220 Letter from Mr. Potter to Mr. R. Taylor. 



chlorine is passed be kept at a boiling heat, no crystals are 



formed, but a reddish oily fluid is produced ; this, when ana- 

 lysed, was found to consist of 

 Atoms. 



Carbon 21 = 126 38*61 



Hydrogen . . 8| 8-5 2-55 



Chlorine ... ^ 126 37*22 



Oxygen .... 9 88 21*62 



348-5 100 



In this case, the anhydrous salicine loses S^ atoms of hydro- 

 gen, and gains an equivalent proportion of chlorine. This 

 new compound is soluble in alcohol and alkaline solutions. 



G. B. 



XXXIX. Letter to Richard Taylor , Esq., as Editor of the 

 Philosophical Magazine and Journal. By R. Potter, Esq., 

 B.A., F.C.P.S. 



Dear Sir, 

 T^HE part you have taken in the controversy between Pro- 

 •*- fessor Forbes and myself has a good deal surprised me. 

 That you should deprecate "personal imputations" in con- 

 troversial papers, is what every reader of your periodical must 

 heartily approve. However searching a review of Professor 

 Forbes's "memorandum" was required for the defence of 

 my own investigations, I congratulate myself on having 

 avoided personalities or any imputation of unworthy motives. 

 It is a philosophical and legitimate line of defence to inquire 

 whether your opponent is a competent judge of the matter 

 in controversy, from the consideration he has given to the 

 subject, and whether he is to be considered in the light of an 

 impartial and unbiassed inquirer, or otherwise whether he has 

 imbibed theoretical views so deeply as to place him only in 

 the situation of a partisan of the particular theory adopted by 

 him. This course I have always endeavoured to pursue, and 

 would cheerfully concede to an opponent. I think, however, 

 that I have just reason to complain of the admission of such 

 terms as "gratuitously misinterpreted," and "take a pleasure 

 in misinterpreting my expressions," admitted in the very com- 

 munication to which your note was appended. 



In respect to the unsupported quotation from your un- 

 named correspondent's letter, which j'ou have adopted, I have 

 only to express my surprise that you did not suspect more 

 than a' filial solicitude for the Society's honour on his part. 

 My notice of the proceedings of the Society to which I have 

 the honour to belong, and amongst the leading members of 



