124 Papers relating io the Fusion of Carbon. 
The examination of this subject by Prof. Vanuxem, as‘stated 
in his first memoir, (p. 292, Vol. 8, of this Journal.) is en- 
tirely irrelative ; for the thing examined was not the same 
with what I have called melted charcoal. It was clearly a 
different substance, and it cannot be expected of me to ex- 
plain how the mistake arose, [t is true that in my earlier 
publications, | did not mention trying the melted masses with 
the magnet. Although there was no reason to expect any thing 
more than a very slight trace of iron, in any matter obtained 
from charcoal, I have frequently subjected the melted mat- 
ter obtained by the deflagrator from charcoal to the action 
of powerful magnets, and never could! perceive the slightest 
action either upon the melted masses, or even upon the finest 
powder obtained by pulverizing them. Much less could I 
discover the malleability, toughness, impressibility by a file, 
capability of receiving a polish, &c. mentioned by Mr. Va- 
nuxem. The magnet has failed to act upon this substance 
after it has been exposed to acid, salts, alkalies, &c. and if 
there is iron in it, which is probable, it isin too small quantity 
to be discovered in this way. Much less can we suppose 
that any matter procured from the fusion of charcoal should 
present iron, for one half of the whole matter upon which the 
examination was begun, and nearly five sixths of all that was 
accounted for.* 
I transmitted to Prof. Hare some of the largest of the melted 
masses obtained in the experiments described above, and he 
made the trials upon them which he has related, and which 
deeidedly prove that they contain carbon in notable quan- 
tity, with traces of iron, and possibly other impurities of the 
eharcoal. 
It would appear from the experiments of Dr. Hare, that 
charcoal, in common with many vegetable substances, affords 
traces of iron capable of being indicated by delicate chemi- 
cal tests, but probably too inconsiderable to be easily appre- 
ciated by weight: at any rate there is nothing in his results 
analogous to those obtained by Professor Vanuxem. The mere 
traces of iron cannot justify this inference as observed by 
Dr. Hare, any more than it would be proper, from the small 
portions of iron which most minerals afford, to infer that they 
are similar to the proper ores of that metal. 
* Bee the result of Prof. Vanuxem’s first memoir. 
