1809.) 
Lo the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
BIR, 
VERY one acquainted with’ chemi- 
cal science is aware of the loss sus- 
tained, not only by his friends in particular, 
but by the public at large, in consequence 
of the untimely death of the late Mr. 
William Reynolds, iron-master, ac Kett- 
ley. Few men possessed either more in- 
genuity or judginent, not merely in his 
own peculiar walk, but in the objects of 
general science. Many monuments of 
kis ability remain in his own neighbour- 
hood, which will long remind us of his 
active mind. The accompanying ac- 
count of the direct formation of alka- 
line, and other matter, which appear to 
have been regenerated at the blast-fur- 
ace of his brother, is well deserving of 
notice. I rather take the liberty of 
requesting its insértion, at a moment 
when so much pains are taken, and so 
much ability bestowed, on the analysis of 
the fixed alkaline substances. These we 
now know conta somewhat of a metal- 
loid nature. It is not impossible, but 
that the metallic principle itself may be 
one and the same. At any rate, what- 
ever tends to cast agleam of light on such 
a subject, must be at all times accept- 
abie, bat peculiarly so at the present 
Vannes epoch of chenncal and galvanic 
science, Itisto Mr. Robinson, the di- 
ligent companion of the able Reynolds, 
and: who at present, with equal ardour, 
prosecutes his science, that Lam indebted 
for the accurate observations which fol- 
low. In the hope that you will find room 
for what appears to me, at least, corres 
latively very important, I beg to remain, 
Your’s, Xe; 
PurLorEcHNicos, 
ENQUIRIES dnd EXPERIMENTS concerning 
- the aLKaALinesunstancs, lately found 
at a BLAST-PURNACE, at KETTLEY, be- 
- longing to MR. REYNOLDS. 
A sLacK substance was fourid col- 
lected on the inside of the timp of 
No. 3, Blast-furnace; when found, it 
was in the state of a black powder, 
which, on being left exposed to the air, 
soon became pasty, and even fluid: at 
the time this substance was discovered, 
the furnace had been, for several turns, 
making hard-iron, or oxyginated crude ~ 
iron, No. 3, of Mr. Mushet. Its so- 
lution had a strong alkaline taste, it 
effervesced briskly with acids; by their - 
means a blue powder was deposited. 
A black substance was also found 1 in the 
Monraty Mae, No, i990, 
Alkaline Substances found at @ Blast furnace. 
269 
air-hole, which proceeds from the false 
bottom of No. 8, blast-furnace, and 
which also, deliquesces, and seems similar 
in its properties to that formed-at the 
timp. A portion was taken to the labo 
ratory, and tried as follows : 
A. A small quantity was treated with 
vitriolic acid; the liquor eifervesced and 
became blue } a blue powder was depo- 
sited, which retained its colour and torin 
in excess of acid. - 
B. With marine acid a blue powder was 
also deposited, which also retained its 
colour and solidity in excess of acid, bug 
“became green by boiling. 
C._With nitric acid-the appearance as 
before described ; but being super-satus 
rated with caustic potash, the colour was 
gee and oxide of iron deposited. 
» The solution C being filtred, and 
ues with muriate of iron, a blue 
Rover was deposited, which proves thé 
iquor to contain Prussic acid. 
An iron tube was placed in the aire 
hole of the blast-furnace, the extremity 
of the tube’ being immersed in water, air 
came over slowly but constantly, so long 
as the blast was suffered to come into 
the furnace from the engine ; but the air 
at the tube ceased, when the blast from 
the engine ceased; this being caught over 
water, it was neither absorbed by lime- 
water, nor deflagrated by contact of 
flame; neither was the flame extine- 
guished, nor increased, by being imé< 
mersed in a jar-full of this air; at the end 
of six times twelve hours the tabe was 
taken out, and we found that at the inside 
of the hole in which the tube was ins 
serted, a quantity of black powder 
was collected (about one pint measure) ; 
this we drew out of the hole on a shovel. 
In its descent we observed, that one 
part of the powder took fire, like cara 
bon; another portion burnt like trons 
filings in the fame of a candle, and at 
the same time a very strong sineil of ame 
moniaca! gas was disengaged, so strong, 
as not only to affect the organs of smetl; 
but make the eyes run with water, The 
substance on the shovel was placed in a. 
jar, and covered with water, and taken 
to the laboratory for experiment. 
A. A quantity of the above was fil. 
‘tred ; the solution was colourless; the 
taste and smell strengly ammoniacal ; 
and it efiervesced with acids, 
- B. With vitriolic acid, a blue powder 
was deposited, which retains its colour 
and solidity in excess of acid. 
C. With wuriatic acid a blue: powder 
was deposited, which aso retains its co- 
\ 2M leur 
