1802.] 
air is formed from the oxygen, in the 
finery cinder and carbon in the charcoal, 
its affinity to oxygen being greater than 
that of the iron to it; that the iron, thus 
revived by lofing its oxygen, decompofes 
the newly-generated fixed air. But as 
this cannot be effected without the fixed 
air parting with its oxygen, he fuppofes 
the iron to take it back again, and thus 
to become partially oxygenated, or finery 
cinder. He calls the air, produced in 
this manner, an oxide of carbon. 
In this explanation, I find, by a cor- 
refpondent in Paris, that Mr. Morveau, 
and the other French chymitts, diffatif- 
fied, no doubt, with the two preceding 
anfwers, triumph greatly. But it ap- 
pears to me to be loaded with more dif- 
ficulties than either of them. 
1. Suppofing it poffible for the oxygen 
to quit the iron, without any thing enter- 
ing into it, and by uniting with carbon 
to form fixed air, and that the finery cin- 
der thus becomes iron, this metal has no 
power to decompofe fixed air, as I find, 
by heating it in fixed air, by means of a 
burning lens, 
2. Ifit could do this, the refult would 
not, according to the new theory, be any 
fubftance that was inflammable, fince fixed 
air contains no water, from which alone, 
it is faid, that inflammable air can come. 
Being an oxide, it isthe reverfe of fub- 
ftances that are combuffible, combuftion 
being the union of oxygen with fome 
fubftance that, being without it, has an 
affinity to it; whereas, all oxides are al- 
ready faturated with this principle, and 
therefore cannot take any more. 
3. It is abfurd to fuppole, that finery 
cinder fhould both part with its oxygen, 
and take it again, in the fame procefs. 
And, in fact, where the procefs is.finifhed, 
the iron is compleiely revived, and not 
partially oxidated, as Mr. Cruikfhank’s 
hypothefis requires, and as he aflerts. 
To what other hypothefis the antiphlo- 
giftians will have recourfe, in order to 
reconcile this experiment to their princi- 
ples, time will fhow. For the prefent, I 
muft acquiefce in my own explanation, 
which is that finery cinder contains water, 
and not oxpgen; and that this water, 
uniting with the hot charcoal, produces 
the fame kind of air, viz. a mixture of 
fixed air and heavy inflammable air, that 
water itfelf coming into contact with hot 
charcoal always does. 
Northumberland, 
Fune 20, 1302. 
Yours, &c. 
J. PRIESTLEY. 
P.S. By fome late experiments, I can 
Letter from Dr. Toulmin. 3 
prove, that iron becomes fteel by imbibing 
not carbon, as the antiphlogiftians fuppofe, 
but only phlogifion, in the procefs of cemen- 
tation ; and that the addition to its weight 
is from finery cinder, 
wel 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, . 
| WAS lately prefented, at the order of 
a deceafed lady, Mrs. Palmer, of Ci- 
rencefter, with a copy of Dr. Kennicot’s 
‘© Two Diflertations; the firft, on the 
Tree of Life in Paradife, &c.; the fe-~ 
cond on the Oblations of Cain and Abel.” 
2d edition, 1747 5 which copy was a pre- 
fent from the author himfelf to my friend. 
In the blank leaf is written a memoran- 
dum, which afcertains the ground and 
manner of his receiving the degree of B.A. 
As it appears to me a curious article that 
will have its importance in any future bio- 
graphical memoir of the Doétor, and refleéts 
honour on his memory, I wifh it may be 
preferved in your literary Mifcellany. 
Iam, Your conftant Reader, 
JosHua TOuLMIN. 
Taunton, 24th Fune, 1802. 
Copy of a Memorandum writtenin the blank 
leaf of the Book above-mentioned. 
On “Fune 20th, 174.7- 
Tine Univerfity of Oxford unanimoufly 
agreed in convocation to confer the degree of 
B. A. (without examination, determination 
at Lent, or fees) on the Author of this book, 
in confequence of the following letter from 
the Chancellor to the Univerfity: 
‘¢ Whereas it hath been reprefented to 
Me, that Benjamin Kennicott, Scholar, of 
Wadham College, is a perfon well deferving 
of your favour 5 particularly on account of a 
Book lately publifhed by -him, entitled, 
© Two Differtations,’ &c.—-For a further en- 
couragement to him in the profecution of his 
ftudies, and as an excitement to the Youth 
of your Univerfity to follow fo laudable an 
example, I give my confent that the degree 
of B. A, be in the fulleft manner conferred 
upon him, without fees. 
Iam, &c. 
ARRAN.” 
ae 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
YN compliance with the requef of Dr. 
i Baggs, p. 544, of your lait Number, I 
take up my pen once more ona pailage 
of Virgil, of which I chought I had taken 
leave for ever. 
Az My 
