EXISTENCE OF WATER IN MURIATIC GAS. <? ] 



that the end of the tube was kept below the surface of the 



mercury, so as lo exclude aJJ* communication with the at- / 



mosphere. The flask was t.hen embedded in a charcoal wifhout hav- 



furnace, and gradually heated, until it was softened. TrHs j",^™ 1 a11 



process continued about an hour, when the muriate of am- vith theat- 



monia was all sublimed into the neck of the flask, or into m °*P ^?» 



7 sublimed m 



the commencement of the tube. When the salt was about the same 

 half sublimed, a dew was observed to form at the upper part ve 

 of the curvature of the tube, about an inch from A dew 

 the stopper. This dew increased, so that at one period it med > 

 occupied a zone all round the tube of about an inch 

 in width, and some globules of water were formed of about 

 the size of a small pin's head. Towards the end of the ex- 

 periment, as the heat increased, the dew was diminished ; 

 but when the tube was removed from the mercury a similar 

 deposition of moisture was observed at the end, where it had and moisture 

 been immersed in the metal. Before it was taken from the t he°end * 

 mercurial bath the tube had its aperture luted with wax, in 

 order to exclude all communication with the atmosphere, 

 which was farther ensured by a globule of mercury being 

 lodged in the curvature of the tube ; and, as soon as it was 

 become cool, the flask was opened, a part of the salt scraped Part of the 

 from the neck, and weighed as quickly as possibly. The andweMied' 

 quantity collected was 2*7 grs, and not more than a minute quickly, 

 could have elapsed between its being removed from the ves- 

 sel, and its weight being ascertained. Tt remained in the 

 scale for 15 minutes; but although we thought that the index and it gained 



of the balance rather inclined to that side, no increase of n ° p er ceptible 



• • • i addition or 



weight could be positively asserted to have taken place.; In weight by ex- 

 order that a judgment may be formed of the delicacy of the posuretothe 



, , . ' ■ -, „ . , air 15 mi- 



instrument, we found it to turn with ,V ot a grain, when n utes. 



each side was loaded with 500 grains ,-.\£ 



*aH v I am, sir, -c*£ 



( i9>t?i ;•• : V? Your obedient servant,.}* •/'«:»* 



t aottft9ft3c EOSTOCH* 

 Knofs-hote Bank, near Liverpool, bfl«— fohvrft* jwsW *atot 

 March the 26th, 1312. /1M3H 01 



. i 1 



itf!8'A?3 -yd, illili '' • ^sioV H^t/fO WoY 



.a .T .2181 t f.tt*fciWs &rA. 



IV 



