INCREASE OF TEMPERATURE BY GALVANISM. 151 



its component parts in the distilled water, which is well 

 known to be composed of oxigen and hidrogen; and oxi- 

 gen being considered as the acidifying principle, I conceive, 

 that the muriate formed is an oxide of hidrogen, but in 

 such proportions as constitute an acid. 



Iu hazarding this opinion I know I differ from, I believe 

 I may say, all of the most reputable modern chemists, such 

 as Thomson, Fourcroy, Accum, &c. who, when speaking 

 of acids, say ' the base of muriatic acid unknown' ; and 

 also, that i oxigen forms no other combination with hidro- 

 gen, than that which constitutes water'. I hold these au- 

 thors in the highest respect, and derive the greatest infor- 

 mation from their works, which I conceive do them great 

 credit ; but facts are stubborn things, and I make it a rule, 

 to bow my theory to truth. 



I am, Dear Sir, 



Your most obedient, 



JOHN TATUM, Jun. 

 April 14, 1807, 

 Dorset Street, Fleet Street. 



P. S. At first I expected the mercury in the thermome- 

 ter to rise much higher, but, owing to using the diluted 

 acid a second tune, the water was decomposed much slower 

 than in the experiment in my former paper ; this, added to 

 the apparatus being considerably larger, much more metal 

 about the cap, and the thermometer having a largish bulb, 

 all of which either absorb or conduct off the caloric, will 

 account for my disappointment. 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



On the Tempest of Feb.. 18, which has produced many dreadful 



accidents in the Channel. 



(Continued from p. 88.) 



N, 



10 one can read the detail of the numerous shipwrecks Observations 



which are mentioned in letters from Havre, Dunkirk, Dieppe, by !f\ Marck 



' ' rr ' on his system 



St. Valery, and Calais, without being deeply afflicted. Further concerning the 



details fromLaon, Bruges* Ghent, and Paris, augment the ^0^0? the 



melancholy weather. 



