i68  James  Smithson.  {AmAp0r,j^;lmrm• 
"  On  the  Discovery  of  Acids  in  Mineral  Substances."  (Vol.  xxi; 
new  ser.,  vol.  v,  p.  384,  1823.) 
"  An  Improved  Method  of  Making  Coffee."  (Vol.  xxii ;  new  ser., 
vol.  vi,  p.  30,  1823.) 
"  A  Discovery  of  Chloride  of  Potassium  in  the  Earth."  (Vol.  xxii  ; 
new  ser.,  vol.  vi,  p.  258,  1823.) 
"  On  Some  Compounds  of  Fluorine."  (Vol.  xxiii  ;  new  ser.,  vol. 
vii,  p.  100,  1824.) 
"  An  Examination  of  Some  Egyptian  Colors."  (Vol.  xxiii;  new 
ser.,  vol.  vii,  p.  115,  1824.) 
"Some  Observations  on  Mr.  Penn's  Theory  Concerning  the  Form- 
ation of  the  Kirkdale  Cave."    (Vol.  xxiv ;  new  ser.,  vol.  viii,  p.  50, 
1824.) 
"  A  Letter  from  Dr.  Black  Describing  a  Very  Sensible  Balance." 
(Vol.  xxiv;  new  ser.,  vol.  x,  p.  52,  1825.) 
"A  Method  of  Fixing  Crayon  Colors."  (Vol.  xxvi ;  new  ser., 
vol.  x,  p.  236,  1825.) 
All  the  above  were  reprinted  in  vol.  xxi  (1879)  of  the  Smithsonian 
Miscellaneous  Collections,  under  the  title  "  The  Scientific  Writings  of 
James  Smithson."    They  consist  of  about  117  printed  pages. 
His  published  writings  did  not  represent  all  of  his  work,  as  200 
of  his  manuscripts  (covering  a  wide  range  of  subjects — history,  the 
arts,  languages,  rural  pursuits,  etc.),  were  forwarded  to  the  United 
States  with  his  effects.  All  these,  with  the  exception  of  one  small 
volume,  were  burned  in  the  fire  at  the  Smithsonian  Institution  in 
1865.  His  cabinet,  destroyed  at  the  same  time,  consisted  of  a  choice 
collection  of  minerals  of  8,000  or  10,000  specimens,  and  included 
examples  of  most  of  the  meteorites  which  had  fallen  in  Europe  dur- 
ing several  centuries. 
Smithson's  will  was  a  model  of  simplicity.  In  it  he  describes  him- 
self thus  : 
"  I,  James  Smithson,  Son  to  Hugh,  first  Duke  of  Northumberland, 
&  Elizabeth,  Heiress  of  the  Hungerfords  of  Studley,  &  Niece  to 
Charles,  the  proud  Duke  of  Somerset,  now  residing  in  Bentinck 
Street,  Cavendish  Square,  do  this  twenty-third  day  of  October,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-six,  make  this  my  last  Will  and 
Testament." 
His  will  directed  that  an  annuity  of  £\oo  should  be  paid  his 
ormer  servant,  John  Fitfall,  during  life  ;  that  sums  of  money  which 
