Mr. A. A. Hayes on the Alabama Meteoric Iron. 147 



hydrate of ammonia, by means of an excess of pure ammonia. 

 Then after filtration, the blue nickeliferous solution was evapo- 

 rated to dryness, and the excess of ammoniacal salts expelled, and 

 the oxide of nickel redissolved in chlorohydric acid and water, 

 was precipitated by pure potash, washed, ignited, and weighed. 

 The results of this analysis were as follows : 



Chlorohydric acid, .... 1 6468 

 Protoxide of iron, .... 3-2318 

 Oxide of nickel, .... 2 0000 



Water by difference, . . . . 4-8214 



117000 

 Since the completion of the above analyses, I presented Mr. 

 A. A. Hayes of Roxbury with some slices sawed from the princi- 

 pal mass of the Alabama meteoric iron, and another piece, which 

 had not been subjected to any chemical researches, with the re- 

 quest that he would submit them to a rigorous chemical exami- 

 nation. I also called his attention to Prof. Shepard's article in 

 Vol. xLiii of this Journal, and requested his views, regarding the 

 possibility of impregnation of metallic iron with chlorine by the 

 action of any of the chlorides or chlorohydrates in sea water, or 

 the soil. I also desired to know if chlorine ever penetrated the 

 iron, which is exposed to it in the manufacture of chlorohydric 

 acid. After long and patient researches, he has presented the 

 following communication, which bears ample proofs of science 

 and analytical skill. It is to be hoped that he will also commu- 

 nicate the results of his observations on the action of sea-water 

 on kentledge iron. C. T. Jackson. 



II. Mr. Hayeses Letter. 



To Dr. Charles T. Jackson : 



My dear Sir — The most suitable return I can make for your 

 liberal kindness, in giving me some fine specimens of the Alabama 

 meteorite, is an account of some experiments I have made, in 

 an investigation of the composition of this substance. 



You will perhaps consider the evidence I shall adduce, in con- 

 nexion with the existence of chlorine, as a constituent of this 

 extra-mundane body, as uncalled for ; that fact having been long 

 since established and made public by yourself in a manner which 

 would seem to leave little room for doubt. On this point, after 



