The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-01
ENrRACT
(CoNTINuEp)

We then come to the history of the dscove-
ries relative to heat itself which constitute sys
tenn so new, that the philosophers OF the first half
OF the eighteenth century had no ideas whatever
of it.
The first germs of it are to be traced back TO
upwards of forty years, and we are indebted for
them to the Scotch chemist, Black and to the
.Swede, WIke. They first observed, that not
only body absorbed ;,grest quantity of heat, in
melting, and in evaporating. and restored it in
returning to its primitive state but alse, that
different Quantities of heat necessary, to bring
different bodies to the same degree of temporal
ture these primary truths have produced "a
number OF others, the influence of which, ON the
whole system of the sciences, well on do
nestle economy, and particularly on the arts, is
incalcuable.
We give rapid enumeration of those particu
lar discoveries of the different capacities of boz
dies, Tor becoming conductors of heat, measured
BY Franklin and Ingenhouoz, of the particular
/, manner in which liquids conduct it, dicover.
ed by Count Rumiord, in whose hands it became
the source OF many useful processes of the
caiorinreter imvented by NJ DE Ia Place, TO mea-
sure the heat produced, or which disappears in
each circumstance an instrument which has sup
ported the theory of chemistry, by such beautiful
demonstrations of the various disabilities of the
bodies, measured by NJ NJ Dalton, and Gay
Lussac, aid 50 necessary to be known, in order
TO Judge OF thermometers in short, CT the the
oIy Recently nniSne0 by the same plil-
osophers The importance of which is. so great,
tor the construction Of steam engines, machines
the most mar, ellous perhaps of all those with
which the genius of science has enriched socie!
IT,
Galvanic electricity presents itself next, and OF
fers 10 us new scene, and regions OF which no
msnyet daTes to calculate the exteut The most
powerful perhaps of the agents, which nature
employs IN its operations, OH the surface OF our
globe, therefore remained hidden until the pre-
sent time. The simple juxtspostion, not only OF
two metals, but even of any two different bodies
whatever, alters the equl brium of electricity /;
and this alteration may produce the most violent
connections IN the animal economy il separates
substances the most Intimately united Ut this
moment it appears disposed TO reveal the compo-
si,ion of the aikalies, which the most profound
chemistry had hitherto always presented to US,
as simple bodies in short, when in its full force,
1t is thunder itself and in its various degrees, it
Is perhaps the secret spring ofa great number of
Phenomena, yet involved in mystery. The name
OF Calvani, who discovered the action Of this C.
lectricity on animal economy, that of Volta, who
has demonstrated its origin and its nature, and
who has Taught how to encrease it's force indefi
nitely; those of Ritter, Nicholson, and principal
ly that OF Davy, who has discovered and estaD-
lfshed its chemical power are honoraby re-
corded IN this part ofour report amongst those
or many other sstimable natural philosophers,
VINO have enriched the theory of Gslvanism,
by more particular experiments and discoveries.
Alter this theory of the imponderable chcmi-
cal agents, so new in tho history of the sciences,
weproceed to chemistry, properly called, and
Particularly to its fundamental doctrine, the ex-
PLANTATION OF what takes place in combustion.
Here, undoubtedly, was effected the most i'm
portant revolution that the sciences ever axpe-
rienced !; arevoiution at once honorable for
our times, and for our country and which was
not completed before the commencement of the
period, OF which we give an account.
Individually, during several years, facts had
been accumulated, capable OF overseeing the
doctrine OF phiogston, and all the brilliant system
OF otahi, Notwithstanding the efforts made by Sc
nae, Macquer, Roueiie, aud Bergman, to support
and illustrate 1t. The new theory, is doubtless
only link, which happily connects particular
facts, discovered by different men, and at very
different times. The discovery Of latent heat,
by Black that of the dsengagement of air irt n
the calces Oh mercury, by BAyen that of the pro-
ductIon OF liked air, in the combustion of char
coal, by Cayendish and of water in that OF in
fammsbe air, by the same philosopher, and by
M. Mopge; are ntegrant portions of the new
chemistry as well as the increase of the weight
OF caicmed metals, previously announced by Ii.
bavius and The absorption Of air i'll calculations,
discovered as early as The time of Boyle.
But 1t is precisely the good fortune of having
united, into one single body, all these insulated
rays that constitutes the indisputable glory Of
Layoisier. Beto;e his time, the particular phe-
nomena of chemistry might be compared TO a
species OF Labyrinth, the deep and winding walks
OF which had nearly all been traversed by many
laborious men but their points of union, thei.
connexi0n with each other, and with the whole,
could be perceived only by the man Of geAius, ca
pable OF soaring above the edifce, and seizing
the plan with the eye OF an eagle.
Europe, at that time, witnessed an affecting
spectacle, OF which the history of the sciences
furnishes very few examples ; the most eminent
French chemists, the contemporaries Of Iayoi-
sier, those who were bcsS entitled to consider
themselves as his rivals, and particularly NJ. M.
Fourcroy, Berthollet, and Guyton, candidly ran
ged themselves under his banners, loudly pro-
claimed his doctrine in their books, and in their
ohairs, ta5ored ~ith him in extending il to all the
phenomena, and intoxicating il in The minds of all
men.
II was by this noble conduct, es much as by
Tie importance 81 their private discoveries, that
theJ deserved to participate in the glory Of that
fr'nnate man OF genius, and gave to the new the.
DRY, the name Of French chemistry, under which
his now adopted by all Europe.
One of the means which contributed the most
powerfully to it's rapid success, is the nOInenca-
ture created by this sOtie;y Of French chemists.
IL substituting for barb. rous, or mysterious
terms, invented Ia times of ignorance, names ex-
pressiVe OF the species, and proportion of tue ee-
ments OF each substance they presented to the
mind summary Of the results OF the science, ana
furnished the memory with the neaps Of REGAL.
Ing by the nanIes the nature itself of the objects
The new nome nclature is not an instrument for
d5coyery, It IS ouly the expression Of discoveries
made but it IS Just to acknowledge in it an
excellent instrument for instruction, and as such,
1t Inu+t be allowed TO hsye dfiusCd the science,
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