
          statements about Devilles experiments in aluminum
 & cannot in this place retrace them. They are not noticed
 in any journal I have here. I have no idea of his process.
 Some years ago W. Gregory wrote a paper showing how
 cheaply sodium could be obtained (I think for
 20 cents per oz [ounce]) & the immense advantage which wd [would]
 result to analysis by his plan being adopted. However
 we never saw cheap sodium form that to this. I hope
 Deville will succeed better. If you know where that process
 of his is fully described I wd [would] get it for insertion in 
 the next no. [number] of the Journal. Apropos of this, I find 
 it exceeding hard to get any original communication.
 I wrote a polite note to Kent as King one, & he sent me
 in reply a frettish letter complaining he never had 
 seen the journal but by accident & did not therefore think
 he need contribute, etc, etc. This neglect was the printers
 fault not mine: but I won't let Kent off so easy.


 Kane in his "Arctic Expedition" noticing the effect of cold
 below zero upon [?] food mentions that Lard acquired
 a semitransparency & gave a conchordal fracture. This last
 is curious. I am in the habit of connecting that mode of fracture
 with substances that have been heated & cooled. Perhaps a wrong
 conception of mine as gum arabic & flint are exceptions
 (the latter may have been heated) it is odd that cold should
 so approximate the particles of lard.


 I am sorry about this protracted fight that Gibbs
 is obliged to make & I am vexed with the College.
 I have [added: a] great dislike to the clergy (of every persuasion)
 they have done me a world of injury, & like the Roman
 Emperor I could wish they had but one neck & I would

        