434 
elucidate the politics of Germany, has, 
for the laft fix years, been publifhed in 
numbers, by Mr. HaBertuin, Profeffor 
of Hiftory in the Univerfity of Helmiftadr. 
The title of the work is, Staats-archiv. 
In the 18th number is printed aSketch ofa 
Law for the Regulation of the Prefs, writ- 
ten by Baron von Daats; which has fo 
much attracted the notice of the King’of 
Pruffia, that he has committed it to the 
Minifters of ftate, Chancellor von GoLp- 
BECK and Count. von ALVENSLEBEN, 
for further examination, to be ufed by 
them in drawing up an ediét relative to 
the licenfing of books. | ‘This edict will be 
the more important, as it probably will 
be made the rule according to which the 
‘new Emperor of Rufha will permit the 
importation of books into his dominions. 
The poflibility of decompofing the earths 
and fixed alkalis has of late been particu- 
Jarly difcufled, and the improvemenrs 
which chemiftry has gained by the zeal 
and genius of modern chemifts, feems to 
entitle us to hope, that the earths are likely 
to be focn exploded from the catalogue of 
fmple bodies or elements. | The following 
. facts and obfervations deferve to be at- 
tended to :—1. The cauftic ftrontian earth, 
barytes, and lime, are decompofed in the 
firongeft white heat, by combining them 
with carbon; the firft is particularly at- ’ 
tracted by coal, and forms azote, water, 
and carbonic-acid, during that precets. 
The decompolition of thofe bodies allo 
proceeds under the blow pipe. 2. Earths 
poffefs much afiinity for oxygen, which 
is proved by the excellent — experi- 
ments of Humbeldt, in decompofing 
the pure argiliaceous earth by oxygen 
gas; and it appears from the following 
tacis, how great the influence of oxygen 
’ $s upon the earths. 3. The fermentatio 
jogilis of the porcelain earth, according 
to fome mineralogilis, 1s 
the fofil fermentation of the fieldfpar, 
but it continues to be in this way decom- 
‘pofed, when it is farther expofed to the 
action of the air, by which means it is 
alfo prepared for the intended ufe, lofing 
thus its fandy particles, and becoming 
joft and fit for being worked. 4. Lhe 
oxydated argillaceous carth is with more 
difficulty diffelved in acids, than the 
deoxydared. Pure argil, which he hap- 
pened to keep in combination witb oxygen 
gas and water for fix months, was net 
perfe@tly foluble in fulphuric acid. The 
folution, however, proceeded, as foon as 
the earth, after being diffolved by caustic 
lye in a filver Crucible, was precipitated 
+ 
Literary and Philofephical Intelligence. 
formed by - 
{J une't, . 
by acetous acid, by which it feems pro- 
bable, that the caultic fixed alkali deprives 
the argillaceous earth of its oxygen in the 
glowfire, Hence it may be -explained, 
why the fapphire is foluble in acidg, after 
being burnt with kali, &c. 5. Jt deferves 
to be attended to and proved by farther ex- 
periments, what the late Mr. GiRTANNER 
has conjectured of the oxydation of earths. 
6. The earths are formed in plants and 
animals from elements, which they receive 
with their nutriment, and through the me-' 
diums with which they are furrounded, 
The interefling experiments of the inge- 
nious VaUQUuELIN on the formation of 
the calcareous earth in hens, are: known 
to every chemift. ‘The earths contain, 
ed in plants are the fame, even when 
they grow in different foils, from which, 
accordingly, they do not originate. 7, 
Earths are alfo formed in the atmofpbere, 
which appears from the late obfefvations 
of itony mafies having fallen from. the: at-_ 
mofphere. If we dare acknowledge the 
hydrogen, oxygen, and azote, as the ele- 
ments of the earih, that phenomenon will be 
eafily explained. From thefe remarks we 
may conclude, that very little is to be de- 
pended on the analyfes, which have, hi- 
therto been made of terreous fubftances. 
Profeffor Lampanius is at prefent much 
engaged in experiments to afcertain the 
nature of filiceous earth, which he con- 
céives to be nothing but argillaceous earth 
in the higheft degree of oxydation, and 
which is changed into argillaceous earth 
by treating it with deoxydant fubfances, 
Tt feems, therefore, probable, that feverat 
fofiils, which, according to their external 
or oryétognoftic figns appear to be filig. 
ceous, are changed in the hands of .che- 
mifts into argillaceous earth! Though 
conf{cious of the boldnefs of this aflertion, 
the Profeflor obferves, that in different 
analyfes of the fame fabftances he has 
fometimes obtained a greater, fometimes a 
lefs, quantity of argillaceous or of filiceous 
earths, which he afcribes to the above 
circumftance. On the whole he thinks, 
that earths,.as well as fixed alkalis, 
are compofed of azote, hydiogen, and 
oxygen, 
It appears from a letter of U. P. Sat- 
MON, phyfician to the French army in 
Italy, addrefled to Mascacni, of the 
Univerfity of Sienna, and lately publithed, 
that the Cifalpine Government has lately 
proclaimed at Pavia the re-eftablitiment 
of the {chools, and that public inftruétion 
is proceeding there with great activity, 
Notwithfianaing the almoft irreparabie 
lofles 
