SOD 
tnaniiscript catalogue is kept for the sub- 
scribers in the room ; but a printed one is 
hereafter to be prepared and delivered. 
“No librarian, or attendant, or any other 
olBcer or servant of the institution, shall re- 
ceive any fee,, perquisite, or gratuity, on ac- 
count of, or during the execution of their 
office, under penalty of immediate dismis- 
sion from the service of the institution.” 
SOCMEN, or Sokemen, such tenants 
as held their lands and tenements in socage ; 
but the tenants in ancient demesne, seem 
most properly to be called socmans. 
SOCRATIC philosophy, the doctrines 
and opinions, with regard to morality and 
religion, maintained and taught by Socrates. 
By the character of Socrates, left us by the 
ancients, particularly by his scholar Plato, 
Laertius, &.C. he appears to have been one 
of the best and the wisest persons in all the 
heathen world. To him is ascribed the 
first introduction of moral piiilosophy, which 
is what is meant by that usual saying, 
“ that Socrates first called philosophy 
down from heaven to earth that is, from 
the contemplation of the heavens and hea- 
venly bodies, he led men to consider them- 
selves, their own passions, opinions, facul- 
ties, duties, actions, &c. He wrote nothing 
himself, yet all the Grecian sects of philo- 
sophers refer their origin to his discipline, 
particularly the Platonists, Peripatetics, 
Academics, Cyrenaics, Stoics, &c. but the 
greatest part of his philosophy we have in 
the works of Plato. 
SODA, in mineralogy and chemistry, is 
a species of fossil salts, divided by mine- 
ralogists into common and radiated natron. 
Common natron is of a yellowish grey co- 
lour ; it occurs in fine flakes, or in dusty 
particles ; it has a sharp alkaline taste ; effer- 
vesces with nitric acid ; is easily soluble in 
water, and its solution changes blue vege- 
table tinctures to a green ; it is fusible be- 
fore the blow-pipe. It is found either as 
an efflorescence on the surface of the soil ; 
or on decomposing certain rocks ; or on 
the sides and bottoms of lakes, that, become 
dry by the heat and drought of summer. 
It is obtained in great abundance in many 
parts of Geiibany, and also in Egypt. That 
from Egypt has, according to Klaproth, 
yielded to analysis the following substances : 
Carbonate of soda 32.6 
Sulphate of soda 20.8 
Min iate of soda 15.0 
Water 31.6 
100.0 
SOH 
The radiated natron is of a yellowisfe 
grey colour : it occurs in crusts, and in 
capillary or acicular crystals, which aie 
aggregated on one another ; it is glistening 
and translucent. This is found native abou 
tw'o days journey from Fezzan, at the bot- 
tom of a rocky mountain, forming crusts, 
usually the thickness of a knife, and some- 
times even an inch thick on the surface of 
the earth. It is always crystalline. Be- 
sides the great quantity carried to Egypt 
and other parts, there are said to be fifty 
tons annually sent to Tripoli. It is nort 
adulterated with salt. Though there is 
abundance of salt in this part of Africa, it 
must be observed that the salt mines are 
situated on the sea coast, whereas the radi- 
ated natron, called trona, occurs at the dis- 
tance of twenty-eight days journey up the 
country. It is principally employed in the 
manufacture of glass and soap, and also for 
the washing of linen. This species has 
been analyzed by Klaproth, and found to 
consist of 
Sulphate of soda 2.5 
Pure soda 37.0 
Carbonic acid .$ 8.0 
Water of crystallization 22^.5 
100.0 
Soda was long regarded as a simple body ; 
it has, however, at length been decomposed 
by Mr. Davy. ■ See the article Potash, 
where a brief account is given of the disco- 
very. 
SOFFITA, or Soffit, in architecture, 
any plafond, or ceiling, formed of cross 
beams of flying corniches, the square com- 
partiments or pannels of which are enriched 
with sculpture, painting, or gilding. 
SOHO, the name of a set of works, or 
manufactory of a variety of hard wares be- 
longing to Mr. Boulton, situated on the 
bordem of Staffordshire, within two miles 
of Birmingham, now so justly celebrated as 
to claim a short notice in this place. About 
thirty or forty years ago the premises con- 
sisted pf a small mill and a few obscure 
dwellings. Mr. Boulton, in conjunction 
with Mr. Fothergill, then his partner, at 
ail expense of nine thousand pounds, erect- 
ed 3 handsome and extensive edifice, with a 
view of manufacturing metallic toys. The 
first productions consisted of buttons, buc- 
kles, watch-chains, trinkets, and such other 
articles as were, peculiar to Birmingham. 
Novelty, taste, and variety were, however, 
always conspicuous j and plated wares, 
