220 Letter from Mr. Potter to Mr. R. Taylor. 
chlorine is passed be kept at a boiling heat, no crystals are 
formed, but a reddish oily fluid is produced; this,^hen ana- 
lysed, was found to consist of 
Carbon . . 
Atoms. 
..21 = 
126 
38-61 
Hydrogen 
•• 
8*5 
2-55 
Chlorine . 
.. 3i 
126 
37-22 
Oxygen . . 
. . 9 
88 
21-62 
348-5 
100 
In this case, the anhydrous, salicine loses 3^ atoms of hydro- 
gen, and gains an equivalent proportion of chlorine. This 
new compound is soluble in alcohol and alkaline solutions. 
G. B. 
XXXIX. Letter to Hichard Taylor^ Esq.^ as Editor of the 
Philosophical Magazine and Journal, By R. Potter, Esq.^ 
B.A., F,C,P,S, 
Dear Sir, 
^T^HE part you have taken in the controversy between Pro- 
fessor Forbes and myself has a good deal surprised me. 
That you should deprecate ‘‘personal imputations” in con- 
troversial papers, is what every reader of your periodical must 
heartily approve. However searching a review of Professor 
Forbes’s “memorandum” was required for the defence of 
my own investigations, I congratulate myself on having 
avoided personalities or any imputation of unworthy motives. 
It is a philosophical and legitimate line of defence to inquire 
whether your opponent is a competent judge of the matter 
in controversy, from the consideration he has given to the 
subject, and whether he is to be considered in the light of an 
impartial and unbiassed inquirer, or otherwise whether he has 
imbibed theoretical views so deeply as to place him only in 
the situation of a partisan of the particular theory adopted by 
him. This course I have always endeavoured to pursue, and 
would cheerfully concede to an opponent. I think, however, 
that I have just reason to complain of the admission of such 
terms as “gratuitously misinterpreted,” and “take a pleasure 
in misinterpreting my expressions,” admitted in the very com- 
munication to which your note was appended. 
In respect to the unsupported quotation from your un- 
named correspondent’s letter, which you have adopted, I have 
only to express my surprise that you did not suspect more 
than a filial solicitude for the Society’s honour on his part. 
My notice of the proceedings of the Society to which I have 
the honour to belong, and amongst the leading members of 
