The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-09-28 00:00:00

chiefly obtained from volcanic districts, or in combination
with metals. It exists in Sicily, Italy, and the lonian
Islands as one of the products of volcanic action. Around
Etna, and near Vesuvius, we find strata of sulphur alter-
nating with those of gravel and gypsum. The purification
of sulphur is a matter of great simplicity, as it melts very
readily, and at an intense temperature is converted into va-
pour. The Italians formerly used to set fire to the rock con-
taining the sulphur in the open air, and to add fresh fuel as
the sulphur melted away, and was collected in water. By
this mode, at least n quarter of the sulphur was wasted, and
the plan was laid aside, in favour of one which was invented
in France. It consists in the distillation of the sulphur in
close earthern vessels, and the collection of the molten mass
in leaden chambers containing water. The sulphur is not
thoroughly purified by this process but is afterwards, upon
its arrival in this country, remelted, and the dross being
suffered to subside, poured into cylindrical moulds to consti-
tute the roll sulphur. It is also formed intoflower of sulphur
by subliming it in large chambers, upon the surface of which
it is resolved from the state of vapour into a fine powder,
upon the same principle which operates in the conversion of
dew into hoar frost. Sulphur combines with oxygen in two
proportions, in which state it forms sulphurous and sulphuric
acid, both of which are of great practical use. The pale,
blue flame which sulphur displays when burned in atmos-
pheric air is well known, but the colour of its flame when
burned in oxygen is much more remarkable. It is then ex-
ceedingly brilliant, and exhibits a beautiful purple colour.
The intensity of the light is however less than that of phos-
phorus similarly treated; this arises from the product of its
combustion being gaseous, whereas that of the phosphorus
is solid. Indeed, we shall find in all the phenomena of com-
bustion that the greatest quantity of light is generally given
where the greatest quantity of solid matter is generated.
Now although sulphur unites with oxygen so readily, we are
not able to generate sulphuric acid by the simple combustion
of sulphur in oxygen. The only product we obtain by that
means is sulphurous acid, and we cannot obtain any higher
combinations of oxygen with sulphur. At an early period of
science the sulphurous acid was made in a very singular way.
A quantity of sulphur was mixed with some nitre and the
mixture set fire to. It was placed within a bell glass over
some water, and successive quantities of the sulphur and
nitre were set fire to over the water until the water was con-
sidered strong enough for what it was intended. The sul-
phuric acid manufactured iu this way was called Oil of
Vitriol by means of the bell. Tbe present mode of forming
it was invented by Dr. Roebuck half a century ago, but the
theory was not understood for some time afterwards. It was
known that when sulphur was burnt with nitre the product
was sulphuric acid and not sulphurous acid, and accordingly
it was at first believed that the sulphur obtained its addi-

tional portion of oxygen from the nitre. Accurate examin-
ation has proved that this is not the case,—at least not in the
way supposed—because as there is only 1 of nitre used to 10
of sulphur, it is quite obvious that the additional oxygen is
due to some other source. We owe to Clamant and Guy
Lusac the proper theory of its formation. In order to ewer,
tain the way in which nitre assists in the formation of sul-
phuric acid,. we shall bring before you a very remarkable
indirect experiment. I have here a somewhat complicated
glass apparatus, consisting of a glass bottle with three necks;"
into two of which the beaks of two retorts are introduced,
and the third is left open for the introduction of atmosphe-
ric air. In one retort a quantity of quicksilver is placed,
upon which is poured a quantity of oil of vitriol; in this re-
tort sulphurous acid is generated, as the quicksilver takes
away the excess of oxygen from the sulphuric acid. In
order to favour the action of the oil of vitriol upon the mer,
cure we apply heat. In the other retort we have some cop-
per clippings. This second retort is for the purpose of
generating nitric oxide, that gas which we saw was capable
of .giving out red fumes when brought into contact with the
oxygen of the atmospheric air. In order to obtain this gas
we pour upon the copper clippings a quantity of diluted ni-
tric acid. By this means we bring together nitric oxide,
sulphurous acid, and atmospheric air. The nitric oxide, by
mixing with the atmospheric air, causes red fumes; these
fumes upon meeting the sulphurous acid, do not act upon it
if completely dry, but if moist they do, and form a white
solid matter. Now this white solid matter is decomposed by
water, and resolved into sulphuric acid, nitric oxide, and
a s n,all quantity of nitric acid. In the manufactories
of sulphuric acid where the mixture of sulphur and nitre is
still practised, the burning of the sulphur in contact with
the nitre produces a small quantity of sulphuric acid, but
still that quantity is sufficient to eliminate from the re-
mainder of the nitre a quantity of nitric acid. This being
mixed with the sulphurous acid is resolved into red fumes
and oxygen, and the red fumes which are thus indirectly
formed in the manufacture play the part of a 'carrier
of oxygen from the external atmosphere. The manufacture
of sulphuric acid has, -however, advanced beyond that pro-
cess by which it used to be made. The manufacturer burns
sulphur by itself in a separate vessel, and supplies the red
fumes from a different source, sometimes in the very same
manner which we have adopted in the glass apparatus. Very
frequently the sulphuric acid manufacturer is associated with
the oxalic acid manufacturer, and the manager places in con-
tact with the nitric acid a quantity of sugar or starch, from
which red fumes arise, which are conducted into the chamber,
and then used in the formation of sulphuric oxide. The sul-
phuric acid, as generated in the chamber,- is not as strong
as required for commercial purposes. It is concentrated by
evaporation in leaden chambers to a certain strength, until
it begins to act upon the lead. It is then further evaporated
in glass or platinum vessels, as gas, platinum, and gold, are
the only metals which are not acted upon 'hy.sulphuric acid.
The acid which is formed in this way passes upon the con-
tinent by the name of English sulphuric acid, in consequence
of its discovery by Dr. Roebuck. ';'here is a German
acid used on the continent, which being more expensive,
is consequently only used in dissolving indigo, for the
finest qualities of the Saxon and French blues. It is made
by the distillation o! sulphate of iron, in which process sul-
phuric acid flows over with very little water, and sulphuret of
iron remains behind. It can be obtained perfectly dry, but
in this state it isnot applied to the arts. The applicatiou of
sulphuric acid to the arts is of more iteportance indirectly
than directly. It is the strongest of all aCids, and in the ma-
nufacture of nitric and muriatic acids it is very extensively
employed, but in a pure state it does not enter into connexion
with the arts. .

It had been my intention this evening to occupy you with
some details of the processes of preparing muriatic acid, and
of its properties; that acid is, however, so intimately con-
nected with a substance which will come before us next
evening, namely, chlorine, that in treating upon that sub-
stance 1 will take the opportunity of calling your attention
to

Dr. Kane illustrated the lecture throughout with a number
of pleasing and appropriate experiments whenever they could
be introduced, calculated to render his meaning distinct and
intelligible to the merest tyro in chemistry. On Saturday

(to-morrow) evening be will treat upon the processes and
substances used in the art of bleaching.

WA IT FOR THE APPLat;sl,..-,--At a,c,unty festival, where
The Mcssialz was performed, the gentleman to whbm the aria
—Olt-0u thatWiest had been assigned, anticipating a "
fa-
vourable appreciation of his talents, wrote at the end of the
song (the chorus following
,ionnediately) the words " wait
for the applause." 'Phis he indorsed not only in the leader's
copy, but au every one in the orchestra. At the conclusion
of the song tare- leader, stopped, and there was a dead stop.
" Why do you riot go on?" said the singer, in an agony of
disappointed vanity. "1 mn,waiting for the applause," was
the calm reply of the sarcastic conductor. This story re-
minds us of an anecdote which Robert. Hall, of Bristol, was
accustomed to relate.: " I remember," says his biographer,
"at the distance of many years, with what a vivid feeling of
the ludicrous he related an anecdote of a preacher of some
account in his day and connection. He would, in preaching,
sometimes weep, or seem to weep, when the people wondered
why, as not perceiving in what he was saying any cause for
such emotion, in the exact places when it occurred. After
his death, one of his hearers, happening to inspect some of
his manuscript sermons, exclaimed I have found the expla-
nation; we used to wonder at the good doctor's weeping with
so little reason sometimes. as it seemed. In his sermons
there is written here and there in the margins, 'cry here;'
now I verily believe the doctor sometimes mistook the place,
and that was the cause of what appeared so unaccountable "
—Musical World.' _ _

A7DAIUGHT(LR MURDERED BY A FATHER AND MoTHER.—
The case of suspicion of murder mentioned in our )ast has
been confirmed by the exhumation of the body and analyza—
thm of the contents of the viscera. The investigation into
the death of Elizabeth Standring was on Thursday week,
after the post mortem examination, resumed by the magis-
trates, when the following facts transpired :—Standring and
his wife immediately absconded on being informed of the
suspicions produced by the previous investigation, but by the
unremitted exertions of Sadler, the police superintendent
they were traced to Oldham, and discovered in a most,
wretched hovel, in a ruined court called the Bowes. Messrs.
Ita,goor and Downes, assisted by other medical gentlemen,
opened the body, and on analyzing the contents of the bowels
they found enough of arsenic to have caused death to a dozen
people, which they unhesitatingly declared to have been the
cause of the girl's death. The cashier of the benefit society
proved that the prisoner called upon him fot the burial-
money on the same day that his daughter died, saying that
she died of a common -bowel complaint. On the evening of
the same day he obtained money from the parish and from
another society towards the funeral. The facts of the pri-
soner's buying the arsenic, giving the mixture, which he
called jalap and treacle, to the deceased; his refusal to call
in medical advice when requested to do so, and other facts
tending to implicate him in the charge of murder, were given
at great length. The magistrates fully committed Standring
on a charge of murdering his daughter, and held the mother
to bail in £5O. to appear when called on.—Abridged from the
Stockport Advertiser. _ _

CoRN-LAWS.—Of all the preposterous accusations
made against the Corn Laws, the most absurd is that they
cause fluctuations in price! How a machinery which en-
hances the duties as the market price falls, and lowers them
as the market rise, can cause fluctuation, it is impossible to
conceive. The obvious operation of such a provision is to
steady prices ; and if in spite of this and aty other possible
law, prices are found to fluctuate, it is to be remembered that
the grain market is agitated by every movement of the ba-
rometer. On every gnw(' then we prediathat the attempt
now being Made to get up a corn•law agitation will fail. A
favourable result to the harvest will crush it, because prices
will not be felt oppressive; an unfavourable result will
equally defeat the hopes of the agitators, as then the answer
is obvious, that the corn-laws have repealed themselves and
no longer exist. All men dependent on agriculture will set
their faces against it as instant. and inevitable ruin. Alt ma-
nufacturers capable of looking beyond their noses will unite
against it from a clear perception that the money given to
foreigners for bread will eventually be applied to the et ection
otraills and factories abroad ; and all men of every class who
do not wish to see Britain dependant upon the willofforeign-
ers for the prime necessary of life—exposed to the danger of
instantaneous famine declared against her countless manu-
facturing population, or reduced to a precarious ieliance on
her own colonies for support•—will equally declare in defence
of the imprescriptible right of the British farmer, and the
vital interests of the empire.--Newcastle Journal.
SINGULAR INSTANCE OF PRESERVATIoN.—OR Wednes-
day evening last, as the workmen were sinking the new pit
at Newton, belonging to Messrs. Fernandes and Co., a tre-'
mendous stream of water from some old works burst in upon
them, and soon filled the shaft to the depth of ten yards. All
hands fortunately escaped, with the exception of one indivi-
dual, named John Ramsden, a man with a wife and two
children. This poor man was left in the pit, and given up
for lost; his life, however, was miraculously preserved.
Finding escape at the shaft impossibte, he made his way to a
rather elevated part of the pit, but not sufficiently raised to
keep off the water; his life was dependent upon the agency
of the surronnding air, which had been forced to the point
that he had chosen as a place of refuge by the sudden rushing
of the immense stream. At this point, the condensed air,
being unable to expand itself, offered an effectual resistance
to the further progress of the flood, and- afforded a safe but
uncomfortable asylum for the incarcerated man. In this situ-
tion he remained from 'Wednesday morning at ten o'clock
until past two on Sunday, rather more than sixty-eight hews.
From the time the accident happened, every exertion was
made to clear the pit, and two gins, worked by horses,
were brought into operation in addition to the engine; hot
not is the ...*Reet.t ion. of ng auttram'-a lifer. n44..tier-w
day morning, on letting down a man into the shaft, it was
found that the pit was nearly filled with the black damp, and
so certainly was his death calculated on that orders were
given for his coffin, in order that he might be placed in it as
soon as he was brought out. , Ramsden, however, hart acted
with caution. Aware of the danger from foul air, he hail
• kept himself awake the whole of the time, and never ventur-
ed from his retreat until he ascertained that the danger was
over by hearing approaching footsteps. We understand his
first exclamations were, " Gud be thanked!" " God bless
you!" We had almost forgotten to state that several din-
ners and a few bottles of, ale were left in the place where
Ramsden had retreated, which he happily got hold of. We
understand that he is now fast
recovering from the illness
and depression which his sudden and deplorable condition
had occasioned.--West Riding Herald. •