The Sun.
London, England, 1812-04-13 00:00:00

LECTURE IX.

DogOr (now Sir Humphrey) Davy deliVered his
Lecture on the Metals,on Friday the lOth, in which
he particularly. described 'the charatiters of the me-
tals
recently obtained from alkalies and
_eartbd. •'
These, he observed, were much _lighter than the
metals loft-het-1y known. PotasSitim, or the. Metal
from potass, is lighter than water ; and barium, or
the metal front barytes, is' lighter than tin, and dif-
fers as much in specific gravity from potaSsium as
tin differs from platiOa, the heaviest of the metals.
The* Leather then described the processes by
which these metals may be obtained ; those from
the earths may be procUred by distilling the earths
with potassium under naptha, in a smell glass retort
or tube. Potassium, having a stronger affinity for
oxygen than any other substance, separates the
oxygen from the earths, and they form dark•co-
loured substances 'lining the tube, p,ssessing but
hole metallic splendour, but which are conductors
of elethicity like the _other -.metals. All metallic
substances are, under
,certain circumstances, corn-.
lanstible, hut in different degrees—potassium burns
on the surface of ice;--zinc," and some other metals,
are reduced to a state of vapour by combustion in
oxygen gas. The metals combine with definite
portions of oxygen of chlorine. If the number le-
presenting- iron be 75, that of oxygen sv,ll be 30,
and 75 parts of iron combines with 10 parts of oxy-
gen, with 20 parts or with 30 parts.—The number
representing chlorine will he, 30.--Metallic' Oxyds
also combine chemically with definite proportions of
water.—lf an alkaline solution be poured into a
metallic solution, the metal is precipitated, and it
has generally been, supposed that this precipitate is'
a metallic oxyd, but Sir H. Davy onset.% ecl, that it
was not an oxyd, but an h 3 drat, that is, axon:bora-
lion of water with an oxyd, and this water niers
into the combination chemically, and in' a d .finite
proportion.—The substance known as the white
oxyd of manganese is an oxyd of manganese united
with water, if it be inclosed in a glass tube, and
heat be applied to it, a copious qbantity of witer
will he expelled, and its colour will be darkened.—
An impottant and curious question remains still to
be decided. Are the metal- themselves compounds
of mere fimple elements ? The LeCturer stated that
s:,rne chctunstances appeared to lead' to the conclu-
sion that they were. Mercury,, when exposed, to
the action Of the Voltaic tile, in contain. t.v.ith am-
monia, eniaNes considerably .in bulk, and'lntans
with it a substance having all the properties of a so-
lid metallic autalgam. This amalgam combines rea-
dily with platinai which mercury alone will not. do:
Ammonia is known to be a compound of drOgen
and azote; hence it should appear that One or- both
of these substances, which exist in a gaseous state,
are capable, under certain circumstances, of becom-
ing metallic. The oiler Metpls, may; therefore, be
compounds, and. may owe their greater degrees of
levity a*rd combustibility to a greater ;‘ortiou of ht.-
drogen.—(On this point we observe, that ihe French
chemists Berthollet, Goy- LusaC, and Thenard, are
opposed to Sir H. Davy, as they do not admit that
expetiments prove the metalliematore of ammonia.
The Lecturer proceeded to observe, that the decom-
position of the metals, and the discovery of the de-
meets of which they are composed, ,will confer im-
mortal honour on the discoterer, and'on, the are

and country in which the diScovery shalt be made.
Nor should we, he observed, deem such 'dis-
coveries
,unattainable, merely because tlity oppose
our. pre-conceived notions tormed on present expe-
tience ; we are acquainted wiih many fads in
science, which would have appeared equally
incre-
dible to our ancestors. The • fietiurer stated that
the metallic nature of the earths; and their intiatu
inability, when in contact with water, will .4tford
an explanation of the cause of-volcanic fires. and me-
teoric stones, and supported the opinions which he
advanced on this subject in the Leaures of the pre-
cediog.year.

BARTLEMAN, and
.GREATO-
-
aux, resumed, their delightful COnveils, at the Ha-
nover-square Room-s, on Friday night. It was the
sixth performance. The seleMion appeared to give
very general satisfaelion. Miidaillec.:ATALANl sung,
two Airs, which received the unanimous applatise
of the company. Mrse BIANCHI LACY, in " Fare-
wel, ye limpid Springs :" HARRISON, in " Odi
grand 'ombra," with HOLMES'S Bassoon accompa-
niment; and BARTLEMAN in "'['he Sailor's Adieu,"
compoied by HORSLEY, were very interesting and
impressive; the last was encored. The Requiem
Of JOMELLI ; PURCELL'S " Come if
.you dare ;" a
Grand Motet by MOZART; a new Duet byWEaua,
jun. and a new Glee by BURROWES, were among
the favourite performances of the evening. Master
KING, Goss, and BELLAMY, gave great effect to
th'e Madrigal and Grees ; and several fine Choruses,
under the direction of -Mr. GREATOREX, were cor-
realy and spiritedly .perfortned. Messes. Waren-
SELL; MORALT," and LINDLEY received great ap-
plause for the manner in which they executed
HANDEL'S Concerto from Select Harmony. The
Room was completely filled with a brilliant 'com-
pany. Hi's Royal Highness the Duke of CAM-
BRIDGE; the Eari FORTESCUE, the Counte,s of
DARNLEY, and sevecal others of the Nobility, occu-
pied the Royal boxes.
It is said that Mr. COATIS, the celebrated Ama-
teur Ador, bas offered 'to perform Hamlet on the
opening of the new Drury-Lane Theatre. As the
Theatre itself, on. that occasion, will be sufficiently
attraaive, it would be more prudent to deter such
an extraordinary performance till curiosity begins to
pall, for at any time it will be sure of drawing a
crowded audience.

111 T. WILKIE'S EXHIBITION of all the PICTURES
he has painted, including stveral which have never
appeared before the Public, will Open, at No. 87,
Pall-Mall, on Monday, the 20th of April.
The impatience of the Public for the appearance
of the French Edition of theTAAVELS and MimoillS
Of the learned DE CHATEAUBRIAND has been great,
and we are glad to find it may at length be satisfied,
as Copies may now be procured of Mr. COLBURN,
Conduit-street, and a few other Booksellers.

Naval Commissioned Officers of every description
are requested 10 obServe, that the Subscription now
open at LLOYD'S is wholly unconnected with the
Naval Charitable Society, that admirable charily be-
ing of a permanent nature, and concluded by Officers
of the Navy only.

bISTURBANCES ./1141`01C7GST THE MINEI?S.

We regret CO say; tinh diinribanitirS, occasioned
solely, by the scarcity of corm have arisen among
the Cornish. miners, particularly in the districts round
Iledruth, Canabot ne, and Ti uro. On Monday t hey
assembled in great numberi, and proceeded to the
Ironies of, several farmers, whom they induced to
sign a written engagement to sell them wheat at
Shillings, and barley at fifteen shillings, Cor-.
nitsh measure, or three Winches,er bushels. Where
this -,enagement wag readily acquiesced in, the
-ruiners offered no vio!enCe, but contented the
with soliciting a little bread, on ar!inl
of food which some of them deelared they had,
not tasted tor several dayS. , Where any reluctance
to sign the eneagewent was - manifested, threats
were resorted to, but-theV were, •in no instance, we
apprehend, carried into etfe.9. On the intelence
of these -proCeedipgs reaching Truro, the 3d or
-North Corn wall -reginient of Local Militia was called
out by the order of Lieutenant,Colonel Warren,
and the greater part ot the men residing in the.
nethbourhgod obeyed the summons, in uniform,'
but without mtiskets. 'On Wednesday the miners
proceeded again to the houses of farmers in search
of grairi, whiCh they .forced tnem to deliver at
the regulated prices. This the Ma;'straies, who.
had met together the day before
.at tht-.? Sessions
in.Trtuo, with the aid of
.the—Local suc-
ceeded ii preventing. The Magistrates also went
among them,-and, prevailed on many to return
peaceably to their homes. A. the thiunrs have not
shewn any disposiriAin to riot, the Magistrates hare
very properly abAtait,ed trona rtsoriiiig
do rstt:~rni-
tie~, with these well-meaning but impetuous and
Mistaken men. Ei,ery exertion has been made to,
alleviate the pressure of the tirnett, on this useful
part of the population of Cornwall; and a meet in 3
has been held a' Gr,y's Hotel, in ReAruth,,in which
it was resolved ,that the different parishes in toe
neigflbourhood should be rent.h-sted too-join in a plon
relieving the distresses ot the pour, and-to form
a C,tomittee, of two trom each parish, for that 'pin-.
pose, that means should be rr corn Mended for les.
the constimpii'm of corn, cithe-r b.) great,4r
economy in the use of it, or by introducing substi-
lutt.s, or by a. geheral Saving in private families, that
the ptantii-g potatt.es should be attended.to, that
subsCriptions should be raised in the severdi parishes,
for the general relief 'of the pour, and that. bar-
ley- should be Poreitastd withent delay.
very judicious adareY9 ,aiso was prera; t . at the
-ndjournment thr „Sessions, and distriuuted in
the &gut distriCts: yesst is from .Anit rica,
tiound to Lhndon, with cargoes ot having put
into Falmouth, he greater part o! one of the cargoes
has been purchased by the principal pers.uis in the
neighbourhood of Redruth and Camborne lor the
use of the Miners, and a quantity has been sent to
the former placer

A -Lettcf ft:rn Truro, dated Saturday, sayq,-,-.
All tit to-day at Redreth market ; where,
howeve, , too of 'the Welch regiment still
continue ; %tie remainder having .returned to. Fal-
mouth, with the arms of the Stiinnary 'Artillery re-
giment, to be lodged in Peadennis Castle. A latter
received this 'evening from a rt.ipeclable friend itt'
Mogan says, that alt the Miners are, returned to
their duty.—We have heard of a requisitiGa having
been forwarded to the Sheriff, for a County Meet-
ing, to consult upon untasures fur their reli,:f ; but
suspect it is a mistake. All that can be dune, is
done or rdolng already.

_ Tie following is an extiael of a letter from :the
Owners of the Richard Walker, dated Liverpool,
April 9 A report has been circuited that the
Richard Walker atld Iwo vesstls that sailed in com-
pany with her, were supposedio have been cap, tired
by the French squadron, but we are much inclined
to believe'thatit W3S.,Sir R, KING'S squadron, that
fell in witri. the. Richard !lather and the vessels in ,
company wi.h her, and, brought them to. The
account states the force to be stx sail of the lino,
and two frigates ; snSwers 10 Sir R. KING'S
squadron, fur the French squadron 'con,rsted of only
four sidl of the Fne, and two or three smaller
vesels, and therefore we hope the Richard, Walker
will arrive

The efficacy of Dr. JAMES'S Powder artd Analep--
tic Pills in the Cure of 41teurnatiStn, st) remarkably
exemplified lately in toe ca'e of :i Gentleman, ift
Dublin-, was completely established some years agis
by two Gentlemen' labouring under a similar coin.
plaint, Mr. Arthington, of Leeds, in 'Yorkshire, and
Mr. William Barton Berwick, of Gray's-inn, Lou-
don ; who were recovered from the most dell Ora•
ble st..te, and lived many years afterwards in perfect
health,'alfording universally their testimoities of the
virtues of thrse Medicines. In slight and recent at-
tacks of itheuma•tsm, the Analeptie Pills will rea.
dfly effect a cure ; but in violent• paroxysms, attend-
ed with initimination and fever, the Powder should
be freely r, diuitistered. They are also equally ex•
cellent in Gouty awd Bilious affettions.
. Jentrhoy, who was to have been executed this
morning at Execution Dock, according to his sen-
tence at the best AdMiralty Sessions, hay, in conse-
quenceof representations made to the Privy Conn.
cil, been respited dnring pleasure.