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.

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    > iire. But, as both the vitriolic acid air and inflammable air are fet loofe in thele experi- ments, proved by my Letter to Dr. Prieftley, Lavoifier, &c. in the year 1788. Therefore, by having the pnuematic apparatus to carry off thofe airs, it will favour the procefs ; as, when they are confined they hinder the com- buftion. Upon hearing that Mr. Cuthl^ertfon had performed fome ele^rical experiments upon the diflerent metals, 1 was anxious that he fhoukl repeat mine upon fulphur and the metals; I therefore wrote to a correfpondent of his, the beginning of November 1797, de- firing that he would requefl him to do it, and he immediately wrote to Mr. Cuthbertfon ; f^iave ^Iclned mercury, having a fmall proportion of lead, or tin in it, both, im vacuo^ in fixed%ir, or azote, by giving them the ftrongell agitation in a phial, by a mill. Dr. Prieftley agrees with me, for we both are clear that, in burning pure and in- flammable airs, there is an acid in the refi- duum; but the French chemifts have denied it, though clearly in their experiment there was azote generated. But they conducted the procefs by making repeated explofions ; fo that, if there was any acid generated, it was conflantly expofed to the influence of fire, which might unite with the acid and be difeharged with it. To fee whether fire would have any in- fluence