44 



Experiment. 



General con- 

 ditions. 



IMPROVED JURT MAS7f. 



unetal of potash by means of iron rods, very loud detona* 

 tions may be produced, the intensity of which is very simi- 

 lar to that of gunpowder employed in ten times the quan- 

 tity. 



The following is the method of repeating this experiment 

 with success. Instead of immersing the iron rods into es- 

 sence of turpentine, the instant they are removed from the 

 gun barrel to collect the metal, they must be plunged sud- 

 denly and perpendicularly into a bucket of water. An ex- 

 plosion will then take place, the loudness of which will be 

 in proportion to the quantity of metal, and the diameter of 

 the iron rod. 



From the experiments and observations I have had the 

 honour of communicating to the class, it follows: 



1st, That the conversion of the alkalis into metals is not 

 a disoxigenation of those substances ; and that, on the con- 

 trary, it is a combination of the alkalis with new elements. 



2dly, That the affinity of the alkaline metals for oxigen 

 is merely a chemical illusion, occasioned by a substance, the 

 existence of which was not suspected. 



3dly, That carbon is one of the constituent principles of 

 the alkaline metals, since it can be obtained separate from 

 them at pleasure, or converted into carbonic acid by oxige- 

 nation. 



4thly, That, if the specific gravity of the alkaline metals 

 be less than that of water, it is because hidrogen pi'obably 

 accompanies the carbon in this combination. 



5thly, That the disoxigenation of substances, attempted 

 to be effected by means of the alkaline metals, will always 

 yield equivocal results, until we have a knowledge of all the 

 elements, that compose these singular substances. 



VII. 



Improved Method of Forming Jury Masts: by Captain 

 William Bolton, of the Royal Navy*. 

 SIR, 



l-llEIIEWITH you will receive the model of a plan for 

 iiiy piovided, fitting ships' jury masts, to be formed from the spare spars 



* Trans, of the Society of Aits, vol. XXVI, p. 167. The silver medal 

 ©£ the Society was voted to Captain Bolton for this improvement. 



usually 



