80 COLLECiTION OP MEMOlRSt. 



5. The alterations that the air undergoes during refpiration^ 



Lavoifia', read in 1785. 



3. Memoir, report on a paper of Seguin's concerning refpira- 

 tion and animal heat. Muquei- and Fourcroy. 



4. On refpiration and anunal heat. S'e;^uin. 



5. On the refpiration of animals. Scguiii and Lavofier, read 

 in 1790. 



Notice prefixed to the Work (bj/ (Mad. Lavoifier) countefs of 

 RuwJ'ord. 

 Intention of In the year 1792 M. Lavofier had formed the defign of 



^ubUih^hf ^^'' "^^''■'"'g ^ coileftion of all his memoirs which had been read at 

 memoirs, the academy during the twenty years preceding. This would 



have formed in fome degree the hiflory of modern chemiftry. 

 In order to render this hitlory more interefting, and more 

 complete he had propofed to infert the memoirs of tliofe, who 

 having adopted his theory, liad publifhed experiments in fup- 

 port of it. 

 iii eight This col!e<^ion was to have been coraprifed in about eight 



volumes. 



All Europe is acquainted with the caufe which prevented 

 their completion. 

 Parts recovered. The portion that have been recovered are, the firft volume 

 almoft entire, the whole of the fecond, and fome flieeis of the 

 fourth. 



Several men of fcience expreffed a defire for their publica- 

 tion: this was received with hefitation — it is difficult not to be 

 under apprehenfions when we are intruded with the power of 

 publidiing the unfiniQied work of a man juftly celebrated. 

 When we have loft the objed of our afFedions and veneration, 

 we Ihould employ an impartial crilicifm, in order to offer to 

 the public thofe of his works only which may augment his 

 fame. 

 Madame Lavoifier We fiiould have perfifted, and thefe fragments would not 

 has printed them, i^ayg appeared, had they not contained a memoir o^ M. 

 Lavoifier (inferted below page 5) in which he reclaims the 

 modern theory of chemiilry as belonging to himfeif, and ftates 

 the fa6ts in fupport of his claim. 



It is confequently a duty towards him to fix the opinion of 

 men of fcience concerning this point. 

 Lavoifier was em- Their indulgence is requelted for the errors thai may exrft 

 plowed on this ^^ f^^^ ^^j^^r parts of the colle^ion. It will be granted when 



5 they 



