The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-01-30 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHRSTER.—The market remains without variation since
last week. There has been hut small amount of business tran-
sacted, but prices remain as before.

ROCHDALE FLANNEL MA itKET.—The market on Monday
was well attended, and there was a large quantity of flannels,
but business was very slack; what few flannels were sold were
chiefly of the low qualities were very little inquired after; it was
a dull market altogether. The wool market was worse than the
other; wools were a shade higher in prices, which made the
manufacturers backward in purchasing, more especially as the
buyers were offering less money for flannels.
HALIFAX (Saturday.)—We have a decidedly better market
to-day, though the business done was not quite so great as last
week; but at last prices have advanced, and the rates of last
week have again, in most articles, further advanced. Yarns
are stiff, but not higher. Wool, in some instances, had been sold
fur fully as much money, but nothing to justify higher quota-
tions.

HUDDERSFIELD (Tuesduv.)—There is nothing deserving of
special notice this week, either in the piece or wool markets. In
common descriptions 1 cloths, an average business has been
done at fully previotis prices. The fanc) trade is much the same
as for the last few weeks—a tolerable business done at previous
rates.

LEEDS (Tuesday.)— We have again had a large business
doing; and from appearances in the halls there can be 00 doubt.
that the consumption much exceeds the make. This agreeable
state of things already begins to show itself in the increased em-
ployment to all branches of-the trade; and the confidence which
it necessarily infuses into all parties conceraed.

LIVERPOOL MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

LECTURES ON CHEMISTRY.

On Saturday -evening se'nnight, Dr. Kane delivered the sixth
of his delightful lectures.
Chlorine is endued with a property still,more important than
that of supporting combustion. It enters into combination
• with organic substances in a different manner to oxygen.
• Oxygen not only combines with the hydrogen of an organic
body, but also with the carbon, and the result is the formation, of
' carbonic acid and water; but chlorine having a very slight affinity
fur the carbon, merely combines with the hydrogen and deposits
the carbon. This is readily shown by plunging a taper into
hydrogen, when, should the flame be intense enough to allow
combustion to goon, the carbon will be seen to separate itself in
' prodigious quantities. The action of chlorine is more rapid
' upon organic matter than that of oxygen, anti the substance un-
dergoes very quick alterations in ceinpositiou, there being in
must bodies an entirely new combination, containing less
• hydrogen than it originally contained. Now, if we consider
these substances to be composed of carbon, oxygen, and hydro-
gen, and that a quantity of this hydrogen is removed by the
chlorine, it is evident that it comes very nearly to he same final
result, that we can produce upon organic substances the same
sort of(rxidaiion as we have employed the direct agency of at-
mospheric air. In fact, in organic chemistry, when we want to
oxvdize a substance we make use of the indirect agency of
chlorine. The chlorine does not always act upon organic sub-
stances itself, but chlorine possesses the property of decom-
posing water, especially if exposed to the solar light. Chlorine
unites with the hydrogen of the water and oxygen is set free.
This is the reason why, if we keep chlorine for a length of time
in a damp bottle, we rind that it has been converted into muria-
tic acid, and that the bottle contains a quantity of oxygen. Let
us conceive in any process in the arts, that we are in the habit
of making use of an organic substance, no matter for what
purpose, it is evident that after decomposition it cannot possess
the same properties as before, and, consequently, it must have
some new properties in lieu of those which it previously pos-
sessed. Now this is the whole theory of bleaching. We decom-
pose water and bring a quantity of oxygen to bear upon the
body, and the new substance is rendered colourless. We cannot
destroy the colour of a body without chainging the individuality
of that body. When we pour a little of the solution of chlorine
in water into an infusion of rel cabbage, the infusion is first
reddened, owing to the formation of muriatic acid, and then
when more chlorine is added rendered colourle-ss. A great
variety of other substances are acted upon in the same way.
The well known colouring matter of indigo is capable of being.
decomposed by a number of methods. We can decompose it
eiti.er be taking oxygen from it or arld;nig oxygen to it, and in
both cases as soon it. tie coinposition is changed it ceases to be
indigo or present a blue appearance.
We owe the first application of chlorine to the purpOses,of
bleaching to the celebrated French chemist Berthollet. -Its in-
troduction as a bleaching agent caused so great a revolution in
the art of bleaching, that it was proposed to connect his nails
permanently with the new process; and for a long period this
mode of bleaching was called Berthollizing. The old way of
bleaching cloth was, by damping the substance, and then ex-
posing it to the influence of the sun's rays. By this means the
colouring matter underwent a slow oxydation. Chlorine acts
immediately upon the colouring matter, but it required several
months exposure to the solar light to bleach the cloth, therefore
we may at once understand the vast saving which resulted from
the use of chlorine. After the lapse of a short period, chlorine
was employed not in the state of gas, but dissolved in water, that
being a much more convenient way of employing it, as by add-
ing the chlorine water to a solution of either animal or veget-
able colouring matter, it was immediately bleached. Even in
this firm, chlorine was of very inconvenient carriage from
one part of the kingdom to another, until a very important im-
provement was made by Mr. Charles 'rennent, in the combina•
Lion of chlorine with lime. Chlorine is not very soluble in water,
and, consequently, in order to transport from place to place a
large quantity of chlorine, it would be necessary to take with it
a large quantity of water; but lime takes up a large quantity of
chlorine, and thus reduces the expense of bleaching wan extent
unparalleled by any thing, except the reduction in the price of
sulphuric acid by the use of leaden chambers. Chloride of lime
has. consequently, become of greater importance as a bleaching
agent than chlorine itself. Chemists are not perfectly agreed
as to what chloride of lime really is. The simplest view to take
of it is, that it is a combination of chlorine with lime. Simple
as that is, it does not appear to have much probability in it when
we examine it. The principle of the formation of chloride of
lime is very simple; a quantity of lime is introduced into a cham-
ber. and the chlorine is passed into it. The lime absorbs the
chlorine very rapidly, and we find it to increase very consider-
ably iu weight, 6.5 parts of lime combining with 35 parts of
chlorine. Chloride of lime is sparingly soluble in water, but
when we add to the liquids a very dilute acid, the acid may be
considered as seizing upon the lime, add the chlorine becoming
isolated, we get it in a form available fur bleaching. In this
consists the great superiority of this combination over gaseous
or liquid chlorine. Dr. Kane then illustrated the importance
of chloride of lime as a bleaching agent, by discharging the
colour from a variety of cotton articles. Chlorine unites readily
with the metals, but not when they are oxidized. This conse-
quently militates against the probability of bleaching salt being
a direct combination of chlorine with lime. In fact, when we
bring chlorine in contact with a metallic oxide, the reaction
which takes place is somewhat complicated. Thus, if we intro-
duce chlorine into a solution containing potash, the consequence
is the following:—The potash is decomposed, one portion of the
chlorine unites with the potassium, and the other portion unites
with the oxygen which. thus has been set free. Thus we get
chloride of potassium and an oxide compound of chlorine.
Chlorine is capable of uniting in no less than four proportions
with oxygen,—we have the hypuchlorous acid, chlorous acid,
the chh,ric and the perchloric acid. (When but a small
portion of chlorine is passed through the potash you get the
lowest, and when more and more chlorine is supplied you get
the higher combination of oxygen with chlorine. The par-
chloric acid, however, is not obtained by this process, but is
formed when the chlorate of potash is decomposed, by sulphuric
acid. The chlorate of potash, from which the other compounds
of chlorine and oxygen are obtained, is formed by passing a
current of chlorine into .a saturated solution of potash, when
two compounds—the chlorate of potash, and the chloride *of
potassium (cuuriate of potash) result. Dr. Kane theta illus-
trated the method in which instantaneous matches are made by
the admixture of chlorate of potash with sulphuret of antimony
or sugar. Experiments of this nature are of a highly dangerous
nature, and young chemists should be very cautious how they
attempt them. During the early part of the French revolu-
tion, when the attention of French chemists was directed to the
manufacture of gunpowder, some of them proposed to manu-
facture it with chlorate of potash, and consequently there was
a manufacture established, but the result was, the blowing up
of the whole concern and a number of persons were killed by
the explosion. Phosphorus, when heated, or struck in con-
tact with chlorate of potash, oxydizes itself so rapidly at the
expense • of the chlorate of potash that an explosion takes place
that is really dangerous. To exhibit this in a safe manner,
Dr. Kane placed some phosphorus at the bottom of a glass of
water. He then introduced some chlorate of potash, which he
had previously melted into a mass and broken into large pieces,
and added some oil of vitriol. The consequence was, the bril-
liant ignition of the phosphorus beneath the surface of the
water. The rationale of this is,- that the sulphuric acid liberates
the oxygen of the chlorate of potash, which immediately unites
with the phosphorus, the latter always burning wherever it gets
oxygen, no matter whether water be present or not.
If tie pour sulphuric acid upon chlorate of potash, the latter
becomes of a dark orange colour, and the action is accompanied
by a considerable effervescence. Peroxide of chlorine, a gaseous
body rises, of a bright yellowish green colour, which is easily
decomposed, and highly explosive. In this
experiment the
chlorate of potash is completely decomposed. The result of the
complicated action is, that we get three products, viz: Bisulphate,
and perchlorate of potash, and peroxide of chlorine. The heat
of a lamp is sufficient to explode the peroxide of chlorine. Be-
side this oxide there exists another compound of of chlo-
rine with oxygen, which has -been recently discovered by M.
Balard, the celebrated chemist of Montpelier, which he calls
hypochlorous acid. If we take a quantity of red oxide of quick-
silver, put it into a bottle of chlorine, and shake the bottle
about. we shall find that the red oxide will gradually. be con-
verted into a white powder, and the bottle be occupied by a
greenish coloured gas like chlorine, which it was considered to
be before in. Balard analyze(' it. We find the quicksilver to
be converted into corrosive sublimate, and that the chlorine
has been changed into hypochorous acid. We find one half of
the chlorine uniting with the quicksilver, and the other half the
oxygen.

Chlorine forms with hydrogen, a most important substance,
which was obtained at a very early period. Common salt was
decomposed by sulphuric acid, and a volatile liquid separated
which was called spirit of salt, because all of those volatile sub-
stances were at that time supposed to belong to that class form
which spirit got. They had spirits of wine, spirits of hartshorn,
spirits of salts, &c., obtained by the distillation of wine, am-
inoniacal matters, salt, &c. Spirits of salt (muriatic acid)
were first obtained by Glauber, whose name is so well known in
connexion with the salts of that name. Indeed, the connexion
of Glauber's name with sulphate of soda, presents an interest.
ing fact in the history of science. Chemists imagined in some
way or other, that when they took the spirit or life out of any
substance, that what remained was worth nothing, and accord-
ingly they designated it caput mortuunt, or death's head. Glauber
was the first who examined residual products, and found that
sulphate of soda was left behind after the distillation of spirit of
salt. Ammonia is one of the best tests for muriatic acid, for if the
least quantity be present, it combines with it, and forms muriate
of ammionia (salammonicac). Pure muriatic acid gas is colour-
less, like atmospheric air, it is absorbed very rapidly by water,
amid therefore must he collected over.quicksilver. Being heavier
than atmospheric air, it may 'likewise be collected as surphurls
acid. Muriatic acid unites with bases, which, until lately, were
called muriates, but there is a doubt amongst chemists, whether
muriates are capable of existence. Muriatic acid is composed
of chlorine and hydrogen, and when it comes into contact with 'a
metal, the chlorine only unites with the metal, in this man-
ner if we add muriatic acid to potash, the chlorine unites
with the potassium, and the hydrogen with the oxygen. It is
not improbable that a real combination of chloride of hydrogen
with the oxide of a metal may exist. If the electric spark be
passed through equal volumes of chlorine and hydrogen, an
explosion 4.nsues, owing to the combination of these gasses,
and their formation into muriatio acid. The same result will
happen if these gasses be exposed to the direct light of sun.
By means of Cavendish's eudiomieter the composition of
muriatic acid gas may be synthetically demonstrated.
These lectures are rendered highly interesting by the valu-
able experiments with which they are illustrated. There is
scarcely an assertion or theory, which Dr. Kane does not thus
practically prove, and this is the reason why a lecture on che-
mistry is a much more efficient means of conveying instruction
in the science than the best written work upon the subject.
To-morrow evening Dr. Epps will commence his introductory
lecture upon physiology.

BRA nFoRn (Thursday.)—The very brisk demand for long
and abort wool, which has prevailed for some time, coutinpes
unabated : and the supply of new stocks of the raw material is
still cut off by the closing of the principal lines of conveyance.
A further slight advance has been obtained, and there is no im-
mediate- prospect of prices receding.—larn.—We continue to
do a very good business in yarn. The prices of last week are
fullymaintained, and in some instances a further advance has
been obtained; vet still the spinners, from the very high price
they are compelled lo give for wool, say they are not fairly re-
niniterated.— Piece.—The market of to-day bears a similar aspect
to that of last week. Any sales effected, although at an advance,
are still not in proportion to the price of yarns. If wool main-
tain its present price, pieces must speedily obtain a still further
advance, as the manufacturers cannot realize a profit even at
the present price of yarns.

STEAM -N AVIGATION TO INDIA BY THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
—This is a question of too much importance to the mercantile
world to withhold for a Moment any information which may
have come to our knowledge touching its practicability. We
have learnt that a body of influential gentlemen, under the
chairmanship of Capt. Sir John Ross, have formed a company
for building steam-vessels of 1;200 tons, which can make the
voyage lo India by the Cape, carrying between 600 and 700
tons of merchandize in the almost ittcreslibly short space of
52 days, with only one sitipprge for fuel; and that the appara-
tus (a newly-invented boiler, by Mr. Collier,) has been tried
in a vtivir;„,e made by Sir John, the'result of which more-than
justified the expectations held out by the inveutur.—Morniity
Purt.