1803.] 
tellie Tubes, and others relating to phlo- 
gifticated air.” Dr. Prieftley acknow- 
leges, in the moft handlome manner, the 
great obligations fie is under to Mr. 
Parker (we prefume, ofFleet-ftreet) for 
a burning lens, fixteen inches in dia- 
meter, and for various other glafs veffels, 
with which he has been enabled to profe- 
cute his moft important experiments. — 
The next paper which we fhall notice. 
in this volume is entitled ‘* Obfervations 
on Soda, Magaelia, and Lime, contained 
in the Water of the Ocean; fhewing, 
that they operate advantagcoufly there by 
neutralizing Acids, and, among others 
the Septic Acids, and that Sea-'Water 
may be rendered fit for wafhing Clothes. 
without the aid of Soap,” by S. L. 
MitcuiL., of New-York. i 
According to this gentleman’s theory, 
the water in the ocean contains, among a 
wariety of other things, foda, magnefia, 
and lime: of thefe, the foda is the moft 
abundant ; magnefia is next in quantity 5 
and lime exifts in fmaller proportions 
than either. The alkaline matter, fo 
plentifully difperfed through the water of 
the ocean, exerts its neutralizing power 
with refpeét to the acids contained. in the 
fea; of thefe the muriatic is always to be 
found—frequently the /epéjc, anc fome- 
times the /ulphuric. 
There are thus three predominating al- 
kalies, and as many acids in the ocean ; 
and, by the intervention of water, they 
are liquefied, and put in a condition to act 
each upon the other; confequently the 
foda, as the ftrongeft alkali, attaches, 
and neutralizes, the acids, in the order of 
chemical affinity, and forms the fulphate, 
feptate, and muriate of foda. The latter 
is the predominating compound. When 
there is any acid in the water, beyond the 
capacity of the foda to neutralize, that 
part is attracted by the magnefia and lime, 
and forms fulphates, feptates, and muri- 
ates of lime and magnefia. . 
Such being the compofition of the fea- 
water, it is eafy toexplain why it isnot fit 
by itfelf for wafhing garments. Ithas a de~ 
ficiency of alkaline {alt, which is the moft 
complete detergent. Hence alfo the rea- 
fon why foap cannot be ufed with fea- 
water. The acids, united to the lime 
and magnefia, being more ftrongiy at- 
tracted by the alkali of the loap, quit 
their connection with thofe earths which 
fall to the bottom, while the lighter and 
deferted oil rifes to thetop. The activity 
of the alkali of the foap, thus overcome 
by- the neutralizing acid of the water, can 
Proceedings of Learned Societies. ' | 155 
be of little fervice; and the difengaged 
greale immediately becomes a real ampe- 
diment. — 
The inferences which Dr. Mitchill 
draws from this uleful paper, of which 
we have given an outline only, are,— 
1. That alkaline fpbftances are diftri- 
buted through the ocean to keep it trom 
becoming foul and uninhabitable, which 
would be the cafe if the acids, abounding 
in it were not neutralized, 2. If foda or 
barilla is added to fea-water, in fufhicient 
guantity, and the water lixiviated, the 
earths will be precipated, the acids neu- 
tralized, and in this ftate, linen, &c. may 
be wefhed in it. 3. Barilla, or. foda, 
fhould always make part of a fhip’s 
ftores; as cleanlinefs js the beft means of 
preventing infeftion. 4. The {mall quan- 
tity of magnefia, or lime, adhering to the 
clothes wafhed in this manner, is an ad~ 
vantage over and above what takes place 
in ufing freth water. And, 5. A noble 
and extenfive view is difplayed of the 
economy of Providence, in diftributing 
alkaline falts and earths, fo liberally 
throughout the terraqueous globe. 
ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 
R. HERSCHEL, the conftant con- 
4 tributor to the Tranfaétions of this 
Society, has, in their prefent volume, pre- 
fented us with his ‘* Obfervations on the 
two lately difcovered Planets.” 
The accuracy of this excellent aftro- 
nomer’s obfervations, will be admitted by 
every one; and, according to thefe, the 
magnitudes of the Ceres and Pallas, are 
very fmall indeed, compared with Mer- 
cury, the leaft of the other planets. 
«<° As,” fays he, *€ we generally caa_ 
judge belt of comparative magnitudes, 
when the meafures are, as it were, 
brought home to us ; it will not be amifs 
to reduce them tomiles. This, however, 
cannot be done with great precifion, till we 
are more perfectly acquainted with the 
elements of the orbits of thefe ftars. 
But, for the prefent purpofe, ic will be 
fuficient to take. their mean diftances 
from the fun, according to the molt recent — 
information: for Ceres, 2 6024; and for 
Pallas, 2.8. ‘The geocentric longuudes, 
and north latitudes, at the time of obler- 
vation, were, fur Ceres, about 11) 20°.4': 
15°.20': and, for Pallas, 1 23°.407: 
17°.3'0".), With thefe data, Dr. Herf- 
chel computed the dittances: for Ceres, 
1.634; and for Pallas, 1.8333, and by 
theie the diameter of Ceres, at the mean 
diftance of the earth from the fun, would 
iubtend 
