PRECIPITATION OF OXIDFS BY THEIR OWN METAL«. 2Q 



with those of Mr. Perolle ; and that together they may lead 

 to very important researches. 



Light has a velocity 9000OO times as rapid as thai of The action of 

 sound. Whether it emanate from the Sun, and reach to j jf mecha'iiical' 

 our Earth, or act by means of vibrations agitating the par- 

 ticles of a fluid of a peculiar nature, the particles pf this 

 fluid must be extremely light, elastic, and active. Nor does 

 it appear to me unreasonable, to ascribe to the mechanical 

 action of these particles set in motion by the sun the effects 

 its presence occasions in the vibrations that proceed from 

 sonorous bodies. The more deeply we investigate the theory The greatest 

 of light, the more we must perceive, that the powers by men"o\vins"to 

 which the universe is moved reside in the imperceptible par- the affections 



tides of bodies; and that the grand results of nature are °^'^.^""'""'^'* 

 ^ , panicles. 



but an assemblage of an order of actions,^ that take place 

 in its infinitely small prarts : consequently we cannot insti- 

 tute a series of experiments more interesting, than those 

 that tend to develope the properties of light. On the least 

 success of such inquiries we flatter ourselves with the pre- 

 sage of some important discovery: our organs of sense are 

 80 immediately connected with the fluid that enlightens us, 

 that the notion of having acquired an idea of the mode of 

 action of this fluid presents itself to our minds as the hope 

 of a striking advance in the knowledge of what composes 

 the organic mechanism of our life, and of that of beings 

 which closely follow the rank assigned to the human species. 



V. 



On the Chemical Action of simple Gah-nnico-electric Chains 

 formed ofMciaUic Solutions, Water, or Acid, and a Metal; 

 and on the Disoxidation of Metallic Oxides effected by these 

 Means: by Mr. Buciiolz*. 



JL HE electricity produced by the pile of Volta and gal- Galvanic elec- 

 vanic chains has presented philosophers with the most sor- t'icuy. 



* Anuales de Chimie, June, ISOS. p ;i6tJ. TrandMed frotr. Geh- 

 kti's Jaiirnul, No. 17. 



pH'-'ing 



