Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1836-05-05

I v
tion OF the processes In which he IL engaged
he may form IN established rule, which be Ia.
only 10 follow, in order 10 secure a result
which custom has taught him TO expect from
, the presence and influence Of certain concur
rent circumstances, but such a one vail al
ways bc dependent on the chances Of fortune,
or the occurrence Of fortultous combinations
for improvement and success in his ART While
on the other hand, the artist or mechanic who
enlarges and enlightens his mind, by scientific
study, will avail himself Of many such general
principles, and instructive hints, as v i'll prove
TO him useful instruments in bringing To- per-
lection the established operations Of his par
,ieular pursuit, and enable him, by taking ad-
vantage Of the natural agencies of materials
on one another, greatly to abridge the incon-
veniences Of bodily labor aud loss Of time. ia
his hands, science and art become auxiliary "a
each other--the one furnishing him bound
less store Of certain and important expert
mental facts; the other giving him fixed and
comprehensive principles, the application Of
which 10 practice, simplifies hiS art, and leads
him to new practices and useful inv ontions
Chemistry justly claims the attention and
respect % u large proportion Of mankind. be-
cause II ministers Co our wants our pleasures.
aud our Injuries. II derives Tor u, many oi the
comforts of life, from the rude forms Of I'm
cultivated nature. TIE extraction Of metals
from their ores, the conversion of those me-
tails, when ohtainrL. into more useful and
manageable for'.Is, the production from rude
materials. OF I've beautiful aud necessary arti-
Giles Of china, which adorn our houses aud Ia
bles; the conversion Of the sacharine Juices OF
fruits into wine aud other liquors, and Of some
of those liquors, BY Fermentation, into vinegar,
the combination of the medicinal virtues Of
plants With the various vehicles used 10 CON
Vey them, the preparation Of medicines from
the mineral kingdom; the extraction Of that
valuable LASS Of remedial agents-the vegeta-
bic alkaline pnnciples-morphia s,rychnine,
coniuc, hyosciamine, Sc, from their respec-
tive plants; the expression Of essential oils; the
extraction Of the coloring matter Of plants,
aud its permanent transfer TO cotton, linen,
and woollen textures; the separation OF the
nutriuve matter from grain and other yeseta-
bles; the preparation, by culinary processes,
OF light aud dises'ible food from the crude
products OF the soil, the operations Of dyeing,
bleaching, and printing, and the process Of tan
nins,-are but a very few Of the numerous
arts, that owe. not only their present degree
Of perfection, but their first invention, TO the
powers Of Chemistry.
The metallurgist Is deeply interested in this
science; because Il instruets and assists him in
the separation Of metals from their ores;
teaches him how to accomplish the various
notifications Of the metals lac obtains aud
gives him the capacity Of so uniting them in
different combinations, as 10 yield tue various
compounds required for particular aud distinct
purposes BY II, for instance, he IL taught o.
convert cast or pig iron into wrought iron or
steel, and 10 combine copper and tin, or zine
and lead and antimony, in such proportion as
produce the several compounds OF brass, bell
metal, pinch5eck. and type-metal. By the aid
Of chemical knowledge, the mineralogist is en-
abled 20 detect the presence Of precious stones
and earths, and To designate and point out the
regions Of coal bods. BY an acquaintance with
the chemical characters and properties OF
every stone aud earth, he is able At once 10 de-
clare its nature, use, and value, a. soon a.
found, aud 10 place /, in its proper family. BY
an examination Of a small portion Of Nh orc
or indeed Of the adjoining earth, from a spot
reported 20 contain treasures Of gold or coal,
he can, upon chemical principles, test the truth
Of the assertion, and decide upoE the propriety
Of going deeper into the bowels of the earth,
for that, in search Of which, avarieious msn
has 80 often labored in vain.
Chemistry is the great source from which
have sprung those arts that supply W. with the
substances denominated salIne-es.eutial in
the business Of common life-among which
are included potash, pearlash, soda. common
salt, sugar of lead, alum, saltpetre, boray,
green and blue vitriol, verdigris, sugar ia all
its forms, with many others IN equal demand
A knowledge Of the powers of chemical agen-
cy, Is advantageous Co the manufacturer Of
glass, china ware, pottery, and earihen ware
Of every description; as we'll as To the equally
useful tile and brick maker. BY Il, he be-
comes acquainted with the nature and proper
ties Of the materials be employs, and with the
means OF regulating the different degrees OF
heat required for their fusion and hardening.
II also unfolds 10 bim the principles on which
depend the strength Of his products and their
fitness 60 bear sudden vicssitudcs % heat and
cold. aud enables him the better 10 adept the
various colors and glsEings to each kind OF
ware. The brewer carries With him. through
every step Of his art, chemical principles, that
exert an important iniiuence on tie prO,luc-
ton Of fermeutcd liquors. A large share OF
chemical knowledge u requisite o. discover
ard control the circumstances that promote or
rctard tlie Preventative process. by u alone,
he can ascertain and requisite the strength 81
his infusions, detect the influence 81 trmpera-
ture oh the process II fermentation, and Judge
q tho effect of the presence OF exclusion Of
atmospheric ar.
Every artist engaged in tho business d
becsusr VI. operations are nothing more thau
a succession 81 chemical plsuoncua. The re-
noval of nItiye color by thc destroy ing power
! Of chemical agents. tbe preparation uf gopdi
Tor the reception q colOrin- matter the coin
pounding of cniors or dye the hXiug ~ fsn,lct-
I inz permanent fugitive color. by mean. of suit
able bases. al fsll within ~, SPHERE u che.
mical invsstigation. and require hs aPphcz
ton II shsu,iesl principles.
I The art Of tanning - one strictly chemical
I The tanner. then. should be- acquainted vail
those chemical principles NJ least which rsisi,
, % his business that BE- may understood tho ~.
culiar action II The SCENTS be uses on Use anr
nal hbrc. Thus roasoning from analogy, 90
some other fair mode q induction. D. may b.
lei O. some practical improvement - bis lrt
and become such beucfact4r q mankind I'll.
were seqHin sud Dayy. who brought O. hEhl
more than any chemists Who preceded them
ihe nature u this valuable art aud very great
4 ~ improved % The f1rInauon ~ glue snl
other articles of commerce from pafis e ani
mails fof oar benefit. are additional esilencei
I ~ imperative claim, tist This valuable Science
has a. our stiehtiou ard regard.
7 MUCK also u due % The scieucc 81 Chemis
Try from those arts Which convert The psri. ri
Vegetables 81 orr use ani aivautsgs. ~ n