System of Chemistry, by Prof. Berzelius. 61 



should the first instant of immersion be attended by a deflecting en- 

 ergy so much greater than at any period after ; when it is obvious to 

 the eye that, at this moment, the chemical action has scarcely as yet 

 commenced. For the first few seconds indeed, little or no hydrogen 

 can be seen escaping from the zinc plate, although by the time the 

 power has declined to a more stationary condition, the discharge of 

 gas, and consequently the accompanying chemical action upon the 

 zinc, have increased to many times their former quantity. Again, by 

 the chemical hypothesis, the oxidation of the zinc is held to be the 

 cause which here first disturbs the electric equilibrium ; but why 

 then is it, that the activity of the battery does not augment with the 

 quantity o^ zinc, in place of obeying, as we have shown, very oppo- 

 site laws, decreasing with the zinc, and augmenting with the copper. 

 So intimate has the connection always seemed between this theory, 

 and the law of the power being as the surfaces acted on, that those 

 who receive the theory, generally take for granted the law, as an a 

 priori fact. Our experiments go far, we think, to show that neither 

 the latv nor the theory are true in nature. 



The other theory, that of Volta, is obviously incompetent to ex- 

 plain many of the results we have obtained ; for instance, that above 

 alluded to, which proves an increase of zinc plate to be injurious, 

 while the same increase of copper is so highly beneficial. 



We therefore dismiss this subject of the theory of the battery, in 

 the hope that some gifted individual, Faraday perhaps, in following 

 up his present brilliant discoveries in electricity, may penetrate the 

 obscurity which now conceals the internal movements of this mighty 

 and wonderful instrument. 



Art. III. — Some Encomiums upon the excellent Treatise of Chem- 

 istry, by Berzelius ; also objections to his JVomenclature, and sua;- 

 gestions respecting a Substitute, deemed preferable, in a letter to 

 Professor Silliman ; by Robert Hare, ]\I.D., Prof, of Chemis- 

 try in the University of Pennsylvania. 



Philadelphia, June, 1834. 



Hear Sir, — 1 have already apprized you, that last year I had the 

 honor to receive from the celebrated Berzelius, six volumes of his 

 admirable treatise of Chemistry ; to which, during the last summer, 



