Some new experiments, with observations upon heat, clearly shewing the erroneous principles of the French theory : also, a letter to Henry Cavendish, containing some pointed animadversions; with strictures upon some late chemical papers in the Philosophical Transactions, and other remarks / by Robert Harrington.

  • Harrington, Robert, 1751-1837.
Date:
1798
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some new experiments, with observations upon heat, clearly shewing the erroneous principles of the French theory : also, a letter to Henry Cavendish, containing some pointed animadversions; with strictures upon some late chemical papers in the Philosophical Transactions, and other remarks / by Robert Harrington. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    139/172 (page 101)
    ( *01 ) If philofophers, without fluffing their laborato- ries with their cxjroplicatcd pompous apparatus, more calculated for the pageantry of a pantomime, than for true chemical difcoverics, hid attended to the fads which are conflantly otfering them* felvcs to our obfervation; they vvould have feen the extreme futility of their boafted fyftem.— Thus the manure of a liable, when piled toge- ther in a great mafs, what a prodigious heat it produces. Alfo, hay, if flacked too green. Now the heat produced in thefe two bodies, could not come from the air: for, the larger the mafs, the more conliderablc the heat, and it is generated principally in the centre of the mafs, where air could not have accefs to it. Now, Sir, I have long been thinking of the body which pofl'efles the greatefl: quamuy of this wonderful charcoal and inHanimable air, wh.ch, according to you, both killsy murijhei^ an : Jimu^ lates the animal ; and coal is the bo<Jy, as the bur- ning of an ounce of coal will injure a greater with the profound fubjeft, fuch errors may be found; for in. deed I am not anxiou* about them, othcrwife 1 do not !• now what our gentlemen with their “ little blue backed buoki** would do if it was not for thefe trifles; thcrcfjrc, I think they anfwer the purpofe of a fly cage, to attraft all the noxious in. infefts. And every fpacious room (hould have fuch a eage.— For, if I had had a few more catch words mifplaccd, this ieirned fly might not have been fo illiberal, as they would have fornoed the bails of hit criticifm But, let me give a little advice to you and the reft of your gentry. Y u arc not fuppoied to be a txxly of men who are at ail converfant, or have a critical know, ledge of thofc very abftrufe fubjeAs ; but, if you were to fre- quent the refort of men of Ica.ning, you might there glean enough to make up your monthly budget; here the ignorant part of the public, who form their opinions upon your decrees^ might form them more juftly. But I am afraid there is too much intrigue wnth bookfcllcis and authors for you to aft fo omdidly; being the mere mercenary tools of others. quantity