JVezo Metal, prcfuisionally called Vanadium. 69 



Our attention having been attracted to the preceding letter, 

 we naturally sought to be informed from our venerable and es- 

 teemed friend, Professor del Rio, why the merit of a discovery 

 made by him, and announced in 1804, in his translation of Karsten, 

 should be transferred to another chemist, for detecting the same 

 metal in iron, in 1830. We subjoin his ansv^er, not less remark- 

 able for his analytical skill in chemistry, than for his good sense 

 and modesty. 



We should under any circumstances expect objections to be 

 made to the term Vanadium, derived from an ancient Scandina- 

 vian Deity. We dislike the introduction of such puerilities into 

 science. Far better would be the term Zimapanium, since it 

 was first found in the brov/n lead ore of Zimapan. But upon this 

 occasion, that the complete measure of justice may be done to an 

 eminent and deserving philosopher, we venture to express a hope 

 that in place of the provisional name Vanadium, the more com- 

 pendious one of Riom or Rionium, may be substituted. 



It is very clear that Del Rio was first induced by Humboldt, to 

 doubt of his own discovery, and, subsequently, when M. Desco- 

 tils — who was familiar with Vauquelin's discovery of the metallic 

 nature of chrome, and whose pupil indeed we believe he was, — 

 threw his weight into the scale of Humboldt, M. Del Rio 

 diffidently forbore to press his own better opinions, against those 

 of ihe Europeans, whom he supposed possessed of superior op- 

 portunities of judging than himself, and likely to unite against 

 him. Editor. 



TRANSLATION OF A LETTER FROM PROFESSOR DEL RIO. 



Philadelphia, July 13, 1831. 

 Sir, — I have always been of opinion that it is of greater im- 

 portance to science, that the world should concern itself more 

 with the discoveries that are made, than with those who make 

 them ; and I experienced a lively satisfaction in learning through 

 Professor Jameson's Journal, that Mr. Wohler had found Vana- 

 dium in the brown lead ore of Zimapan. I entertained the opinion, 

 twenty-nine years ago, that it contained a new metal, which, at 

 the time, I called Pancrome, on account of its producing the three 

 fundamental colours, blue, yellow, and red. Subsequently I 

 named it, Erithrome, having observed a very curious phenomenon 

 connected with it. The colourless salts^ e. g. the Vanadiate of 



