the head of the lift. By this means, we fhall at once perceive the effects of mixture, both in confequence of fingle and double elective attraction.

5. A defcription of the apparatus for examining, in miniature, the effect of dephlogifticated air, conveyed to the furface of an inflamed coal on bodies expofed to the brisk heat which it excites,' next follows. The method is neat and convenient ; but it must be examined with the plate. We then meet with Remarks on the Caufe of the Ebullition of Water, and on the Phenomena which accompany it.' This appearance M. Fourcry thinks depends on the water affuming the form of gas, and is attended with every circumftance which accompanies the fame change in other fluids. We think it may be more properly confidered as a feparation of gas, in confequence of the greater affinity of heat to the humour; becaufe, though ever so much agitated with the latter, it will not unite till the heat is again feparated. Perhaps this feparated fteam may differ in its nature from the remaining water; but it more probably differs only in form. In this view, we fee how the gas is eafily united to air, and in confequence of a mutual attraction, for every chemift knows, that attraction is more powerfully exerted when bodies refemble each other in form; and we fee too how evaporation may go on in vacuo, which, on the footing of its depending on chemical folution only of water in air, has been fuppofed inexplicable.But it is not our bufinefs to write differtations, though we may fuggeft hints for the use of others.

M.Fourcroy next defcribes a cryftallized feldt-fpath, found mixed with rock cryftal and mica, in the neighbourhood of Alençon.' The Obfervations on Incombustibility, confidered as a Character of Salts in general,' are connected with M. Lavoilier's new fyftem, of which we meet with a clearer account in this volume than we have hitherto feen; but it is too long for an extract. The principal point which may be ftyled new, is to prove that falts, and particularly alkalies, confift of a combuftible body, combined with pure air. "Our author thinks too, that alkalies exift not only potentially but formally in vegetable fubftances this opinion is now pretty general on the continent.

:

The fubject which follows is on the Difficulty of obtaining the fixed cauftic Alkali, in a very pure and folid Form. Our author's precautions for this purpose, are remarkable only for the great attention with which he prevents the accefs of common air at last, the alkali does not drop into the phial, but through a body of quick lime, and it is evaporated with equal addrefs in clofe veffels. The properties of this falt, when quite pure, we shall felect; for in this ftate it has feldom been defcribed. Its fufibility is fo great, that it foftens by a flight heat, and it becomes very hard by cold: when it is expofed to á temperature of 4 or 5 degrees below o (from 23 to 21° of Fahrenheit), it is fo hard as to be with difficulty powdered, and

re

rebounds from the ftroke of the peftle. It is fo deliquefcent, as in a few minutes to be covered with drops, when expofed to the air, and to become oily in its confiftence. It deftroys, in a great degree, the colour of fyrup of violets, after having changed it to a deep green. It raises a violent heat when thrown in powder into water, and exhales in its folution a greafy urinous fmell,' (une odeur groffe & lixivielle.)

The Reflections on the Neceffity of employing the volatile Alkali, in a State of Gas, in delicate Experiments," are just and proper. In many inftances, the refult of experiments is very different from what we may expect, when the best fluid alkali is employed. The way we have commonly used, is to put fome common alkaline fpirit into a phial, to which a cork is fitted, perforated with a bent tube. The bottom of this phial is a little heated, fo as to expel the atmospheric air, and the other leg is inferted into another bottle prepared in the fame way, in which the liquor to be examined has been previously put. It is needicfs to add, that the bottoms of the phials must be round and thin, to bear the heat of a lamp furnace. Fourcroy puts the fluor in a small retort, and immerfes the neck into the fluid to be examined.

M.

Our author's opinion of the Caufe of the Deliquefcence and Efflorefcence of Neutral Salts,' is of no great importance. The latter is owing to the air attracting the water of crystallization; the former to the contrary caufe. He obferves, that thofe falts which cryftallife eafily, in large crystals, are fubject to efflorefcence; the others to deliquefcence.

The impurity of the Epfom falt commonly exported, our author finds to arife from marine magnefia mixed with it. The former is efflorefcent, the latter deliquefcent; and from want of properly diftinguishing the genuine falt from its impurity, different accounts of its nature, in this refpect, have been given by able chemists. The marine magnesia is about one fiftieth part of the whole.

The liver of arfenic, or the combination of the common white arfenic and a fixed alkali, has no marks of a neutral; but to form a neutral falt the nitrous acid must be distilled from the arfenic, more completely to feparate the phlogifton. The difference of the arfenic in these separate states is the subject of our author's remarks; and he explains them according to Lavoifier's fyftem.

M. Fourcroy next examines the phenomena which arife from rubbing kermes mineral, fulphur, and antimony, with fixed cauftic alkali. This enquiry is chiefly intended to afcer tain the purity of kermes mineral, which, when well washed, and triturated without heat with this alkali, exhales, a fœtid fmell, and changes to an orange colour, with a foft consistence. This true liver of fulphur with antimony is foluble in water. The effay before us is, in many other refpects, highly

curious;

curious but the length of our article obliges us to decline any farther examination of it. A

The Obfervation on the flow Diffolution of Regulus of Antimony by the marine Acid," only fhows, that it really acts on the metal after fome months, without the affiftance of heat, and produces the ufual preparations.

We next learn that lime-water, magnefia, terra ponderofa, and clay, destroy the colour of Pruffian blue; and lime-water, digested on it, is a more convenient re-agent to discover iron in water than the Pruffian alkali. It is remarkable that Pruffian blue, after its colour is deftroyed by alkalis, recovers it again on the addition of acids, and that the experiment may be often repeated.

The following obfervation teaches us, that nitrated mercury. precipitates the fame coloured matter from milk as from urine; but that the alkaline bafis of the neutral is the fixed vegetable. Thefe experiments have not, however, been fufficiently diverfified, to induce us to explain the fact. We strongly suspect a little inaccuracy.

་

The note on the fpiritus rector of the bile, which has the odour of amber, contains little except the fact itself. The laft effay on the New Theory to explain the Phenomena of Combuftion, Calcination, the Decompofition, and Recompofition of Water and Acids, contains the explanation of fome modern difcoveries on the theory of M. Layoifier, Additions to and corrections of the effay, to explain double elective attraction, by the help of numbers, conclude this inftructive volume, which has neceffarily drawn us to a greater length, than we propofed by the variety of fubjects, and the number of new and interesting facts. If our readers reap but a small fhare of the enter tainment and information which we have derived from it, they will regret the labour of reading, as little as we do that of writing this extenfive article.

POLITICA L.

Addrefs to the Stockholders; with a Propofal for the Amendment and better Security of their funded Property; earnefily recom mended to their Confideration. 4to. 25. Murray.

THIS Address relates to a fubject of great national import

ance, the more speedy difcharge of the public debt. The author obferves, that no minister will be found hardy enough to propofe a tax upon our funded property; but he thinks, at the fame time, it is reafonable that the funds fhould contribute to wards alleviating the burden of the nation. What he proposes, for this purpose, therefore, is a fpontaneous benevolence from the flock-proprietors. The manner in which fuch a plan might

be

be moft conveniently carried into execution, he explains at fome length; and he warmly recommends it to the confideration of those to whom it is addreffed.

British Rights afferted; or, the Minifter admonished. 8vo. Qd. Scratcherd.

The fubject of this pamphlet is the fhop-tax, which the author reprefents as extremely unjust and oppreffive. He may be a fincere friend to the fhop-keepers, but is not a powerful advocate in their caufe.

The Tenth Chapter of the Acts of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 8vo. 3d. Thornton.

From the title of this production, it feems as if the author had decimated the acts of the prefent minifter. What pity that nine fimilar chapters fhould be totally funk in oblivion! The fubject of this fragment is the fhop-tax, concerning which the author's wrath is kindled, and he chaftifes the chancellor of the exchequer in the venerable style of the Old Testament; but not with Scorpions,

A Reply to Sir Lucius O'Brien, Bart. By William Gibbons. 8vo, is. 6d. Robinson.

In our laft Review, we gave an account of fome Letters written by this gentleman, concerning the trade and manufac tures of Ireland. Sir Lucius O'Brien contends that the appre henfion of any rivalship from the Irish, in the iron-manufacture at leaft, is rendered entirely groundless by local circumftances; and that it may be queftioned whether, with regard to other articles of trade likewife, the pernicious confequences, fo much dreaded by the manufacturers of both countries, are not in a great meafure chimerical. A correfpondence has fubfifted on this fubject, between Sir Lucius and Mr. Gibbons of Bristol, who, in this Reply, makes fome obfervations which tend to refute the opinion maintained by the baronet. As the controverfy can only be determined by a comparison of authenticated facts, it is fufficient for us, at prefent, to obferve, that Mr. Gibbons writes with great candour, and appears to be well informed in what relates to the iron trade.

A Retrospective View of the increafing Number of the Standing Army of Great Britain, from its firft Eftablishment in 1650, to the General Peace in 1784. 8vo. 15. 6d. Walter.

The author of this pamphlet traces the hiftory of standing armies in England, from the establishment of the yeomen of the guard, which he confiders as their origin, in 1486, under the reign of Henry the Seventh: obferving, that the inftitution was extended by Charles the Second, who, at different times, levied a regiment of foot, two troops of horfe, and two regiments of foot guards. From this period to the prefent time, the gradual progreffion of the army is afterwards recited; and Cc 3

an

an account is given of the number of troops, regiments, battalions, and companies, now in the fervice of Great Britain. The author takes into confideration a variety of particulars relative to the army, fuch as the mode of recruiting, and of billeting the troops, the quartering them in barracks, and the fuppreffion of fmuggling by their means. We cannot avoid remarking that he makes frequent digreffions from his fubject. and ufes, likewife, unneceffary repetitions; but it must be acknowledged, at the fame time, that he affords fome sensible obfervations, and ufeful hints, towards improving the military establishment.

A Collection of all the Treaties of Peace, Alliance, and Commerce, between Great Britain and other Powers, from the Treaty figned at Munfier, in 1648, to the Treaties figned at Paris in 1783. By the Right Hon. Charles Jenkinfor. 3 Vols. 8vo. 185. in Boards. Debrett.

This collection appears to be compiled with care and fidelity. The difcourfe prefixed to it, and likewife to a former collection of treaties, was originally publifhed in 1758, without the author's name. It was intended as a defence of the conduct of our government in feizing the Dutch fhips; and affords ample teftimony of the ingenuity and learning of the author.

Report of the Cricklade Cafe. 8vo, 95. T. Payne.

This Report contains the proceedings in the courts of law, before the felect committee, and in both houses of parliament, relative to a well-known cafe of election-bribery. The Report is published by Mr. Petrie, who likewife commenced and conducted the profecutions concerning that infamous tranfaction. The Neglect of the effectual Separation of Prifoners, &c. the Caufe of the frequent Thefts and Violences committed. By J. H. Efq.

8vo.

15. DodЛley.

This pamphlet, which confifts of fifteen letters, delivers a clear, and, we believe, a faithful reprefentation of the evils arifing from the want of good order and religious œconomy in our prifons. The fubject is of national importance, as well as interefting to humanity; and towards introducing a lefs exceptionable plan of imprisonment, the author of these letters has furnished many valuable hints and obfervations.

The Reftitution of all Things: an Ejay on the important Purpofe of the Univerfal Redeemer's Deftination. By the Rev. James Brown, Late Miffionary, &c. in the Province of Georgia. 8vo. 15. 6d. Cadell.

Every effort to elucidate the grandeur and extent of the views propofed by the Supreme Being, in the divine revelations of his

will