The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-12-06 00:00:00

) flu ity " will take lace anly between the minutest atoms." As
a practical law, it is certainly "superfluous," and as a law of
any kind, it is very questionable; for we know nothing of the
manner or state in which bodies chemically unite. Mr. Dalton's
diagrams are as intelligible and as rational as any other hypo-
theses; but, unfortunately, eve have none supported by even a
shadow of evidence. Haw a particle of one kind of matter,
small almost to evanescence, a German monad, can combine
with another particle of matter so as wholly to lose both their
original properties passes our understanding. Whether it be
juxta-position, or intro-susception, or any other mode, we must
leave for the future Alexanders of -chemistry in their scientific
conquests to determine. The third law is very fully and very
perspicuously explained, and it would seem almost hypercriti-
cism to notice the identification of ferro-cyanuret of potash and
prussiate of potash as incorrect, inasmuch as the ferro-prussiate
of potaSh is frequently called prussiate of potash; but since there
is a delicate salt distinguishable from the ferro-prussiate, viz.,
a simple prussiate of potash, or cyanuret of potash, we may per-
haps be pardoned for our scrupulous regard to accuracy. So
also the double salt called alum is not a compound of sulphate
of alumina, and sulphate of potash, or soda, and, we may add.
or sulphate of ammonia, but of a super sulphate or bisulphate of
alumina, with any one of these three salts. Mr. H., we know,
will pardon us for those observations, and our operative friends
will not blame us. The fourth law is, that " a change of tem-
perature accompanies chemical affinity, and always a change of
density." Mr. H. very justly observes that "in many cases
these changes are not evident ;" and it is even supposable that
on the formation of a double salt from a mixture of acids and
bases, whilst one pair may combine and evolve heat, in conse-
quence of increased specific gravity, another pair may combine
and absorb it, or render it latent, in consequence of expanded
volume, and thus neither a change of density nor a variation of
temperature ensue. Nevertheless the law is a good one, and
one of great practical utility. We cannot unqualifiedly sub-
scribe to Mr. H.'s observation, that in all "chemical union, if
the elements are noxious, the compound is innoxious, and vice
versa. If the compounds of oxygen and arsenic, oxygen and
mercury, favour the conclusive, the compounds of oxygen and
magnesium, oxygen and silicon, and even, perhaps, oxygen and
bismuth, are adverse to it. We have, moreover, compounds of
the same elements in different proportions with opposite quali-
ties; thus oxygen and nitrogen, in one proportion, constitute
atuaosPkeric air—in another, nitrous oxide gas—in a third, nitric
acid; the two former innoxious, the last, destructive of animal
life. Still. we acknowledge that in many cases the remark is
true; but there are no known principles to raise it into a law.
The next point in Mr. H.'s admirable lecture to which our
attention has been dawn is the explanation he offers of the
cause of the destruction of colour in ink. We have two or
three objections to his rationale. First, if the gallate of iron be
decomposed by uncombiued muriatic acid, (we use this designa-
tion in conformity nith the lecturer,) we cannot understand
why it should require years for that purpose ; secondly, although
the process adopted by the manufacturer of paper may generate
muriatic acid, yet it is hardly conceivable that an acid which
has so powerful an affinity for water should remain in the paper
after the repeated washings to which the pulp is exposed; and
thirdly, we think that gallic acid, being composed of oxygen,
hydrogen, and carbon, may itself undergo spontaneous decom.
position, and the presence of iron would greatly facilitate
We know many instances in which the peroxide of iron w

occasion the oxidation of other metals, and also decompose ve•
getable compounds. The subject is highly important, and
deeply interestink to the manufacturer and the public, and we
think both are under obligations to Mr. H. for having brought
the subject under their notice. We must be pardoned if we
withhold our assent to Mr. H.'s explanation of the evolution of
carbon producing "blackness" on the addition of sulphuric
acid to sugar. That sugar contains oxygen and hydrogen we
know; but that these exist in that proportion which constitutes
water, we have no proof. Atomically they do not. Sugar is a
triple compound of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon; and sul-
phuric acid, as was first observed by Vanquelin and Fourcroy,
will occasion the oxygen and hydrogen to unite and form water;
but they always found a portion of acetic acid with the evolved
carbon, which circumstance seems fully to negative Mr. H.'s
hypothesis. Besides, starch or gum will exhibit the same phe-
nomena with sulphuric acid as sugar; and must we, therefore,
infer that all these are mere compounds of carbon and water?
Mr. H., in stating the atomic weights, assumes, as many che-
mists do, and we think inconveniently, hydrogen as the atomic
unit. Though decimals are thus avoided, the memory is bur-
dened with large numbers; thus lead, which Mr. H. calls 101,
would be 13, if oxygen were made the atomic unit. It is, how-
ever, much a matter of taste. We have learnt from tables
which make oxygen the unit; and since one series of numbers
may be converted into the other by simply multiplying or di-
viding by eight, it is not of much importance which the chemical
student may learn. Mr. H. very dexterously, if demonstra-
tively, gets over the diffictulty of " sesquioxides." Ho may be
right, but he cannot prove it; it is only an hypothesis to remove
the apparent absurdity of half atoms. Whether we may or not
" for a moment suppose that an atom is capable of combining
with 1j of another," this we know, that the theory of half atoms
explains the proportions of the elements constituting such corn-
pounds as satisfactorily as that of multiplying integrals. The
equivalents of carbonic acid, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, ammo-
nia, potash, and soda are all correct, excepting that Of potash,
which should be 48 instead of 41. The explanation given by
Mr. H. of chemical nomenclature is very lucid, hut to one of
the examples we have an exceptien. Sulphuric acid is not
composed of "one atom oxygen and one atom sulphur," as
stated, but of two atoms or equivalents of oxygen and ono atom
or equivalent of sulphur; and sulphuric acid does not contain
" two equivalents of oxygen,;' but three to " one equivalent of
sulphur." Haste or inadvertence might occasion the mistake;
but they who listened to the lecturer were not likely to correct
him. Wo doubt also whether Mr. H.'s definition of an acid be
quite unexceptionable—" the power of dissolving metals." That
this is his definition is evident, because, to speak logically, he
makes it the " essential difference." There are some metals
(metallic oxides Mr. H. means) which acids will not dissolve,
and there are many metallic oxides which are soluble in alka-
lies, and even alkaline earth. Oxides of lead and mercury will

dissolve in lime water. Again, the salts composed of sulphur-
tons acid and bases are not sulphurites, but sulphites. These
little mistakes are not in the least detractive from the merit of
the lecture; because, though they might occasion a momentary
error, the solid foundation of truth which was laid by Mr. H.
would soon receive a correct structure of science. We assure
Mr. H., in perfect sincerity, that we hail his visit to Liverpool
as a blessing to the operatives of our town, many of whom will,
we hope, acquire a taste for the fascinating and important sci-
ence of chemistry, and find in it such a rich repast as will dull
the appetite for the gross garbage of political agitation.

CLOSE OI THE EXHIBITION.—The Exhibition of Paintings
closed on Tuesday, after one of the most successful seasons
which its promoteis have ever experienced. We are gratified
in being enabled to make this announcement, so creditable 'to
the taste and intellect of the town. On Wednesday the prizes
were drawn.

DimlNuTtox op Crow.. !—Yesterday, at the Police-office,
there were 121 cases booked to be heard, 42 of which were for
felony. This exceeds considerably the amount of crime of the
days of the old police, whilst the present police force is double
in -number that of the old. We don't say this in blame of the
present police, fox in praise of the old; only a few such
awkwardja as
these, tend no little to render valueless the
often repeated assertions of Mr. Joshua Walmsley, and the
Watch Committee, of " the great diminution of crime," under
the efforts of the new police.

THE THEA TRU-ROYA L.—The present week appears devoted
to the benefits of several of the company. Last night Miss
Faucit took her benefit with the play of "Virginius," and we
are glad to hear had a good house. To-night Mr. Andrews,
the oldest member of the theatrical corps, makes his twenty-
seventh appeal to the Liverpool public with the play of the
" Provoked Husband." On Wednesday night Mr. and Mrs.
Bland take their benctit with. the Opera of " Henri Quatre."
Mrs. Bland is well known as a songstress of no mean ability,
and as a most plpising actress. We doubt not.but her benefit
'will be supported. On Friday evening Messrs. Lloyd, the
prompter, and Howard take their benefit with the play of
"The School of Reform," in which Mr. Hammond is engaged
to play the part of Tyke. The well-known abilities of this fa-
vourite actor will doubtless draw a crowded house.

.Tne Lives THRATER.--This pretty little Theatre continues
to'be nightly crowded by respectable audiences to witness the
clever and astonishing feats of Mr. Sutton, the Magician. His
feats of legerdemain are beyond description surprising. He
makes no mystery of it; he tells his audience 'he will deceive
them, and deceive them he does and most completely. Nut the
slightest slip, or the slightest motion can be discovered to give a
clue to the extraordinary transformations which he effects.--
His ventriloquism is not less clever and is highly amusing.—
Though he evidently is labouring under a severe cold, the de-
ception is most complete. His imitation of a young puppy dog
in a hat and the smothering of the tone by placing a plate over
it, is one of the most perfect tricks of ventriloquism we ever
heard. We can assure our readers who may choose to witness
his feats that they will be.highly entertained.
"THE GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS."—ASSAULT.-011 Sa-
turday last Mr. Foster, the reporter for the Liverpool Standard,
applied to Mr. Hall for a summons against R. S. Mackenzie,
LL. D., editor of the Liverpool Journal. Mr. Foster spoke as
follows :—" I have an application to make for a summons
against Dr. Mackenzie, of the Liverpool Journal, for an assault
which he has committed upon me. I was yesterday in the In-
solvent Debtors' Court, where also Dr. Mackenzie was. I be-
lieve he, as well as myself, was engaged in taking a rrport of the
case of Mr. Moon for the Manchester papers. Late in the af-
ternoon I applied for a rather lengthy document, which had
been read, and for which, it appears, Dr. Mackenzie had also
applied. As the ManOester mail goes at five o'clock, we had
no time to lose. After a time, the document was handed over
to me, and I was about to make use of it, when Dr. Mackenzie
snatched it from my hand. 1 remonstrated with him on the im-
propriety of his conduct, and offered to let the document lie be-
tween us, sn that both might make use of it. He replied, that
he did not wish to have anything to do with such a fellow. Mr.
Powell, oue of the opposing creditors, very politely offered to
read it over to us. but Dr. Mackenzie repeated, that he would
have nothing to do with such a fellow. I then said he was be-
having very much like a blackguard; upon which he immedi-
ately Struck me a violent blow on the face with his open hand.
Al y first impulse was to knock him down, but I am now glad I
forbore. Mr. Batchelder stood within a few yards of me at the
time, and distinctly heard the blow, and several respectable gen-
tlemen and members-of the bar were present. A gentleman,
who gave me his name and address, offered to come forward as
a witness. The court kvas crowded with individuals et the time."
The summons W i t aidltn
the case is to be heard to-or-
krao
ro've;• (this day,) at one