of the fixed Alkalies. 5 
Under these circumstances a vivid action was soon ob- 
served to take place. The potash began to fuse at both its 
points of electrization. There was a violent effervescence at 
the upper surface ; at the lower, or negative surface, there 
was no liberation of elastic fluid ; but small globules having a 
high metallic lustre, and being precisely similar in visible 
characters to quicksilver, appeared, some of which burnt 
with explosion and bright flame, as soon as they were formed, 
and others remained, and were merely tarnished, and finally 
covered by a white film which formed on their surfaces. 
These globules, numerous experiments soon shewed to be 
the substance I was in search of, and a peculiar inflammable 
principle the basis of potash. I found that the platina was in 
no way connected with the result, except as the medium for 
exhibiting the electrical powers of decomposition ; and a sub- 
stance of the same kind was produced when pieces of copper, 
silver, gold, plumbago, or even charcoal were employed for 
com pleating the circuit. 
The phenomenon was independent of the presence of air ; 
I found that it took place when the alkali was in the vacuum 
of an exhausted receiver. 
The substance was likewise produced from potash fused by 
means of a lamp, in glass tubes confined by mercury, and 
furnished with hermetically inserted platina wires by which 
the electrical action was transmitted. But this operation could 
not be carried on for any considerable time ; the glass was 
rapidly dissolved by the action of the alkali, and this sub- 
stance soon penetrated through the body of the tube. 
Soda, when acted upon in the same manner as potash, ex- 
hibited an analogous result ; but the decomposition demanded 
