THEORY OF THE AMIDETS. 
45 
But it appears to me that the powers and riches of these 
extraordinary districts remain yet to be fully developed. 
They exhibit a great number of mighty steam engines, fur- 
nished by nature at no cost, and applicable to an infinite va- 
riety of objects. In the progress of time this vast machinery 
of heat and force will probably become the moving central 
point of extensive manufacturing establishments. The steam, 
which has been so ingeniously applied to the concentration 
and evaporation of the boracic acid, will probably hereafter, 
instead of wasting itself in the air, be employed to move huge 
engines, which will be directed to the infinite variety of pro- 
ductions which engage the attention of laboring and intelligent 
artizans; and thus, in the course of time, there can be little 
doubt that these lagoons, which were fled from as objects of 
danger and terror by uninstructed man, will gather round 
them a large and intelligent population, and become sources 
of prosperity to innumerable individuals, through countless 
generations. Edin. New Phil. Journ. 
ART. IX.— THEORY OF THE AMIDETS. By M. J. Dumas. 
The analysis of oxamide having disclosed that this sub- 
stance contains — 
2 atoms of - - Carbon, 
2 " - - - Oxygen, 
1 " - - - Nitrogen, 
2 " > - - Hydrogen, 
and the examination of these reactions having proven that it 
is changed into oxalate of ammonia, or into oxalic acid and 
ammonia, under the operation of a large number of influences, 
there results from hence a theory which may readily be ap- 
plied to many analogous compounds. 
It may be conceived that oxamide may be represented by 
