The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-24
RECENT DISCOVERIES IN SEVERAL METAL
Lie BASES, AND THE MEANS OF REDU-
cling THEM

AT the commencement of the present Cen.
tury, Davy discovered the means and reduced the
| alkalies TO the metallic state, and showed that
clay was the oxide of some probably metallic
base, proved so to he by Professor WOhler, in
| 1928. This gentleman took well.known SALT
a combination of chlorine and the clay base
called chloride of aluminium, and heated it in
contact with the metallic base of soda, called
sodium. The chlorine left the aluminium, and
united with the sodium forming the chloride o..
sodium, OF common salt. The aluminium Wa,
left in fine metallic scales, metal, white liz
tin. But it was only in small scales, and coulj
not well be reduced to fused globule withoui
being burnt and reconverted to clay. Within
the last year, NJ. Deyille, in France. has an
nounced that by substituting luoride of alum
mum for chloride of aluminium, he gets larsrr
quantities of aluminium, and in the state Of
fused globules.
Still later, NJ. Henry Rose, of Berlin. has
learned that native mineral called k,lJ0lifs.
very common in West Greenland, by being
heated with sodium, yields the metal alumni
um in considerable quantities. He finds II
very peculiar white metal, eight times lighter
than gold, land conducts electricity eight times
better than iron,) easily rolled out into thin
foil, and having most wonderful ringing
sound, far beyond what is known in any other
metal. Its uses yet remain to be pointed out
Calcium, or the metallic base Of lime, like
the base of clay, was proved by Davy. But the
separation of the metal in a tangible form WA.
an enigma for the man of science Of 1859 70
solve. series Of experiments have been De
vised in the Laboratory of Professor Bunsen.
of Heidelberg, by NJ. Matthieson, with gal.
vanic battery OF peculiar construction, bg
which salt Of lime, called muriate OF lime. il
readily converted to the metallic state, as cas-
ly as fragment of lead ore is converted to III.
metal. What is also quite remarkable is, it wa,
ascertained at the same time that the analogous
or equivalent salts of soda, and potash, AL.
strontia and baryta, could also be reduced 6,
the metallic state with equal ease.
Now, calcium or the metal of lime. va,
thought to be white metal, like silver; but th-
dscoyerer finds it to be a metal of a light y,l.
low color, not unlike that of bell metal, or gold
alleged with silver. The lustre of a recently
cut surface makes the color appear lighter; but
when the light is reflected successfully from
two surfaces of the metal, the tint becomes an
intense yellow. When recently filed, it reflects
a brilliant lustre. 1t breaks with a granular
fracture, and is about as hard as common lime
stone, and may be rolled into thin plates or
drawn into wire. In perfectly dry air, calcium
preserves its metallic lustre for several DAYS
without change; but in damp air, it soon Is
covered with gray powder, found to be lime
or the hydrate of lime. When heated red hot
it takes fire. and burns into lime.
Bay Book notices, literary cOntrbubon
and miscellaneous communications, are 81
crowded out. We shall clear the decks one
these day.
Iowa DEMOCRATIC COMMUNICABLE"
Jan. 1.-THE Iowa Democratic State COnyrA
ton has chosen George w. McCleary Tor So
cretary of State, James Pollard for Auditor
George Paul for Treasurer, and james BAKE
for Attorney GeReral. Four Presidential tle"
ors were nominated, and eight Delegates w~,If
appointed to the Cincinnati Convention. Il Is
understood that the Delegates are pledged "
support Douglas.
MASSACHUSETTS LEGIsLATURE.-The bill A
troduced on Friday, by Mr.. Thomas OF Ne'
Bedford, for the repeal of the Personal lAoel'i
Bill, was laid on the table. The Senate ah'
House agreed to send that part Of the Cover
or's Message relative to this law to a JOINT Sfr
cial committee, consisting of five Senators az
one Representative from each Congress'H'
district.
CONTRADICTIONS. = The Union says thai W
such question as a suspension of diploma.
intercourse has been before the Cabinet. Vu'
relations with Great Britain are certainly ls'
cate, perhaps critical, but the proposed WIZ
drawai of our Minister is not among the e'.
dences which intimate the deicacy OF those
relations The Union further says" We eau
not deny that there are serious questions an'
differences between the two Governments