Dr. Hares Reply to Prof. Vanucem. 289 
by muriatic acid, whence an hydrated peroxide of iron was 
precipitated by ammonia. | 
On reading this account of the substance examined by 
Mr. Vanuxem, it was evident to me that it had not the 
slightest resemblance to those which Professor Silliman 
had described as fused carbon. A product which I had 
myself obtained, and which corresponded perfectly with 
his description, had been preserved in a glass tube. This 
substance crumbled, when subjected to pressure—~acquired 
no polish by hammering or filing——was utterly devoid of at- 
traction for the magnet-—-was not acted upon by nitric 
acid——nor did muriatic acid, which had been digested on 
it, vield any oxide of iron, or give any other indication of 
that metal. 
These observations were made by my friend Mr. G, T. 
Bowen, under my inspection. Mr. Bowen assisted Pro- 
fessor Silliman at the time when he first made his ob- 
servations on the fusion of carbon, On perusing Mr. 
Vanuxem’s memoir, Mr. Bowen wasno less convinced than 
myself that there had been a mistake, which, considered 
as the foundation of a broad and unreserved, though indi- 
rect contradiction,* given to Professor Silliman’s represen- 
tations, is really unfortunate. 
I do not feel authorised to decide whether the substance 
analyzed by Mr. Vanuxem, was that which Dr. Macneven 
forwarded. By oversight, one minute portion of matter 
* Professor Vanuxem makes statements, and advances opinions, irrecon- 
cilable with the representations of Professor Silliman, although he does 
notname him. This! call an indirect contradiction—and I say it was 
broad and unreserved, because its force was not restricted, nor its final influ - 
ence on the reader suspended, by any expression of doubt of his own prem- 
ise or conclusions, nor of any deference for those which he controverted.— 
Upon the minds of all with whom I conversed, Mr. Vanuxem’s Memoir 
had the effect of a most unqualified contradiction, as respects the observa- 
tions of Professor Silliman on the fusion of carbon. One of my frmends, 
last spring, after a visit to Baltimore, stated that, in consequeuce o! the 
publication of that memoir, several distinguished gentlemen of that place 
no longer believed carbon to have been fused by the deflagrator. 
Professor Silliman, in his reply to Mr. Vanuxem, observes: ‘* Mr. Wan- 
uxem has not done me the honour to mention me, or my experiments ; but 
as no other person (within my know ledge,) has published any thing on the 
fusion of charcoal, 1 am obliged, however reluctantly, to appropriate his 
remarks, and to consider them as intended to invalidate some part of the 
results which I have published.’’—-See American Journal of Science for 
May last. 
Vor. VITL.—No. 2. 37 
