COMPOSITION OF WATER, &C. 227 



cealed ; fo that the acid could not get to aO. upon it, being Remarks on 

 placed within the cap of the receiver ; therefore the fmall ^^- }^otth- 



1 •; r 1 ■ ,, Tv-r . • , , . more's cxpeyt- 



quantity ot weak acid formed in Mr. N.'s experiment could ments, 



not rationally be fappofed to have penetrated to it, even if it 

 was in a high concentrated flate; but it muft have been much 

 diluted with water, as there was water alfo produced in this 

 experiment : Alfo, if it was in this high concentrated flate, 

 and in that abundance as to enter into all the crevices, it 

 would eafiiy have been deteded, and his fifth experiment was 

 for this purpofe, but it failed ; he could find no nitrous acid. 



In experiment the feventh, he fuppofed he had formed am- 

 monia, and he fays in this very experiment, " Some vapour 

 was generated, which was, as ufual, ftrongly acid." How 

 conjes it that this acid, which was fuppofed to find out the 

 retin, fo perfedly concealed, could not find out the ammonia, 

 which was formed along with it in theprocefs, and fo univer- 

 fally difperfed as to form white clouds. 



The third experiment : " Two pints of carbonic acid and 

 two of hydrogen was fubje<5ted to condenfation. The refult 

 was a watery vapour, and a gas of rather ofTenfive fmell.'* 

 This comprelTed gas I found to be iimilar to Mr. Cruikftianks's 

 gafeous oxide of carbon from the acid air and the phlogiftic 

 air faturating each otiier. 



Mr. Northmore apologlfes for giving thefe experiments 

 " until he had brought them to a greater degree of perfection," 

 but at (he conclufion he alfo fays, " Befides the above, I have 

 made various other experiments with difl^erent gafes, &c." 

 But as he fays nothing more of thefe imperfedt experimoits, there 

 are no hopes of his corre6ting them ; he appears to have ex- 

 haufted his refearch, and we have feen with what fuccefs. 

 There appears fuch an ardent defi re to fupport the Lavoifierian 

 theory: but if it has always failed from the experiments of 

 Lavoifier himfelf, Mr. Cavendifli and others, I am afraid we 

 have little to exped; from thefe new fupporters. I might make 

 many other obfervations, but thefe will, I prefume, be 

 thought enough. 



It will be expected in contradidling Mr. N.'s experiments Experiments of 

 I fliould make fome of my own ; I muft own my apparatus 5°'"P''!^'°" "^ 

 was not fo good as his ; yet I hope fufficient to prove my 

 opinions, I had the barrel of a large blunderbufs, and flop- 

 ped its priming hole, and having filled it either with fand or 



diftilled 



