The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-12-13 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

that, among other blessings, we are indebted to the House of
Lords for the existence even of the House of Commons (cheers);
and I trust the time will never come when an ungrateful progeny
will rise against its venerable parent, and strike down that
which has endowed it with such vigorous youth, and bestowed
upon it such a careful education. (Long continued cheering.)
The framers of English freedom were the English aristocracy.
(Loud cheering,) For five centuries the House of Lords, as
at present constituted, have been an active, an independent, a
powerful branch of our Legislature. (Loud cheers.) They
laid the foundation of our liberties in rude times; anticipating
by centuries the refined and sublime' theories of modern phi-
losophy, they made us equal, they have kept its free, they have
rendered us famous. (Loud and 'vehement cheering.) After
5(Xt years of fame and felicity, shall we prove ungrateful?
(Cheers ) What blessing that man has yet enjoyed—what that
sage has yet devised, which has not been the portion of this
country (loud cheers)—a country that nature has made a
favourite isle, but the wit of man has rendered a famous empire ?
(Load cheers.) Where have the arts flourished—where has
eemmerce more expanded her sails—where has the husbandman
been more skilful—or the manufacturer more refined? (Loud
cheers.) If human wit, if human industry, have met all this
encouragement, experienced all this success, tell me the region
where her navy has not been victorious—tell me the land in which
her flag has not waved proudly triumphant. (Loud cheers.)
But if this feeble sketch be not an exaggeration, and your feel-
ings, your knowledge, your thoughts, will tell you that it is in-
deed but a slight indication of the truth, can it be possible that
we are assembled this day in such mighty numbers to express a
determination to uphold this august and venerable institution ?
(Loud cheers.) Who attacks it? Where is the assailant?
Let me see him. Is he the King's Minister? (Loud and pro-
tracted cheering.) And here, gentlemen, I can't help stopping
to notice a very remarkable characteristic of these times; it is
this—instead of being protected by the government, we have to
protect ourselves against the government. k Loud cheers.) The
government is the great patron of the violation of the law—
(loud cheers)—the government favours—the government heads
insurrection—(deafening cheers)—it smiles on outrage. (Re-
peated cheering.) We have before had to struggle with foreign
foes—we have baffled domestic treason, but at least the govern-
ment was on our side. (Cheers.) It was not corresponding.with
the enemy (loud cheers), or. enrolled in illegal associations.
(Loud and vociferous cheering.) But now every meeting of the
King's cabinet is a fresh conspiracy against thu state. ( Loud
and deafening cheers.). Strange times, my countrymen ! (Loud
cheers.) What, then, can save us? Meetings like the present.
(Long continued cheering,) But it may be said that the Prime
Minister of the Sovereign rather -wiu-k4 approbation at this
assault upon the House of Lords than leads on the assailants.
It may be so; discretion may be the better part of valour, even
in Downing-street. (Loud cheers.) The gay epicurean leader
may summon his forces, and yet may refuse to march through
Coventry with them. (Cheers and laughter.) It would seem
that the gay epicurean will not march through Coventry with
his troops, but nevertheless he receives the King's wages for
being their commander. (Loud cheers.) He has placed a
Justice Shallow in the cabinet (cheers), assigned the seals of
one office to Master Silence. and intrusted the management of
our foreign affairs to Master Slender. ( Loud and continued
cheers.) But the rank and file, who, after all, are the men to
fight at Shrewsbury--be turns up his nose. at these—at Mouldy,
and Wart,. and Shadow, and Forcible Feeble, and. Buticalf,
bellowing out, " Down with the lords," and who must surely
have been a member for one of the metropolitan districts '• . our
Falstaff at the Treasury will not lead those fellows to the field.
( Loud cheers and laughter.) If wo add to these the Milesian
Pistol (loud, long; and continued cheering,) and his ragamuf
tin tail of cutpurse Nyins and drunken Bardulphs, the political
picture is complete; and these—these are our rulers. (Cheers.)
A denunciation has gone forth against the House of Lords,
and from whom ? From the paid agent of the papacy. (Loud,
cheers.) I am not surprised at this. It is as natural for
Mr. O'Connell to cry out " Down with the House of Lords,"
as for a robber to cry out " Down with the gallows." (Great
and long continued cheering.) Both are national institutions
very inconvenient in their respective careers. -(Loud cheers
and laughter.) Gentlemen, the House of Lords has baffled
Mr. O'Connell and those who hire him. (Loud cheers.)
Down with the House of Lords !" What could be more
reasonable ? I do not wonder at the policy he pursues: I
marvel at those who patronise him. It may suit the Castle of ,
Dublin, but can it agree with the forms of the Castle at Windsor ?
(Loud cheers.) In spite of all his popular asseverations, the
English nation, whatever be their political dpinionsor religious
sects, have made up their minds as to this gentleman and his
character. (Loud and continued cheers.) This affected de-
mocrat, but secret slave—(cheers)—this .mercenary disturber
(loud cheers) has within these few days poured ,forth a fresh
tirade against the House of Lords, but particularly against a
noble and learned lord whom Mr. O'Connell has good cause to
remember. (Loud cheers.) He taunts and twists him, for-
sooth, with his origin. Why, gentlemen, I have alwav,s con-
sidered that noble and learned lord as One of time most glorious
existing arguments in favour of the English constitution.
(Loud and continued cheering.) It is
.the proud boast of the
conservatives, the national party of the realm (cheers,) that
their leaders have either sprung from the ranks of the people,
or, if scions of the aristocracy, have assumed their prominent
position in the party by their great qualities—by the exercise of
their wit and valour. (Loud cheers.) Such, surely, are .a .
Wellington and a Stanley, a Peel and a Lyndhurst. (Vehement
applause.) But can this be predicated of the members of his
Majesty's government? (Cheers.) It is not exactly the
leader of the ministerial party in the House of Lords, or of the
government in the House of Commons, that I would adduce as
the most felicitous specimens of nature's creation—the most
illustrious ornaments of British worth. (Loud cheers.) I may
say of them, to use the words of one of their quondam sup-
'porters, they are ministers because they are lords, and if they
had -is4ot been lords they never would have been ministers.
(Loud and continued cheering.) I look upon those two noble
lords as the prologue and epilogue of the play—clumsy, formal
machinery that we cannot yet quite discard, and yet, who have
nothing to do with the genuine business behind the curtain.
(Cheers.) But, "Down with the Lords I" cries Mr. O'Connell.
Ay, down with the only barrier between him and his disastrous
machinations. (Loud and enthusiastic cheering.) The House
of Lords is a great breakwater of sedition (cheers,) thatliis
waves of commotion will break against in vain. (Renewed
cheering.) . But, gentlemen, when I mark this man spouting
forth his. ensanguined torrent of guillotine rhetoric over the
coronets of England, I am full rather of feelings of triumph
than of terror. (Cheers.) The arrow. rankles in the wound.
'kis barbed. There are rather the shrieks of agony than ).he
vaunts of menace—(cheers)—the exclamations of despair than
the bold threats of coining revenge. (Reiterated cheering.)
When I listen to them, I am reminded of what the great Dean
Swift said of a gentle-man who was almost as anxious to plunder
the people of Ireland as Mr.O'Connell himself, though not

quits so.successful: I mean William Wood, who tried to impose
on them with brass farthings. "These are the last howls of a
dog dissected alive." (Loud and continued cheers.) " Down
with the lords !" and what would follow ? Once before the ex-
periment was tried, and how long did the commons survive
them? (Cheers.) Why the machirtations of these disturbers
have not even the charm of novelty to recommend them.
(Loud cheering.) Having already stained the scaffold
with royal blood, destroyed that senate those disturbers now
.oppose, and trampled a hierarchy to the ground, what was the
consequence? How long did trial by jury survive the destruc-
tion of the sceptre? Six months after the Archbishop of Can-
terbury was beheaded, a Quaker had his tongue cut out for his
faith Cy the House of Commons. Suchwas.their boasted liberty,
and such their vaunted toleration. (Cheers.) Take, then,
some lesson from the past. (Cheers.) I feel') have your sym-
pathies along with me. (Loud cheers.) I feel that the county
of Buckingham—no inconsiderable section of this empire—has
already made up its mind on this great argument. (Loud
cheers.) Before I offer to your notice that toast which has been
committed to my feeble advocacy, let me for an instant remind
you of the feelings with which you have met here this day. You
have assembled here to-day for no mere festive purpose, for no
holyday work. You have assembled here influenced by solemn
feelings, and in fulfilment of a duty which I for one esteem sa-
cred. (Cheers.) You have assembled here to prove that you
are not unmindful that it is the proud beast and the glorious
privilege of the county of Buckingham that it has for many
ages exercised nu inconsiderable influence on the public opinion
of
England, and interfered with no inconsiderable effect in the
haughty fortunes of this realm. (Loud cheers.) You have
assembled to prove that you are no degenerate descendants of
your famous ancestry—(cheers)—that you will not disgrace your
celebrated forefathers. (Cheers.) Have I misrepresented
your feelings? (No, no, and loud cheers.) Have I misstated
your views? (Cheers.). Have I misinterpreted your senti-
ments? (Loud cheers.) Oh, no, I know you well. Still flows
in your veins the same blood that in old days sent forth the pa-
taint cohorts of our rural cavalry froth the beech-clad Chilterns
to uphold the freedom and vindicate the faith of - England.
(Loud and continued cheering,) As your fathers acted so will
you, (loud cheers,) and in your name I throw down the gage of
your defiance to the hired disturber of our country. (Loud
cheers.) The popish faction has said "-Down with the House
of Lords!" England has answeted, and in the name of this
great section of the land let us reply, "Down with the popish
faction ( Protracted and deafening cheering.) Av, let these
words cross St. Georges Channel ; let these sentiments, ratified
by your sympathy, uttered in our constitutional county hall.
re-echo within their hired chambers of sedition. (Loud cheers.)
I tell them they have mistaken the mind and mettle of Englavel.
(Gen tinned cheering.) I tell them they most march Over the
bodies of iudionant freemen, before they destro that ateetha and
venerable assembly in whose wisdom and courage we'alone re-'
cognize succour for an insulted people, a menaced constitution,
a perille.l empire, and a distressed monarch. (Enthuseistic
cheering.) Gentlemen, in calling upon you to pledge to the
power and Drosperity of the House of Lords, I have associated
with the teast the llama of that nobleman who b-e...es heen merked
out by the faction which he has baffled for the vengeance which
he defies. Let us prove to him this day. by adding our totaui-
mous verdict to the multiplied testitnnnies of bis countrymen,
that the mote lie is menaced and assailed by the anti-national
enemy, the more he is entitled to our gratitude and admiration,
our sympathy, mint our support: It is with these feelings I pro-
pose "The health of Lord Lyndhurst and the House of Lords."
(The toast was received with nine times nine, and one cheer
more.)

The Earl of Abingdon rose to return thanks for the toast,
`and said, that after the spee, h which they had just heard that he
could hardly by any poSsibility say anything ; but when Lord
Lyndhurst an,i the House of Lords was the theme, he had a
pride and pleasure in even saying a single word in reply to such
a toast. lie would now thank them most cordially for the h..-
nour they had done to him in drinking the health of the House
of Lords, and he hoped it would not be the last time that he
should have the honour of meeting them. (Cheers.)
The Chairman remarked that they all were aware of the
pleasurable feeling that attended success. He once had the
honour of being very nearly the member for the borough of
Aylesbury—(cheers and laughter)—and thanks to the kindness
of many of those whom he saw around him, he was enabled to
come in a very good second. (Laughter renewed.) But though
he was extremely gratified at having had so near a chance of
becoming one of the representatives of a borough in the county
of Buckingham. those who had been fortunate enough to succeed
in obtaining that station had the greatest reason to feel proud
of the honour bestowed upon them. He therefore gave "The
three conservative members of the bo'rnughs of Aylesbury,
Buckin'gham, anti Marlow," three times three.

Colonel Hanmer was loudly cheered on coining. forward to
return thanks, and said, that it now became his pleasing (ivy to
respond to the toast which had just been drunk, by making his
best ackuowledvinents fur the honour they had done him as an
individual connected with them as one. of their representatives
in parliament.
Sir Thomas Freemantle then returned thanks.

Mr. T. P. Williams alstiitriefly returned thanks.
Mr. G. G. Pigott begpzed leave to propose the health of
Sir Robert Peel and the Conservative members of the House
of Commons. (Drunk with nine times nine, and one cheer
more.

Mr. W. M Praed, M P. in rising to acknowledge the toast
was loudly cheered. He was the only metoher of ►►arliament
present entitled to return ►hanks to this toast, because he was
dmitled to return thanks for no other toast they had drunk.
(IWe; ragret that we have no room for the very able speech of
Mr. Freed.)
• Several other toasts were Arunk I,rfore the meeting broke up,.
amongst which were " Agricunitral Associations of the
County," " Lord Norreva and the Conser-vativei of Oxford-
shire," The Provost, Fellows, and Masters of Eton College,"
" Lord Alford and the Conservatives of , Bedfordshire, "

"Major Cartwright andthe Conservatives of Northamptonshire,"
&c.

The company did not separate till.a late hour in the even-
ingA.
s much accommodation as circumstances permitted was
afforded to the reporters fur the public press, who experienced
from Mr. Ryde and other members of the committee the utrnost
courtespand attention. ,
It was stated that Lord Montague wrote a letter expressing
regret that their invitation to him had not been delivered in
time to admit of his being present, but he authorized the use of
his name, and gave his full approval to the meeting The Earl
of I:',uckingharnshire also gave in his adhession.

A POPULAR COURSE OF CHEMISTRY.
MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

LECTURE VII.

- On Wednesday evening Mr. Hemniing proceeded with his
valuable and interesting course.
We have now to consider the nature and properties of the
most important of all fluids—water. Water was formerly sup-
posed to he an element ; indeed a long period has not elapsed
since it was supposed there were only tour elements, viz., earth,
air, fire, and water. We now know that these are composed of
a number of elements, water containing two, oxygen and hydro-
gen. It was, at one time, the opinion of malty eminent philoso-
phers, that there were only three elements in nature, and Van
Helmont performed a very curious experiment to prove this.
He placed a plant of willow in mould, both of which he had
accurately weighed:. The root was embedded in the mould, and
the pot covered with lead. The plant was regularly watered
du rine the space of two years, with distilled water, at the end of
which time it was taken out of the mould, and notwithstanding
its great increase in weight the earth had only lost a few ounces.
It was thought that the additional weight arose from the de-
composition of air and water, and this led him to suppose that
these combined with earth would form every known substance
s.e were acquainted with. Water was first decomposed by
Cavendish, in 4776, when he succeeding in producing hydrogen
gas, so called because it produces water. It was found by Mr.
Waltire that it produced water in its combustion, but not soot.
He ignited for this purpose a miuute jet of it proceeding from
the philosophical candle of Dr. Priestley beneath-a saucer, and
•to his surprise large globules of water were formed. This ex-
periment he repeated with the same result. It was not sup-
posed at that time that-water was formed by the gas, but that.
water was depozi:ed, arisine from the vapour contained in the
gas and air, as it was known that every gaseous body contained
water, which, is now ascertained to be one-third part of a grain
in every 100 cubic inches of its volume. More accurate expe-
riments performed by Priestley, Cavendish, and others, led to
the supposition that this could not be the reason, for the quantity
of water thus deposited by the combustion. of a- given volume of-
the gasses was greater than could have been contained in them.
When Watt, the celebrated engineer saw this, he imagined that
water was formed partly by the gas, and he and Cavendish set.
about igniting hydrogen and oxygen gasses in certain quantites.
Their conclusions were the same, namely, that water was formed.
by the union of these two gasses by combustion. This may be
familiarly proved by holding over an ignited jet of hydrogen a
bell-shaped glass, which will in a short time he covered over by
vapour. This opinion, however, appeared to be ratherunwil-
lingly received. We are indebtetho Lavoisier for proving that
it is correct. Previous to his experiment, however, three French
chemists sat up for three days and three nights burning a given
quantity of hydrogen and oxygen. They found that with the
exception of a few grains the quantity of water which was' pro-
duced was equal to the weight of the oxygen and hydrogen
gasses which had been burned. But the experiment of Lavoi-
sier was much inure ingenious-and conclusive. He imagined
that water might be decomposed by passing its vapour over ig-
nited iron. Now, iron at a very high temperature, either at a
red or white heat, has a greater affinity for oxygen than any
other substance in nature, potassium itself not excluded, for
potassium is sometimes obtained by heating potass with iron
filings in a retort, when the oxygen uniting with the iron, po-
tassium flows over. In order to decompose water by this means
a quantity of iron turnings are introduced into a gun barrel, the
centre of which is heated in a furnace. Into one end of this
gun barrel the beak of a retort containing. distilled water is
inserted. Let us suppose the water to weigh nine hundred
grains. To the other end is f:steried a flexible tube, which is in-
troduced beneath a receiver filled with water in the pneumatic
trough. A spirit lamp being applied to the retort, the water is
slowly vapourized, and the vapour passing over the ignited iron
yields its oxygen to the iron, and the hydrogen-being liberated,
passes out at the extremity of the tube, and may be collected in
the receiver. When the water was all-vapourized by this pro.
eess, Lavoisier again weighed the iron and the gas, and he
found that the hydrogen gas weighed 100 grains, and• that the
iron had gained 800 grains in its oxydation, supposing 900
grains of water had been used. Another, and perhaps, more
satisfactory mode of proving the fact, and one by which
we can prove it, both analytically, and synthetically, is by
decomposing water by electric agency. The most convenient
mode of effecting this, is with a voltaic battery. In this manner
we may obtain the two gasses, either in a combined or separate
state. When we obtain them in a combined state, we can in-
stantaneously reproduce water, by passing the elective spark
through them. To obtain them in a separate state, all we have
to do, is to fill-two test tubes with water, and invert them, when,
by introducing beneath them two platinum• wires from the posi.
tive and negative poles of a voltaic battery, hydrogen will be
evolved at the negative pole, and oxygen from the positive, This
experiment Mr. 'Hemming satisfactorily formed, and, in our
opinion, it is one of the most beautiful of all chemical experi-
ments, and demonstrated to the audience, that the gasses were
actually oxygen and hydrogen, by their opposite properties of
burning or supporting combustion. For the purposes of ex-
periment, we decompose water to obtain hydrogen by means of
an oxidable metal. There are some metals which have so
powerful an affinity for oxygen, that they will deCompose -water
aeordina,y temperatures. This is the case with Sodium and
Potassium. Zinc and iron are usually employed for this pur-
pose; when a piece of zinc is thrown into water, an instan-
taneous decomposition of the water will take place, in conse-
quenCe of the eagerness with which the oxygen of the water
unites with the zinc, and the hydrogen will be liberated, but the
action will immediately cease, because the surface of the metal
becomes covered with a coating of oxide. To remove this,-an
acid is employed, which, dissolving the oxide as soon as formed,
continually presents a fresh surface to the water for oxydation,
and thus the action goes on until the whole of the zinc is
oxydated, and dissolved; or all the water is decomposed, or the
acid is expended. When hydrogen gas is mixed with atmos-
pheric air, and inflamed it produces an explosion, and more espe-
cially when mixed in the properties of one part of hydrogen eta
five parts of atmospheric air. A much more powerful explo-
sion is produced when two parts of hydrogen and one part of
oxygen (the proportions in which these gasses form -water) are
mixed together and inflamed. In this explosion, it is said by
some, that these gasses expand into 30 times their space, and
according to others into 15, but they as instantaneously con-
, dense together to form water. The amount of explosion, how-
ever, has not been accurately determined. The sounds we
hear are produced by air striking against air. The ultimate
particles of water are impeuetr:bly hard, for if we confine
water in a vessel from which the air has been extracted, the
water will produce a noise similar to that of a melted metal
falling. We must then believe that the particles of water are
impenetrably hard. The properties of oxygen and hydrogen,
having been explained by Mr. Hemming, in a previous course
of lectures; delivered at the Mechanics Institution, at the com-
mencement of the present year, he did not dwell upon them,
but confined himself to a distinguishing property of each.
Oxygen is a great supporter of combustion, and of respiration.
So intense is its power of supporting combustion in its separate
state, that if we introduce a piece of ignited wood, without
flame, into it, the wood will be instantly inflamed. Hydrogen
burns-with a lambent blue flame, but is not a supporter of com-
bustion.

Water, then, is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen, but. in
all probability it has only once been procured in a perfect state
of chemical purity. Sir Humphry Davy distilled water on this
occasion in a silver vessel very carefully, and received it in ves-
sels of gold and silver. From this water, by means of voltaic
electricity, he then produced hydrogen, which was without smell.
When we decompose ordinary water the hydrogen evolved al
ways exhales a faint odour, in consequence of the foreign mats'
ter which the water contains, and which, hydrogen—Os, as
shown by Mr. Marsh's beautiful test for arsenic, is capable of
Holding in solution. It would, however, be useless to take this
trouble to obtain water in its pure state, as nothing can be more
insipid than water in such a state. River and spring Water con-
tain atmospheric air, as well as vegetable, animal, and mineral-
substances. When water contains vegetable or animal matter
it is soon decomposed, as it is improperly called._ The-water is
not decomposed, but the foreign matter which it contains, in
consequence of which a bad smell is emitted by it. Persons
who supply water to vessels for the purposes of a long voyage,
introduce it into charred casks or into iron tanks coated with
tar, oy which means this spurious decomposition is prevented.
Water, when deprived of as much of these impurities as possi-
ble by double distillation, becomes very insipid, but when ex-
posed to the atmospheric air, which it absorbs very quickly,
• partly regains its pleasant taste. We cannot deprive water of
all its impurities, but we can separate it from- the salts it. may
contain. The impurities of water, arising from the presence of
these salts, about which so much is sail, are seldom pi ejudicial ;
indeed, the more impurities of this nature the water in general
contains, the more beneficial is it considered; fur we find the
. springs at Tunbridge, Cheltenham, Harrogate, &c., to con-
tain salts which have a salutary medical effect, so that the
more impure, the more valuable the water becomes, in some
cases. The mechanical impurities are more important than
the chemical impurities; it is usual to separate these•by.simple
filtration. All the filters • we have depend upon one priuciple;
the water passes through substances exceedingly porous;- but
the pores must be finer than the sand or foreign particles
which we wish to separate. For this purpose, filters are
generally constructed of porous stone. There is a trifling dis-
advantage-attending the use of this stone, in consequence of the
impurities choking up the pores of the stone, so that it is im-
possible in many cases to restore the porosity of the filter. But
oindividual
dai theua filtersi ay ma
haekr
ee
tperhaps
ant o
an e
trifling t e
xr
pt oe
no
snee. w hsitch)
peons ye
we take a lead pipe, of capacious diameter, and introduce-into
one end of it a cork perforated with a number of small links,
above this let a layer of bruised charcoal he placed, they another
layer of gravel,' and above all a laver of fine sand; then, by
bending the pipe so its to allow that portion of it contain-
ing the various layers, to form the shorter te,r, we have a syphon
formed, through which water may he obtained as much purified
as required. There is owe advantage attending this filter—if
the sand becomes clinked with impurities it can he readily
cleansed by reversing the passage of the water through
by making the shorter leg the longer by bending the pipe, bY
which the impurities are quickly removed. We have thus, for
a few pence, the most perfect filtering machine we can employ.
Water is supposed to be composed of small particles, which
are hard, round, and slioperv. Fhere is hut a slight attractive
force between the particles of water, so little, indeed, that it is
said they fall and gravitate independently of each other. Thus,
supposing we allow water to descend from a high situation in a
mass, it will not fall iu a mass, but will separate into innumera-
ble 'lobules. This is a fortunate circumstance; for, if the
water of a dense cloud were to fall in a solid mass, the inevita-
ble consequence would be destruCtion•to every thing on which
it might descend. But there is an attraction betas eea the ulti-
mate-particles of water, by virtue of which- they adhere together
with some slight: degree of force. By dipping the finger into
water a slight quantity adheres to it, which collects at the point
when we withdraw it, and as soon as it has increased to a certain
size, it Calls from the finger, and another drop forms in its place.
It is improper to say that particle", will gravitate independently
The earth's gravitating force
of each other; drops may do so.
is in proportion to mass of matter, and as a drop is formed it
is carried to the earth. On account of this, we find that the
surface of water is horizontal and level as it -is expressed, though
in point of fact the surface of water is never, mathematically
speaking, horizontal, as it partakes of the earth's curvature,
which amounts to more than many persons imagine. If we look
overan extent of water'one mile in length, at the extremity of
that distance the surface of water will be 8 inches lower than
the water near us, and at the distance of two miles four times
lower than that, or thirty-two inches.
The most frequent imnorities we find in water are compounds
of lime. Almest all Water wevirtplity contains lime, which
is frequently precipitated by allowing it to -remain quiet -for a
short time. The bi.rairlum ite of litnetaind•the sulphate of lime
are frequently found; end. il4ve,au tootitaice -vire to •cieause our
boilers frequently, we shall find these substances adhering in a
crystalline state to their interiors. Mr. Hemming here exhi-

swaai
ds detached abcehl
believed
v e l rid
bited a large crystallized mass of carbonate and sulphate of
lime which hod been detached from a brewer's boiler in Lon-
don,that and also a beautiful and exceedingly curious crystallized
piece sulphate of lime, which had been presented to him in this
w
''thethlae t it)
eo
ri
we re4r)
et. hslee first Ppaecrkfeect c i‘r
ys-
r.
tals of sulphate of lime produced by accidental means. The
presence of hi-carbonate of lime in water eau be detected by
adding lime water to a suspected solutiod, when; should it con-
tent any, a white precipitate will be formed in consequence of
the'conibinati r o •one atom of carbonic acid with the lime, or,
if we boil the water so as to deprive it of one atom of carbonic
acid, the same effect will ensue. An excess of carbonic acid
will again dissolve this precipitate, and restore the transparency
of the fluid, The only substance we need fear in water used for
domestic purposes is lime, to detect which we have-only to add
a small quantity of the oxalate of ammonia to any water con-
taining it, when an insoluble substance, the oxalate of lime, will
immediately be produced. When lime is present as a sulphate,
a muriate; or a carbonate, it may be detected by a few simple
tests. The term muriate is employed, though perklaps chloride
would be more strictly correct, because when salts are in solu-
tion, they are in the state of muriates. When sulphates are
held in solution by water, the addition of a few drops of muriate
of barytes will immediately detect them by forming a white pre-
cipitate, called the sulphate of barytes. The muriates or chlo-
rides may be detected by the addition of a few drops of a
solution of nitrate of silver, which will separate the muriatic
acid, or rather the chlorine in the state of chloride of silver.
The atmospheric air or carbonic acid gas which water may con-
tain can be driven off by boiling. A patent has been taken out
for. preventing the accumulation of calcareous deposits on the
bottom of steam-boilers by a contrivance for returning the
spent steam bark to the boiler; but the lecturer cv:o3 not aware
that any very great beneficial results had been derived from it.
Water exists in a variety of different states. We have it na-
turally in the solid, liquid, and vaporous forms. In the former
it exists as ice; in the liquid state it is most valuable to
us,and it always is contained in the atmosphere in the state of
vapour. We have it in salts, some of which will not entirely part
with it at a red heat. Of this potash is one instance. The quan-
tities of it in the atmosphere is surprising, from which it de-
scends in the state of rain, hail, snow, or dew. Dr. Halley
said, that at St. Helena a surface of 10 inches of water will
evaporate one cubic inch in the course of 24 hours; at this rate
a single square mile of the ocean will evaporate 6,914 ton4in
that period. The Mediterranean sea is said to evaporate 5,280
millions of tons daily._ This is, perhaps, more than is evapo-
rated from any other similar surface of water in the world, and
.probably arises partly from its being exposed to the winds,
which have been desiccated in passing over the dry and arid
deserts of Africa, and by its being enclosed by land, which in-
creases the temperature of the air and water Jlt is well known
that air can be desiccated or dried of its vapour by passing it
over dried oatmeal, and, hence it is not improbable that the
sands of' Arabia produce the same result. The desiccating pro-
perties of the air are in proportion to the quantity of vapour it
-Contains, and the rapidity with ,which it travels. It is-known
that wet articles of dress will dry more rapidly when the wind is
blowifithard than when exposed to the sun's rays, and in the
sun than in the shade. If the air were stationary, that
.portion
of it in contact with the wet article would become saturated
with moisture, and as there would be no succession, of dry air
to come in contact with the wet clothing, the process of drying
would be very slow. If, however, the air be removed as soon as
it becomes changed with moisture, a fresh stratum of dry air is
immediately brought into contact with the cloth, and it soon be-
comes dry. In like manner,. if we expose an article to the
sun's rays it is dried by the increase of temperature. It is sup-
posed by philosophers, that the cause of the . surface of the
Mediterranean sea being lower than the level of the ocean, is
owing to the rapidity of its evaporation. Air without vapour
would be exceedingly prejudicial and injurious to life. This is
very well known in those regions alluded to near the coast of
Africa. In these regions there is sometimes a dry wind blow-
ing, which, in all probability, loses its vapour in passing over
the dry sands. Whan this wind, which is called the Harmattae,
blows, it produces the most distressing effects. In a few days
cabinet work falls to• pieces, wood splits, fruit and vegetables
ripen with great:rapiclity„ but, are found to be deStitute of
flavour and juice. Its effects upon the animal system are ex-
traordinary : the nostrils and the eyelids become, excoriated,
and the skin of the body dries and cracks. The grass becomes
dried up, and it is usual at this period to set fire to in some
places to destroy noxious reptiles. The incendiary who does so.
stands to windward, and it is surprising to witness the rapidity
with which the flames extend over the surface of the country.
During the continuance of this wind no distemper appears to be
`contagious, the small pox", typhus, or scarlet fevers,
,viltich are
admitted to be contagious and infectious, at this period are by
ne.i means either contagious or infectious. This would seem to
prove that all the peculiarly infectious contagious matter—for
matter it must be that occasions these disorders—is contained
in the vapour of the air, and the opinion will not be considered
absurd, when it is said that all those deleterious gasses which are
prejudicial to life will be absorbed by water. It appears, there-
fore, that the putrid matter or miasmata which conveys infecti-
ous disorder, is contained in the-vapour of the air. So singular
is this powerfully disinfecting influence of the Ilarmattan, that
during its prevalence a child afflicted with the small-pox may
be placed in bed with a child who has never had the disorder,
without the least fear of dangerous consequences.
We have frequently stated, and again repeat, that so far as
the subject will admit of it, Mr. Hemming illustrates every posi-
tion with a conclusive expsriment, which readers the meaning
of the lecturer much more intelligible than the best chosen
language. We.are glad to perceive that these lectures are re-
ceiving that attention which they deserve, for we have nightly
wanessed the attendance of many of the eminent chemists of
the town, who are highly delighted with the intellectual treat
they experience. To-morrow evening Mr. Hemming will en-
ter on a new subject, Mettallurgy, in which he will practically
illustrate the modes practised in reducing and purifying the va-
'rious metals.

LIVERPOOL COLONIAL MARKET, Dzc. 9.

The demand for Sugar continues extremely limited ; the sales
amount to 600 hhds 8.P., and prices are again rather lower. 1400 bags
brown and middling Bengal have also been sold within the range of
our quotations. In Foreign no sales.—The sales in Molasses are con-
fined to a small parcel of Demerara, from the quay, at 27s 4p cwt..--
COMIZ. There is a fair inquiry fur Plantation, and the sales corn-
prise 160 casks of Jamaica, at very full prices. Nothing done in Fo-
reign.—ln Cocoa or Pimento no sales.-500 bags black Pepper sold at
4d to lid, and 200 J bags Ginger, 'at 213 s for Bengal, and 31s to 33s for
Malabar.—No transactions worthy of notice have occurred either in
Rice or Rum.

indigo. A small public sale of Bengal brought forward this day,
went off better than was anticipated, from the previous state of the
market, and 31 serons Caracca sold readily at 4s 4d for tortes, to 5s 8d
for good sobres.—East India Gum Arabic is lower, 80 chests selling
from 57s to 70s for middling to good quality, and 27s to 37s for siftings.
—3 chests Shell Lac, by auction, brought 95s for good liver, and £6
to £6 lOs for'orange.--50 boxes Cassia Lignea are reported at 603.
Saltpetre is dull, and the sales do not reach 200 bags, at 26s to 30s 6d
ir cwt.

Dyewoods. About 100 tons of Campeachy Logwood sold at £9,
and 50 of Jamaica at £7 2s 6d ; nothing reported in Fustic ; 20 tons of
solid Nicaliag,ua Wood brought £l2, and a few tons of Sapan Wood
£l2 6s 4f" ton.—The sales of Turpentine are this week confined to 300
brli. at 17s 6d, to arrive.—No sales reported in Tar.—There has been
rather more disposition to sell Pot and Pearl Ashes, and about 300 brls
of Montreal have been sold to the trade, at 36s for Montreal Pot and
34s,for old brands, and at 38s 6d to 39s for new Montreal Pearls.—
Quercitron Bark continues extremely dull of sale.—Nothing done in
Cloverseed.-2200 ba_gs of East India Linseed have been disposed of
at former prices.—The sale of Hides consist of 12,600 East India at
510 to 61(1 for sound dry and brined, 410 to 5d for first rubbed. and 4d
to 41d for second ru bad, 2300 dry salted Brazil at 41(1 to sild for best,
650 salted Jamaica a) 4d to 430, 9A salted African at 41d for sound,
also 400 East India Buffalo Hides at 3 id to 410 lb.—ln Horse Hair
and Oak Bark no sales.—The sales of Tobacco have been
.about 100
hhda this week ; a few have been taken for Ire land, a few for export,
and the remainder by the home-trade.
MEDITERRANE /N PRODUCE.
The market for Brimstone has remained in a quiet state during the
.whole week, scareely any sales having been effected.—Of Sumac, the
sales have been only one sin all parcel of Verona at 6s 60. and 300 to
4''o bags new Sicily at 13s Gil 4e• cwt.—Argols and Cream of Tartar
have been dull of sale ; of 70 easks Oporto.Argols offered at auction,
only about 30 were sold, at previous rfees.—Nothing worthy of no-
tice has been donein Madders or Madder Roots.—The holders of Va-
lonia requiring advanced p"b'es. only a few small parcels have been
4is'P"sed of this week.—For Olive Oil the demand still continues very
'limited, without any change in prices.—Two cargoes of Cod Oil
having arrived this week, about 100 tuns have been disposed of to the
trade, at and about the quotations.—ln Seal Oil the sales have been
very limited, and the prices remain without alteration.—Linseed Oil
has experienced a further decline, and the market is heavy at the re-
duction; pale Rape is also (101 l of sale.—The only transactions in
Palm Oil are a small parcel of 15 tons by auction on Monday last, at
£3O 7s 6d 4r ton, casks not returned, and to tone by private at £3l
103, with usual allowance for casks.—Oil of Turpentine supports the
recent advance.—ln Hemp and Flax there is no alteration to report ;
the market remains heavy.—Talhor has experienced a further decline
this week ; sales et yellow candle, on the spot. have been effected at
45s 6(1 to 465, and for arrival, in quantity, at 44s 60 to 45s 6d V cwt

Current IMPORTS.
-
SALES OF TITS ITEETC. Prices. This\N k 1 this Year
-------- ------
100 Sea Island
!
—d fb —tl
Stained_
—__ 6.)60 } 342713
6120 Bowed Georgia 7 —11 l
044.i.i r Mobile
• 2 .Alabama and Tennessee 64 1.9 1097 345295
2820 Now Orleans
2540 s Pernambuco and Paraiba lof 131 t 4074 5 72397
2 Arieiti and Ceara lO4 Di )
200 Bahia and Maceio Bl —ll 979 32215
730 f Maranham
11 13 1 3074 i 41089
2 Sawginned.
Minas — 1 •• • • ) 136
Pant
.-. Demerara, Surinam, Sze ll —l4 28 1911
•"'
390 I Feyptian -.
Barbados lO —1! 21 484
Peruvian lO4 —ll '1
Bahama
700 Laguayra
500 Common West India, Sze.— if —lO } 1852 } 26006
Carthagena
Smyrna ... _-
100 Manilla
9;
;i1 74 1570 4: Ist .. . . 1300
i 85583
14008
1870 Surat 3
10 Madras
60 f Bengal
18120 bales 11895 : 989905
_ _

Monday Evening. Dec.• 12.
The sales on Saturday were 25:0 bags ; to-day there have been
man`• of the trade here, whose purchases amount to 4000 bags ; viz. t
500 Surat, 500 Brazil, and about 300 American ; the market has closed
with firmness at rather better prices than on F iday last.

LIVERPOOL PROVISION MARKET, DSc. 12.
s. d. s. d.
BUTTER...—BeIfASt, new 11,6 0 6 107 0 per cwt.
liaobridge, new 97 (/ 100 0 ---
Coierain. . lOO 0 let 0
Sligo, new 100 d —IN 0
Derry, new --
Limerick, new 97 0 98 0 —.-
Dundalk 0 0 0 0
Carlow, new • ID, if —IM 0 --.
Waterford, new 100 0 106 0
Newry 0 0 0 0 ' —.
Cork; new • 94 0 95 0
Do. pickled gds, new 99 0 100 0 —.
Dutch 0 0 0 a ....-
111/P.P.—New Prime Mesa lOO 0 112 0 per tierce.
PORK ..
Do.
BAcoN new
Do. old
DRY HAMS 56 0 59 0 --
WET Do
LARD.--Firkin 64 0 1,6 0
Bladdered ...... 72 0 71 0

LIVERPOOL AGRICULTURAL MARKET, Dec. 12.
a. d.- a. d. , F. d. a. d.
Hay, old 1 461 8 7 20113 ( Poiiaitt o. es
New Hay 1 3 1 6 .-.-- C tt I,otato, , 2 0 2 3
Clover Hay 1 3 1. 6 - -- Tornio 40 0„ 0 0 per ton
Straw, Wheat.. 0 8 0 9 Carrots -58 0 6q -0
Straw,.oat 0 7 0 9 1 51:,nglewurzle 0 0 0 J •
Green Clover 0 0 0 0 -.-- I Manure 7 0 10 0 --

LIVERPOOL CATTLE MkRICHT—MONDAY. DEC. 12.
A good supply of Beef and Mutton, both t goo,l tie nand. Beet' at
an,advm rice from last week, and the hest quAlity sold at 6d. Beef 5d
to 6d, Mutton 6:1 to 71d.