46 On a new compound of Iron and Carbon, 



rapid, and gas given off was hydrogen from the smell. By 

 mistake was forgotten for 14 months, when the solution had 

 a rusty muddy appearance. On adding water, no action fol- 

 lowed. Solution diluted and decanted, and analysis washed 

 clean : dried on blotting paper, gave off the usual smell and 

 fumes from the residue, on dissolving cast iron in muriatic 

 acid ; dried did not affect the magnetic needle. Examined 

 by the lens, looked like a piece of charcoal : shewing the 

 pores of the wood and the cracks. A great portion still 

 showed the little glistening planes ; dried at a low red heat 

 in platina crucible over spirit lamp, weighed 6.40 grains. 

 Had not altered in appearance from the heat. Was easily 

 friable, and crumbled under an ivory paper knife into a soft 

 powder, retaining the glistening appearance of the lump. 

 Rubbed on paper had exactly the colour of fine black lead. 

 Felt greasy, and gave polished lead coloured coat to the end 

 of the finger. India rubber removed the stain readily and 

 completely from the paper. The charcoal, unaltered part, 

 did not crumble readily like the rest, but felt hard and 

 coally under the paper knife. The graphite, heated red hot 

 in a platina spoon, not altered at all, and did not glow or burn 

 when a stream of air was directed upon it. The graphite 

 with some fused saltpetre produced a violent action ; effer- 

 vesced, with gas and white smoke giving off. Action con- 

 tinued sometime, when subsided and cold, no signs of any 

 of the graphite remaining, but the carbonate of potash had 

 a dirty reddish appearance. Experiments on the muriatic 

 solution decanted off the piece of " ferruginised charcoal," 

 gave nothing but what is usual with common ferruginous so- 

 lutions. 



4. " Ferruginised charcoal" as above described, can be 

 made with regularity and certainty at the expense of 10c?. per 

 15 pounds of charcoal to 1 pound of the results : but I can- 

 not at present explain the precautions required to produce 

 the result, until I am able to resume again my iron experi- 



