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

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

"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 for the public press, who experienced
from Mr. Ryde and other members of the committee the utmost
courtesy and attention.
It was stated that Lord Montague wrote a letter expressing
regret that their invitation to him had wit 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 Buckinghamshire also gave in his adhession.

A POPULAR COURSE OF CEIEMISTRY.
MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

bites] a large crystallized mass of carbonate and sulphate of
lime which hisd been detached from a brewer's boiler in Lon-
don, and also a beautiful and exceedingly ens ious crystallized
piece sulphate of lime, which had been presented to him in this
town, that was detached from, the boiler of a steam •ftscket. Mr.
Hemming said he believed the latter were the first perfect crys-
tals of sulphate of lime produced by accidental means. 'rise
presence of hi-carbonate of lime in water can be detected by
adding lime water to a suspected solution, when. should it con-
:a:it:a:l:e' a white precipitate will be formed iii consequence of
the combination of one atom of carbonic acid with the lime, or,
if we boil the water so as to deprive it of one atom of carbonic
same effect will ensue. An-excess of carbonic acid
will again dissolve this precipitate, and restore the transparency
of the fluid. The only substauce 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 inuriate is employed, though perhaps chloride
would be more strictly correct, because when salts are in solu-
tion, they are in the state of relriates. When sulphates are
held in solution by water, the addition of a few drops of sous-late
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- sity?r, which will separate the muriatic
acid, or rather the chlorine in the state of chloride of silver.
The
ca;trn be
atmospheric air or carbonic acid gas which water may con-
tain 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 back to the boiler; but the lecturer was not aware
ttuhraar in
tal,n,yvery great beneficial results had been derived from it.
Water exists in a variety of different states. We have it na-
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 ata 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. llallev
said, that at St. Helena a surface of 10 irphes of water will
evaporate one cubic inch in the course of 21 hours; at this rate
a single square mile of the ocean will evaporate 6,91`4 tons in
that period. The Mediterranean sea is said to evaporate 5,`230
millions of tons daily. This is, perhaps, more thau is evapo-
rated from any other similar surfacer 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. It 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
blowing hard 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 'moved 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. When this wind, which is called the Harmattan,
blows, it produces the most distressing effects. In a few days
cabinet work falls to pieces, wood splits, fruit and vegetables
ripen with great rapidi;-, but are found to be destitute of
flavour and juice. Its effects upon the animal system are ex-
traordinary : the nostrils and the eyelids because 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, which are
admitted to be contagious and infectious, at this period are by
no 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 Harmattan, 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 expsrim.ent, which renders 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
witnessed 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 theva-
rious metals.