aS Tp 
XVI. Reply to Mr. Cavendith’s Aafwer. 
By Richard Kirwan, Bf. FRE. 
Read March 18, 1784. 
MEAN to trouble the Society but with a very few words 
in reply to Mr. Cavenpisn’s anfwer, as I confider the 
greater part of mine to him as ftill unanfwered. 
In the firft place, he fays, that im Mr. Lassone’s experi- 
ment the effervefcence proceeded not from any fixed air in the 
alkali, but from the further aftion of the acid on the zinc from 
which inflammable air was difengaged. But this could not have 
happened; for, firft, the zinc, inftead of being further acted on 
by the acid, was precipitated according to Mr. Lassone’s own 
account (p. 8.); and, fecondly, the acid was only added by 
degrees, and undoubtedly would unite to the alkali preferably 
to the zinc; therefore it was from the alkali, and not from the 
zinc, that the effervefcence arofe. 
2dly, With regard to the calcination of lead; though in 
England the {moke and flame may come in contact with the 
metal, yet in Germany red lead is formed without any com- 
munication: between them, according to Mr. Nose, who has 
given an ample account of this manufactory (p. 86.). Is not 
lime formed in contac with fuel, flame, and {moke? Mr. 
Macauer even thinks it probable, that the contact of flame 
is hurtful to the prodution of minium (2 Dict. Chy. 639.). 
Mr. MonNET madé minium by melting lead in a cuppel, in 
fuch 
