that very exploded principle. The new doctrine of hydrogene, will explain, without doubt, that extraordinary phenomenon in an easy manner. I am curious to hear the opinion my old correspondent Dr Priestly on this discovery, to whom I communicated it some time ago; but suppose he is too much occupied with other matters to pay his wonted attention to physics*. *The substance of the foregoing intelligence respecting charcoal, has. been pretty generally known in Britain for some time past; but it is only of late that a very elegant mode of effecting this chemical process has been discovered, which, on account of its simplicity and conveniency, reflects honour on the discoverer, and deserves to be very generally known, This consists in simply ordering the cafks to be a little more scorched by the cooper than is usual, when he heats them to make the staves bend; so as to line the whole inside with a thin but uniform coat of charred: wood; which being left unscraped, and the ends of the barrel also charred in the same manner within, the whole cask forms an impenetrable coat of: charcoal, within which, it is, saad, the water can be kept perfectly sweet: and limpid for any length of time. Charcoal may thus be applied to many valuable purposes; for from this and some other late experiments, there is great reason to believe that char coal is one of the most active chemical agents in the universe. In the purification of spirits it is much more powerful than any other; and there is great reason to believe that by its means the peculiar flavour of most spi-rits may be quite taken off, or so much weakened as to render them capable of being impregnated with any other flavour wanted; so that in the hands of a skilful rectifier of spirits, it must become a most valuable ingre dient. In the edulcoration of oil, it also promises to be of singular utility, but experiments are here wanting. In the refining and purifying saccharine juices, it also may be of singular utility, A French chemical economist communicates the following mode of converting honey, either into a sugary syrup, or into grained su gar itself, which he says pofseftes all the qualities, as well as the taste of sugar, without the smallest flavour of honey. 篇 Receipt for converting boney into sugar or saccharine syrup.' “Put a little charcoal in the honey, heat it gently till it comes to boil stir it well, and keep it simmering for some time; fkim off the froth Inflammable phosphoric gas! V MR LOVITZ mentioned the other day to your correspondent, another discovery which was new to him, though pofsibly known on your side the water, viÃ«Ü ' ' That pounded regulus of antimony thrown into dephlogisticated muriatic gas, takes fire. Count Sternberg, an Austrian nobleman now here on his travels, has discovered a species of gas, which likewise takes fire without the contact of any ignited substance; but the circumstance most remarkable in this discovery, is, that a diamond thrown into it is perfectly consumed. This experiment he will probably repeat here before the emprefs, as he has formerly done before his own sovereign, the emperor, at his coronation. The gas took fire, he says, on drawing out the glafs stopper, from its being heated by holding the bottle long in bis hand, and almost burnt his hands; but still the experiment succeeded, and the diamond was perfectly consumed in the burning gas*. What a strong confirmation of what was so long laughed at as a bold hazarded afsertion of the great Sir Isaac Newton, that a diamond was only a concrete phlogisten ♪iv But indeed another great genius, Bergman, had already that comes to the top; pour it into a proper vessel; allow it gradually to cool. The syrup becomes a pure colour lefs syrup, quite divested of the taste of honey, like syrup of sugar. If grained sugar be wanted, it requiers only to be boiled till the water be evaporated: He does not mention if lime water be necefsary." Many other uses may be made of charcoal, particularly in the very difficult procefs of discharging colours; but here our experiments are few! Edit. *I suspect there is here a little inaccuracy. In Crell's annals of chemistry, it is said the diamond has been consumed by inflammable gas; which was set on fire by introducing in the bottle that contained it, the end of a wire heated red hot. b. Edit done his opinion justice; and shown the diamond to be a combustible body. Nay mineralogists had already acknowledged the fact in a laughable manner, by degrading this first and most valuable of all the precious stones from its rank as a gem, and placed it amongst the sulphurs, c. as an inflammable substance. You will find that I have taken the liberty in my table of precious stones, to bring it back again to the head of the clafs of gems; which it certainly merits, from its hardness, brilliancy, and value, whatever may be its component parts. I imagine that, in the jargon of new French chemistry, this will. be called an earth and oxigene. CIRCULAR. SIR JOHN SINCLAIR presents his compliments. He hopes that his former communications respecting the statistical account of Scotland, have been received. It is earnest-ly requested, that such of the clergy as have not yet transmitted their respective accounts, will lose no time in sending them; the public at large being extremely anxious to have this work brought to a conclusion as quick ly as possible, as the advantages of which it may be pro ductive, cannot be thoroughly known or felt, until it is completed. Eight volumes, which will contain in all about five hundred parishes, will be published in the course of January, 1793;, and the remainder of the work, if the necefsary materials come in, might be finished soon after the meeting of the ensuing General Assembly, when,. it is hoped, that not a single account will be wan ting. The clergy will hear with satisfaction, that not only in England, but in every part of the continent, the highest eulogiums have been bestowed on the zeal, talents, and industry, they have displayed, in carrying on this great undertaking; which, in the opinion of every unprejudiced person, will be of as much consequence to other countries, as even to Scptland. December 1792.} ', ' ' N. B. Nothing could be more disagreeable to SIR JOHN SINCLAIR, than to be under the necessity of applying to any other person, than the minister of the parish, for the statistical account of it; particularly, as it might tend to lefsen the high reputation which the clergy have already so deservedly acquired by their statistical exerti .ons. He hopes, therefore, that your afsistance will not be wanting a moment longer than is absolutely necefsary; and he should be glad to be favoured with your ac count, directed to him at London, in packets not exceeding two ounces in weight, as speedily as pofsible. It is not in his power, during the sitting of parliament, to attend to the printing of the different returns; but he wish. es to have the satisfaction of reading them over before they are sent to the prefs; and many respectable literary characters in the church (in particular those who have taken an active part in establishing the society for the benefit of the sons of the clergy) have undertaken the trouble of revising the prefs at Edinburgh, during his absence. He has the pleasure of adding, that there is the prospect of a fund being soon established for the DAUGHTERS as well as the SONS of the clergy; and though the clergy engaged in this important work without any interested motives, it cannot be an unpleasing circumstance, that their labours are likely to meet with such solid marks of public approbation, and will probably be productive, not only of personal credit to each individual, but of beneficj consequences to the order in general. 15 6* 4 It need scarcely be added, that the merit which they have already acquired by their statistical exertions, must very materially contribute to the success of the application now in agitation for the augmentation of the stipends of the clergy. It is indeed an unfortunate circumstance, that the statistical account of Scotland was not completed previous to such an application. However, the greater number of accounts that are received and printed, before that question comes on, the better chance there is for suc cefs; and it is to be hoped, that at least ten volumes, containing from six to seven hundred parishes, will be published before the month of April, when that business will, in all probability, come under discussion. SIR JOHN SINCLAIR begs to hear from every minister, who has not yet written him, when his account may be expected. He will have the honour of attending the ensuing General Assembly, when he hopes some plan will be formed for having, in each parish, a copy of the work. In the concluding volume, every necefsary correction which the clergy will take the trouble of pointing out, fhall be attended to and any additional information will be inserted, that is judged in any respect of importance. ANECDOTE. A DISSIPATED nobleman, in the time of Henry vin. ha |