orice irons and stones, and although we have little that is new 10 
present, our researches have not been without interest as showing 
the great general similarity in composition, which characterizes 
this remarkable class of bodies. We present now only the re- 
sults obtained on the 'Texas and Lockport irons. 
Examination of the Texas Tron. 
When this iron is dissolved in hydrochloric acid (A) a very 
small amount of insoluble matter remains, being only about“ 
per centum. This residue is a black powder, (B) interspersed 
with some scales of a leaden gray and containing numerous bril- 
liant metallic plates of a silvery whiteness. It is almost entirely 
magnetic iron, the brilliant scales being either metallic — or 
an gsi of iron with ea tan of wicket: ‘ 
