es we 
“V. Anfver fo Mr. ‘Kirwan’ Ss eens ase the Acsinveiee ice 
Air. ad y Haney Cavendith, st F. R. S. and 8, A. 
ae 
Read March 4, 1784. 
N a paper lately read before this Society, containing many 
I experiments on air, I gave my reafons for fuppofing that 
the diminution which refpirable air fuffers by phlogiftication, 
' is not owing either to the generation or feparation of fixed air 
from it; but without any arguments of a perfonal nature, or 
which related to any one perfon who efpoufes the contrary doc- 
trine more than to‘another. © This being contrary to the opinion. 
maintained by Mr. Kirwan, he has written a paper in anfwer 
to it, which was read on the fifth of February. As I do not 
like troubling the Society. with controverfy, I fhall take no: 
notice of the arguments ufed by him, but fhall leave them for 
the reader to form his own judgement of; much lefs will I 
endeavour to point out any inconfiftencies or falfe reafonings, — 
fhould any fuch have crept into it; but as there are two or 
three experiments mentioned there, which may perhaps be 
confidered as difagreeing with my opinion, I beg leave to fay a 
few words concerning them. 
Mr. pve Lassone found that filings of zinc, digefted in a 
cauftic fixed alkali, were partially diffolved with a {mall effer- 
vefcence, and that the alkali was rendered in’ fome mea- 
I fure 
