g>g ON THE DISCOVERY OF METALS IN THE ALKALIS. . 



Any of your correspon3ents, or yourself, being kind 

 enough to explain de Moivie to conviction, or my opinion 

 to confutation, will, for I pursue but the truth, equally 

 oblige, Sir, 



Your constant reader, ^ 



and most obedient servant, 



OPSIMATH. 



XII. 



Letter from a Correspondent on the late Discovert/ of Metals 

 in the fixed Alkalis. 

 SIR, 



Assertion of JL OUR last reminds me of some notes I took at Oxford, 



Dr Beddoes, ^^^ attendine" Dr. Beddoes's lectures in 1788, wherein he 



that the earths . ^ . . . . ' 



and alkalis said, that vital air was a part of the alkalis and earths. At 



contained oxi ^^ same lectures, the strongest electricity was advised, for 



giving shocks to molten phosphorus, &c. Some years ago, 



at a friend's, I saw a book with essays by several hands—-. 



Dr. Beddoes and Mr. Davy among others. It is called 



Their metallic Contributions, &c. I think ; — be that as it may, a query is 



nature conjjc- started, whether the earths and alkalis hold not oxigen, 

 tured. ° 



and that they may come to class with metals. It is always 



; curious to know who has guessed best. If you have the 



above book, you may find reasons for opinions then seeming 



stjrange, and farther particulars, 



A. DILETTANTE. 



StkAug. 1808. 



^ REMARK. 



Metals lon<r ^^^ notion of alkalis being oxigenated metals capable 

 ago supposed of being reduced, is much older than the book in question, 

 f^om ea^hs"''* '^^^ experiments of von Kuprecht and Tondi at Schemnitz, 

 with the discussions which arose from them among some of 

 the most eminent chemists, not only in Germany, but in 

 Italy and France, are fresh in remembrance. It is certain, 

 that metals more or less resembling iron, or phosphuret of 

 iron, were produced, in appearance from barytes, lime, mag- 

 nesia. 



