Memoir on Tea< 
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very soluble in alcohol, insoluble in ether ; nitric acid trans- 
forms it into a yellow resin ; its combinations with bases are 
decomposed by carbonic acid. Its composition is ; 
H. m 8.352, 
C. = 57.260, 
O. = 34.388. 
Calculating from this, which is the mean of several analyses? 
we are led to the following formula, C 13 H a3 O 6 . Its capa- 
city for saturation was determined on the salts of lead and 
silver; its atomic weight is 6.944. The atomic composition 
of esculic acid is therefore : C 53 H 93 O 34 . 
This acid, in combining with bases, does not lose its wa* 
ter. The only soluble esculates are those of potash, soda and 
ammonia. Journ. de Chim. Med* 
ART. XXXV.— MEMOIR ON TEA. By F. Pigou. 
With observations by A. Chereau. 
So much has been written on tea, of which there is so 
great a consumption in and exportation from China, that we 
should be cautious in crediting what may be published as 
new on the subject. Nevertheless, when the powerful interest 
it excites is considered, and how much uncertainty and how 
many errors exist respecting it, the necessity for further de- 
tails becomes evident, if it can be proved that they are de- 
rived from an authentic source. Those given in the present 
paper are derived from a report made by Mr. F. Pigou to 
the English East India Company, who had commissioned 
him to procure all the information possible with respect to 
the culture and preparation of this article. To accomplish 
this, as access to the places where it is cultivated is prohibited 
to foreigners, Mr. Pigou employed intelligent agents, among 
others, Chou-qua, who made eight journies to the district, 
and remained there from four to six months each time ; the 
information he thus obtained forms the basis of Mr. Pigou'g 
report. 
