The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-10-16
CHEMISTRY.

Inc sc renee OF chemistry mas Nlthln Few
wears made the most astonishing progress in this
as in every other country where the sciences ars
cultivated or the arts improved. And when il
j. considered how intimately it, deductions arc
connected with every branch of industry,--with
the air we breathe and the ground upon which
we tread with the progress OF vegetation and
the decay of vegetable Dature-with all the
arts COnvenences and luXuries Of life II i still
more astonishing that IL should have been lett by
all other sciences at 50 long an interval IN their
rear. But the avidity with which II has lately
been studied and the rapid " with which rs doe
trlDes have been developed, IN some measure
compensate for its former inertness or the tar
dimes. Of it, esrier progress. Ii u our design TO
present some Of the objects Of chemistry and its
connection wiJh the most important pursuits of
life, for which purpose we shall adopt the Ian
guage OF an able elementary writer
The possession of the general principles Of chems
try enables us to comprehend the mutual relation of
great variety Of events that iorw part "a the estab
shed Of nature. ID untOlds the most sublime
views Of the beauty AND harmony OF The universe; dnd
deVelOpeS plan OF vast extent and OF unlnteIuptta
ORDER which could have been conceived only by per-
feet wisdom, and executed by unbOunded power BY
Withdrawing the mind, also from pursuits and anuSs-
mentS that excite the Imagination, ITS Investigations
may tend in with the rest Of the physical SCI
enCeS, the improvement OF intellectual aud NOR
al habits strengthen the faculty Of patient and acc
rate thinking and substitute placid trains OF feeling,
for those which to be awakened by the con
tending interests Of men IN society, or the Imperfect
government of our passions.
The art which is, OF all others, the most interest,"
ing from IT'S subservenCy 10 wants that interviewer
with our nature, is agriculture the art of obtaining.
from the EARTH the largest crops of useful vegetables
at the smallest expense
v The vegetable Kingdom agrees with the animal one,
IN the possession of living principle. Every indi
rdua Of this kingdom is regularly organized, aud
CURES Tor Its support an unceasmg supply Oi ioOcs
which is converted, in the animal body, INTO sub
stances OF various forms and qualities. Each plant has
It's periods Of growth health, disease decay and DEATH
and IS affected i'll all these particulars By the varying
condition Of external circumstances.
Chemls try may agrculturaists become universal
language, IN which the facts, that observed IN this
art may be clothed, to be ineligible to all ages
and nations 1t would be desirable for example, wien
writer speaks of clay, loan, mari that ne should
explain his conception Of these terms, by stating the
chemical composition Of each substance expressed bv
them For all the variety Of soils and mslures, and
all the diversified productions ofthe vegetable kingdom
capable Of being resolved, BY chemical analysis in-
70 a small number Of elementary ingredients,
To those who study Medicine a branch Of genet
al science, with the impOrtant'view of pactI-
cal utility, chemistry may be recommended with Pc
GUITAR force and prOpnety--The animal body may nv
regarded living machine, Obeyng the same laws Of
motion, daily eXemplhed in the productions Of
human art. II is laboratory, in which constant
ly going forward processes Of various kinds depend
ent on the operation Of chemical afnities The
version OF the various kinds food into blood, fluid
Of comparatively uniform composition and qualities
the production OF animal heat by the action Of the
on that fluid passes through the lungs; and the
changes which the blood afterwards undergOes in its
course through the bOdv-are ALL exclusively subjects
q chemical inquiry. TO these, and many othCr ques
lions OF chemistry has of late years been ap
piled with the most encouraging success
Chemistry Is the foundation OF those arts that Furnish
US with saline substances order Of bodies highly
iul IN the business OF common life. Among these, the
most conspicuous are, sugar in all its various forms
the vegetable and mineral akalcs known in commerce
~ the names Of potash, pearlash, and barilla
mon salt; green and blue vitOl, and alum; niue OF
scpetre sugar Of lead bOrax; and long catalogue.
which y A. needless Cd extend ffrthcr
The manufacturer Of glass, and Of various kinds Of
pottery and porceLGn should be thoroughly acquainted
with the nature of the substances he employs with
tleir fusbilitv As affected hy difference Ut proportion.
or by the adniiXuTe Of foreign Ingredients with the
means Of regulating and measuring high degrees Of
heat with tire principles which depend the hard
ness Ot his products and their fitness for bearing the
vicIssitudes Of heat and cold: and with he chemical
properties of the best adapted colours and giazngs.
Even the humble art Of making bricks and tiles has
ceived from the chemical knowledge W Bergman the
sddron Of several interesting facts.
The preparation Of various Kinds Of ftr7neStsi liquors
"a WINE ami ardent spirits, j. intimately connected ytA
chemical principles
The arts Of teaeiing, dyeing, and printing. are.
throughout, tissue Of chemical operations
The objects ofmquiry, that present themselves 0lhe
dyer ana printer, are Of considerable number and i'm
poraIoc The preparation Of goods for the reception
Of coloulmg matter the application Of the best bases
III means ~ fixing fugitive colours the Improvement
q coiounng ingredients themselves and tie means OF
rendering them permanent that lhey shall rot Sc
affected By soap orhy the accidental contact Of acids
or other corrosive bodies are among tile subjects vi
chemical investigation.
The tanning and preparation Of leather are procee-
es strictly chemical, which involved III mystery
ul they were reduced to well established principles Nv
me researches OF Seguin, and by the subsequent ex-
periments of Davv.
Mary other chemical arts might he enumerated brt
enough has been said 70 evince tile connexion between
practical skill and tbe possession Of scientific kr0w,-
edge.
These then beng some Of the subjects urrn
winch TINS science'is employed it, study cannot
be unnetFestlng TO any class Of society and j.
was therefore with pleasure that We learnt The
intention Of the learned Professor Clcari5nd IL
deliver course of Lectures in this town the
ensuing winter Of late years il has become
extremely fashionable III London. 10 attend the
lectures OF sir Humphrey Dayv. and Mr.. Ac-
cum and those Of Professor Jarnei.on in Fdin-
burg and n France and Germany. N III needless
10 say that the lecture rooms Of their chemical
professors have been the resort of fashion and
intelligence and IN all Of tae.e PLACES. witbsu-
distinction or sex