206 Foreign Literature and Science. 



flame — is absorbed by water and oil of turpentine, but not 

 by acids or alkalies — and is composed of 



1 atom hydrogen, - - 0.125 

 1 atom carbon, - - .750 

 1| atom chlorine, - - 6.750 7.625 



Dr. Thomson, in hi* " First Principles of Chemistry ," 

 pointed out a remarkable property of the compound of one 

 atom carbon, and one atom hydrogen, denominated carbo- 

 hydrogen, which forms a variety of gases, differing from each 

 other in the number of integrant particles of carbo-hydro- 

 gen which a single volume of the gas or vapour contains. 

 The new combustible gas, called by its discoverer, sesqui- 

 chloride of carho-hydrogen, (abstracting the chlorine) con- 

 tains only one integrant particle of carbo-hydrogen in a vol- 

 ume ; defiant gas contains two ; the oil gas vapour three ; 

 sulphuric ether vapour (abstracting the water) four ; while 

 the vapour of naptha contains six integrant particles. The 

 existence of the simple carbo-hydrogen, was merely hypo- 

 thetical, till the discovery of the present gas has given us an 

 example of its actual existence. Thus the only doubtful 

 part of this reasoning has been shown to be correct. This 

 circumstance gives an importance to its discovery, to which 

 it would not otherwise be entitled. 



The same volume of the Phil. Trans, also embraces a very 

 important article upon the compounds of chromium, and a de- 

 tail of some experiments upon gold by the same gentleman. 



6. Voyage to the Eastern Seas— in 1816, <£*e. by Copt. 

 Basil Hall, R. N. F. R. S. — At the last moment, before 

 closing the present number, we have found time, hastily to 

 peruse this very interesting volume. We feel much obliged 

 to its respectable author — now on a visit to this country — for 

 permitting the publication of a revised edition, for the bene- 

 fit of the young people of America, and doubt not that it 

 will afford them as much pleasure and instruction, as it had 

 before imparted, to those of England. It is however a work 

 in which the mature and the young — the parent and child 

 can equally participate. It is replete with interesting and val- 

 uable information ; it is disinguished by sterling good sense 

 — acute observation — fine graphic descriptions of scenery 

 and manners — an elevated moral bearing, and great feli- 

 city of expression. We rarely read so good a book of 

 travels, and we trust that the publishers will find encourage- 

 ment to prosecute their design of reprinting captain Hall's 

 travels in South America. 



