422 Mr. Srnee oil the Galvanic Properties of the 



play half equivalents of chlorine and hydrogen, indicating 

 that the substances analysed were not yet definitely charac- 

 terized. 



The peculiar acid body formed by treating the essence with 

 nitric acid has its origin in decompositions so complex, that, 

 until its atomic weight and composition shall have been ac- 

 curately determined by the analysis of its salts, it is totally 

 useless to discuss it in relation to the present question. But 

 here as in the other instances Mr. Walter has got too much 

 carbon, although not too little hydrogen, and the additional 

 quantity of carbon given by my number makes his analytical 

 results more consonant to the theory. I do not wish, how- 

 ever, to be considered as applying the formula Cgj H^q O^ to 

 explain the origin of this body, which indeed I consider to 

 belong to a totally different series. 



In concluding, 1 must observe that I admire very much the 

 general exactness of Mr. Walter's results, and the skill which 

 he has displayed in this and other difficult investigations, by 

 which he has been so highly distinguished. In fact, it is 

 greatly to his credit that his analyses were so good, although 

 he had been beguiled by the authority of Blanchet to adopt 

 an insecure basis at his outset ; and 1 have written these re- 

 marks not to diminish Mr. Walter's merit, which none can 

 be more ready to express the highest sense of, but to show 

 that all Mr. Walter's investigations have but confirmed my 

 former results, and that they have fully proved, that the li- 

 quid and the solid oil of peppermint have the same constitu- 

 tion, and that although 1 had not confirmed my formula by 

 the accessor}' methods generally employed, the confirma- 

 tions have come unconsciously from Mr.Walter's hands, and 

 that the formula Cgj H^q Og is that which alone accounts for 

 his interesting results. 



LXII. On the Galvanic Properties of the Plementarij Bo- 

 dies, and on the Amalgamation of Zinc. By Alfred Smee, 

 Esq. 



[In continuation of a former paper, p. 315.] 



T^FIE first non-metallic element we have to examine is car- 

 -■- bon. 



When a diamond is placed in contact with amalgamated 

 zinc in dilute sulphuric acid, no gas is given off, nor copper 

 precipitated on it iVom a solution of that metal when touched 

 by zinc. Gas coke, however, recently ignited, or plumbago, 

 placed under similar circumstances, copiously evolves hydro- 

 gen from its surface. The same circumstance is noticed with 

 the various forms of porous coke and boxwood charcoal, but 



