AND RESEARCHES OF JAMES SMITHSON. . 129 



3. In the Phil. Trans, vol. xcviii., p. 65, (1808,) is a paper 

 by Mr. Smithson, " On the composition of the compound sul- 

 phuretfrom liuel Boys and an account of its crystals,'' p. 8, 1 

 plate. Read January 28, 1808. In this paper the com- 

 pound sulphuret of lead, antimony, and copper is described 

 with an account of its chemical properties, and theoretical 

 views of the manner in which proximate elements like these 

 co-exist. He states his belief that all combination is binary, 

 that no substance whatever has more than two proximate or 

 true elements. He makes the mineral to consist of — 

 Sulphuret of lead -_ j - __ 49.7 



Sulphuret of antimony - ' " " - 29.6 ; 



Sulphuret of copper - - 20.7 • 



100. 

 IIo gives a figure roprcsenting the forms of the crystals 

 and the angles formed by the several faces with each other. 

 In Tilloch's Magazine, vol. xxix., for 1808, in an account 

 of the proceedings of the Royal Society, we have the fol- 

 lowing remarks relative to this paper : " December 24, 

 1807. A paper by Mr. Smithson, on quadruple and binary 

 compounds, particularly the sulphurets was read. The 

 author seemed to doubt the propriety of the distinction, or 

 rather the existence of quadruple compounds ; believed 

 that only two substances could enter as elements in the 

 composition of one body, and contended that in cases of 

 quadruple compounds a new and very different substance 

 was formed, which had very little relation to the radical or 

 elementary principles, of which it was believed to be com- 

 posed. This opinion he supported by reference to the sul- 

 phurets of lead, galena, and of antimony, and to the facts 

 developed by crystallography. In the latter science, he 

 took occasion to correct and confirm some remarks of his 

 in the Transactions for 1804, on different crystals, which he 

 acknowledged have not hitherto been found in nature. 



4. In the Phil. Trans. Vol. ci., p. 171, for 1811, is a paper 

 " On the composition of Zeolite," read Feb. 7. 1811. 



In the commencement of this paper the author recognizes 

 the principle that mineral bodies are native chemical com- 

 pounds, and that it is only by chemical means that their 

 species can be ascertained with any degree of certainty. 

 He found the Zeolite to contain. 



Silica - - - 49.0 



Alumina - - - 27.0 



Soda - - - 17.0 



"Ice" - - - 09.5 



