1308.] 
these newly discovered bodies, Mr. Davy 
took one part of the base -of alkali, and 
two of mercury, estimated by bulk; or 
about one part of the base to 48 of mer- 
cury by weight, and formed an amalgam, 
which when applied in the circle of a Gal- 
vanic battery, which produced intense 
heat, to iron, silver, gold, or platina, im- 
mediately dissolved these, aud converted: 
them into oxides, in which process alkali 
was regenerated. Glass, as well as all 
other metallic bodies, was also dissolved 
by the application of this substance; the 
base of the alkali seizing the oxygen of 
the manganese and of theminium, potash 
was regenerated. One of these globules 
placed on a piece of ice, dissolved it, and 
burnt with a bright flame giving out an 
intense heat. Potash was found in the 
product of the dissolved ice. Nearly the 
same effects followed when a globule was 
thrown into water; in both cases a great 
quantity of hydrogen gas was rapidly l- 
berated. Whien laid on a piece of mois- 
tened turmeric paper, the globule seemed 
mstantly to acquire,an intense heat; but 
so rapid was its movement in quest of the 
moisture, that no part of the paper was 
burnt, only an intense deep red stain 
marked the course it followed, and show- 
ed a reproduction of alkali. The speci- 
fic gravity of the base of soda is as 7 to 
10 of water, and is fixed in a tempera- 
‘ture of about 150°, and fluid at 180° - 
Mr. Davy next tried its effects on the 
phosphats, phosphurets, and the greater 
part of the salts of the first and second 
degree of oxydizement, all of which it de- 
composed, seizing their oxygen, and re- 
assuming its alkaline qualities. ‘The spe- 
cife quality of this amalgam, after a num- 
ber of experiments, was found, by means 
of a mixture of oil of sassafras with dis- 
tilled naphtha, in which a globule remain- 
éd tither buoyant at top, or quiescent at 
botiom, in a fluid weighing as nine to ten 
of water. A great variety of experiments 
wer made to ascertain the difference of 
the base of potash from that of soda; and 
fron. the medium taken of numerous ana- 
lytic, and of nine synthetical, experi- 
ment, it appeared that 100 parts of pot- 
ash, wntain 15 oxygen, and 85 of in- 
flammnable base, and that the same quan- 
tity Oisoda contains 20 oxygen, and 80 
base.. On an examination of the volatile 
alkali, which chemists led by systematic 
theoryhave rather hastily taken for gran- 
ted tha it consists merely of hydrogen 
and nisogen, Mr. Davy, after a great 
numbenf complex experiments, in which 
Literary and Philosophical Intelligence. 
581 
ne was assisted by Messrs. Pepys and Al+ 
len, ascertained that oxygen 1s also an es 
sential ingredient in ammonia, 100 grains 
of the latter yielding 20 of* the former 
but this result depended too much on eu- 
diometrical calculation to be received as 
an established fact. Mr. Davy on mak- 
ing some general observations on the se 
ries of new facts here disclosed, related 
some miscellaneous experiments on the 
muriatic and fluoric acids, all of which 
tended to prove that oxygen is one of 
their constituent principles. The earths 
of barytes and strontites, as being most 
analogous to the alkalis, were likewise 
-exannned, and both yielded considerable 
quantities of oxygen. Mr. Davy conclu- 
ded by remarking the impropriety of lis 
miting the term oxygen to a specific cha- 
racter, as opposed to that of alkali, ob- 
served the necessity of improving the nos 
menclature i consequence of the new 
Jjucts now discovered, and the influence 
of this * metallary base as it might be 
called” on other bodies; and suggested 
the importance and extent of the new 
field these facts opened to geology, as 
likely to lead to numerous discoveries re= 
lative to the formation of various stones, 
strata, and mountains. 
We state with much satisfaction that 
the Gas Lights which have been so ridi- 
diculously puffed and vulgarly advertised 
in the public papers for several years past, 
have been proved to answer the promised 
purpose. Part of the south side of Pall- 
Mail bas for a few weeks been lighted 
with the Gas, and the effect 1s beyond all 
dispute imfinitely superior to the old me- 
thod of lighting our streets. One branch 
of the lamps illumimated with gas affords a 
greater intensity of light than twenty com- 
mon lamps lighted with oil. The light 
itself is beautifully white and brilliant, 
and the lamp emits neither smoke nor 
smell, Ina word, we can justly say, that 
every person who has viewed this first pub- 
he application of the gas lights, has 
been delighted by the anticipation of 
seeing our streets and public buiid- 
ings illuminated in this simple, cheap, and 
brilhant manner, 
The Surrey Institution for the Diffusion 
of Literature and Science, has entered 
upon the elegant and spacious premises 
lately occupied by the Leverian Museum, 
near Blacktniars-bridge; and a Reading 
Room, forthe accommodation of Subseri-s 
bers, will be opened in a short time. We 
have singular satisfaction in being able 
to state that the seven hundred proprie= 
i tary 
