182 
have left the subject in a state of considerable incertitude* 
as it regards the essential components, constituting the 
grain of which we are speaking. Experimental philoso¬ 
phy would render our state much service by an accurate 
and complete analysis, I hope the Society will appoint a 
committee of gentlemen, distinguished for skill in chemis¬ 
try, who feel an interest in the pursuit of science, and who 
view the whole of this communication as designed to place 
our state on proper ground, and who shall be able by their 
art to demonstrate what I here venture to assert, which is— 
that our fine wheat possesses an enriching quality in greater 
abundance than any wheat of Virginia, the best not excepted. 
The Society will indulge me a moment, while I offer a 
few remarks somewhat connected with science. I begin 
then by asking a simple question. What injury is done to 
flour when ground excessively close, or by re-grinding a 
part the second time ? The answer to this enquiry I pre¬ 
sume is—that the life of such four is either materially in* 
jured, or totally destroyed. A gain. But what constitutes 
that life, and how does excessive close grinding affect and 
injure such life of flour ? Life, generally speaking, is an ac¬ 
tive principle. And the life of flour , I do not hesitate to 
say, is fixed air , entirely independent of the saccharine, 
which is its natural principle of fermentation, and when ab¬ 
sent from fixed air hastens to acidity, and will never ex¬ 
pand with the gluten, so as to answer any valuable purpose. 
It is (without question) fixed air, that is the life of flour* 
and not the gluten, as has been erroneously supposed by 
some persons. 
It is well known that heat disengages air; and when the 
mill stones become immoderately heated, either by too 
great contact, or long action, or improperly crowded with 
grain, so in proportion, the elastic principle, power, or life, 
becomes expelled : ip such case, the gluten, or animal sub¬ 
stance, is not destroyed, but is incapable of expanding as it 
would do, owing to absence or expulsion oTthe air from ex- 
