356 - 
is faid to float in a lcofe uncombined ftate. 
But from no other experiment that I am 
acquainted with can it be proved that any 
fixed air necefisrily exits in the atmof- 
phere, and lime, and lime water, will ac- 
quire it in all fituations. Jam theretore 
inclined to think that this fixed air is com- 
pofed of phicgitton imparted to the lime 
from the freto which it had been expofed, 
and the dephlogifticated air in the atmot- 
phere; and [ have always ‘ound that a 
portion of atmofpherical air expofed fome 
time to lime or lime water, is lenfibly lets 
pure than before ; fome part of the de- 
phlogifticated air of which itis compoted 
having been taken from it by the lime ; 
and is is never found again except as a 
component part of the fixed air which is 
aiterwards expelled trom it. 
The fixed air which is expelled from 
he yellow calx of lead, which has been 
fome time expofed to the atmolphere, has, 
IT doubt not, the fame fource,, For when 
it is heated preiently after it is made, lit- 
tle or no air can be expelied from it, as 
it may fome time afterwards. And I find 
that this fubitance alfo expofed to a por- 
tion of atmotpherical air, makes it lefs 
pure than it was before, juit as in the caie 
of quick lime. 
ro. That phlogifticated air is fome- 
times produced trom the uniting ot dephlo- 
gifticated air in the atmoiphere, and phlo- 
ifon in the fubftances expoled to it, I 
think I have fufficiently proved. I thall, 
however, ju mention another experiment, 
which is eafily repeated, and which I think 
demonirates the fame thing. It is well 
known that hot charcoalimbibes any Kind 
of air, and I have obierved that when it 
is afterwards put into water it gives this 
air out again. But if the air be that of 
the atmo!phere, it takes the dephlogiiti- 
cated part in preference to the other, 
leaving tse remainder phlogiiticated; and 
the air that it gives out aficr this in water, 
is chiefly phlogificated alfo. What then 
becomes of the dephlogifticated air that 
has difappeared ?- Will it be faid that it 
remains in the charcoal which had im- 
bibed it? Whencethen, came the purified 
air which it gave out; when, according 
to the new theory, charcoal does not con- 
tainany fuch principles. It is not found 
in the water into which it 1s put; for 
this gives out air lefs pure than it did be- 
fore the precels. 
~ Before the new theory of chemiftry can 
be unexceptionably eftablifhed, the follow- 
ing things muit be done.— Whenever in- 
flammable air or Aydrogen is procured, 
evidence muft be given of the production 
of a due proportion of oxygen. about 85 
: am 
Account of Myrther-tedvel, 
> 
~ [*May 
of this to 15 of the other, and this evi- | 
‘dence mufi be fomething more than an 
addition of weight to any thing. It 
muft be either aétual acidity, or deplogifiz- 
cated air, otherwile there is no proof o1 the 
inflammable air coming from the decompo-- 
fition of water. ‘This, however, has not 
yet been done with refpect to iron, or any 
other fub{tance by means of whith inflam- 
mable air is procured. » 
si. When water is procured by the 
burning of inflammable air in depbhlogi/ii- 
cated air, the water muit not only be free 
from acidity, but there muft be no pro- 
duction of phlogiflicated air in the procefs. 
For by thedecompofitian of this air nitrous 
acid may be procured. Iam, dear Sir, 
Norilumberland, Yours fincerely, 
Fan. 17, 1799- .)) hag REE Sa ES Yi, 
eee Se 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
\ 
T a time when the ravages of war 
A are deiolating many other coun- 
tries, it is not an unpleafing contraft to 
fee in our own, trade flourifhing, and 
towns, in confequence, fpringing up in 
places where before exifted only a few 
fcattered houfes. I was led to this re- 
fleQion by pafling through a town very 
lately, in the midland parts of Wales, 
which twenty years ago deferved fearcely 
the name of a village. As the means by 
which it has increafed in numbers and 
opulence cannot but be interefting, I 
fend you this {nort account of the cir- 
cumftance ; and kave it to you, to iniert 
it or not, as you think proper, in your 
Monthly MifceHany. . 
“Phe town I allude to is called Myrtber- 
tedvzl, fituated on the borders of Brecon- 
hire, next to the county of Glamorgan. 
‘The {pot on which it ftands, and the im- 
mediate neighbourhocd, was the fortu- 
nate purchaie cf a gentleman, who does 
not feem tully aware of its value. It coft 
him only eight nundred pounds ; and, in 
grcund-rents alone, he now lets it out for 
more than the yearly rent of one thou- 
fand pounds. 
As the town is fituated in a barren dif 
trié&t, and fupported felely by the iron 
trade, which the owner deems precarious, 
he is averfe to letting out any more on 
building leafes; as it is only fuffering, he 
thinks, mafens to lay itones and mortar 
on his eftate, for him, in fome future 
tune to remove. ‘This is aéting upona 
very narrow policy indeed, and may be 
the means of cramping the rifing {pirit of 
j F , : : i . tise 
4 
