lOS ' Analysis of a Substance found in Ilighgaie Hill, [Sept. 
the Editor of the Monthly Magazine, 
SIR, 
EVERAL members of the Lambeth 
Chemical Society have read with 
surprize the conclusion of the account of 
the archway through Highgate Hill, 
(page 535 of the Slst volume of your 
Magazine) by Mr. Giliman, stating the 
properties of a peculiar resinous sub¬ 
stance (more properly a rCvsino-bituminous 
substance) found there. By the minutes 
of the Society, and notes taken at the meet¬ 
ing, it appears that this substance was ex¬ 
amined before the president and several 
members on the 10th of May, 1811, and 
the following physical and chemical pro¬ 
perties were ascertained by experimetits 
made by Mr. J. D. C. Sowerby:’’^ 
— First. Its specific gravity is less than 
that of amber.—iSerowd. It emits a scent 
when rubbed, differing much from that 
of amber, and more resembling lemon 
thyme.— Third, It is rendered slightly 
electric by friction.— Fourth. It is in¬ 
soluble in boiling water, but swells much. 
■ — Ffth. Hot alcohol dissolves only a 
part of it, (its apparent bulk when in 
powder not being much diminished by 
several days digestion) the solution as¬ 
sumes a yellow-brow'n colour.— Sixth, It 
is entirely soluble in turpentine; the im¬ 
purities only, principally oxide of iron, 
remaining undissolved.— Seventh. Hot 
sulphuric aether dissolves only a small 
portion of what resists the action of the 
alcohol,— Eighth. Sulphuric and nitric 
acids act upon it nearly as they do upon 
rosin. 
It will be readily perceived that tliis 
statement differs in several respects from 
that given by Mr. Giliman, particularly 
in respect to the action of alcohol and 
4Ether, in which fluids he states the re¬ 
sinous substance to be soluble, which 
property would preclude the bituminous 
principle which further experiments have 
proved it to contain in abundance.f 
Upon considering this difference in the 
statements, one may be led to suspect 
that Mr. G. did not himself try the ne¬ 
cessary experiments, although they might 
have been performed easily and cheaply; 
but, as he visited the Society on the even¬ 
ing they were made, it is to be feared 
that he trusted to his memory, and has 
* At the next meeting, Mr. Sowerby ob¬ 
served, that these experiments had been re¬ 
peated : and produced an analysis. 
+ These experiments wull probably be 
published by the sanction of the Society at 
some future period. 
thereby been led to give an incorrect 
account. 
In another part of the paper he has 
thought fit to call the argilliferous mar- 
lite of Kirwan, (vol, i. p. 99) of which 
the septarisB are composed, “ common 
argillaceous iron stone of Kirwan,” a 
name which the small portion of iron it 
holds renders it unworthy of, and which 
might lead unskilful speculators into 
ruinous error. 1 shall not take up your 
valuable pages by insisting upon the 
utility of publicly correcting published 
errors, which has so often been shown 
by abler and more experienced writers 
than myself; nor should I have under¬ 
taken this task, had I not considered the 
gentlemen before whom the experiments 
were made, to be adequate judges, 
A Member of the Lambeth 
Chemical Society. 
Lamhethf July 17, 1811. 
Tb the Editor of the Monthly Magazine, 
SIR, 
N the Magazine No. 212 (page 59), 
there is a Letter or Essay, “ On the 
Defects in the Church Government of 
the Quakers,” signed (wdth how little 
propriety I hope to show) Verus. After 
some remarks to introduce the subject, 
the author compliments the Editor by 
saying, “ The pages of your Magazine 
have never been stained with illiberal 
abuse of any corporate body, or religious 
society.” Verus, however, has a mind 
to begin. False charges will probably 
be thought abuse enough, and 1 am not 
much acquainted with what can be liberal 
abuse : though I will allow the abuse of 
the soi-disant Verus is, in one sense, 
liberally bestowed. I do not mean to 
travel through all the path he has open¬ 
ed, but shall imitate his Ex pede, &c# 
with an Ex ungue of his veracity. 
Speaking of select meetings, he says, 
“ The members are elected by them¬ 
selves, without any interference of the 
society at large.” The fact is, that elders 
are chosen by the monthly meetings, not 
without, also, the interference of the 
quarterly meeting, in order,” as the 
rules say, “ to preventan improper choice 
of eldersf.” The ministers are solely 
such as are acknowledged by the monthly 
meetings J. 
“ The business of these meetings is 
transacted secretly.” How else could 
j- Extracts, &c.—Miniiters and ElderNa^ 
22, 23. 
t Jhid. No. 16. 
