Scientific Society has opened my access to works of a standard, but expensive character, which are rarely found in the private library of a tradesman. The library, at present, is certainly not very extensive; but it is continually on the increase, and includes many very valuable works in English, French, and the classical languages. Upon entering the room, the first object that presents itself is a large table strewed with newspapers, magazines, &c. Round this table a number of gentlemen are seated (more or less) as it happens. There are four newspapers, and the Edinburgh, Quarterly, Eclectic, and Westminster Reviews; Tait, Blackwood, Fraser, the Philosophical, Natural History, the Gardener's, and other Magazines. Another room opens into this, which contains the library, under the direction of a librarian.

Note.-The Institution has since been removed to the Society's new Hall, a handsome edifice, with reading-room, library, theatre for delivering lectures, and other offices, conveniently adapted to the several objects of the Institution. The library now contains 4000 volumes, anno 1838.-ED.

1833, 4mo. 19th.-AN ACCOUNT OF A LEcture ON THE COMPONENT PARTS OF AIR.-Delivered last Evening, at the Rooms of the Islington Literary and Scientific Society, by the President.

The lecturer commenced by briefly noting the most important eras of chemical science. He adverted to the celebrated Greek balls of the ancients, which were so successfully used against Leo at the siege of Constantinople. He then adverted to the golden age of alchemy, and mentioned an act passed in the reign of Henry VI., which decreed that no one should multiply gold or silver, or use the art of multiplications, under pain of felony,—an act which, Lord Coke justly observed, was the shortest in the English code.

After this brief account of the progress of the science of chemistry, he stated it was not his intention to give a complete outline of that science; because, having principally directed his attention to pneumatic chemistry, he would have felt himself incompetent to that task. He also remarked that, as there were many who attended this infant institution to know the first principles of

science, he must be pardoned if he explained what he was conscious many others were well acquainted with.

He then introduced to our notice a pneumatic trough, which is a deep box made of wood or tin, and wider at the top than at the bottom. This box is filled with water, two inches below the level of which a shelf is inserted, perforated with a few large holes. The lecturer frequently used the trough.

He said; gas is a permanently elastic fluidsteam is not a gas, for it is not permanently elastic, but will return to water. It is called

Vapour.

He next decomposed some atmospheric air. The quicksilver experiment he was not able to perform, on account of the length of time necessary for making it; but, by other means, he resolved air into its component parts-oxygen and nitrogen, or azote. Oxygen, he said, may be best procured as follows:- Procure a cast-iron bottle, in which put some of the black oxide of Manganese, to be had of most druggists; bed the bottle in a hot fire, and place a long bent tube on its mouth oxygen gas will soon be evolved from

the tube. In order to collect this, fill a glass bottle with water, cork it, invert it, and place it on the shelf of the pneumatic trough, with the mouth over one of the holes. In this situation, uncork it, and it will remain filled, by the atmospheric pressure acting on the surface of the water in the trough. If the tube attached to the retort be placed under the bottle, the gas will bubble into the bottle, and displace a corresponding quantity of water. This operation must be continued till the bottle is filled, when it may be corked under water, and reserved for future use.

A B C D represents the Pneumatic Trough; E É is the shelf, on which is placed the mouth F of the receiver H. Under this mouth is placed the tube F G which communicates with the cast-iron bottle. The chased part represents the

water. The lecturer then described a convenient kind of receiver to keep it in. He exemplified the surprising effects of oxygen in producing intense light and heat, by many experiments. He plunged a piece of heated iron wire in a receiver containing oxygen, and it burnt away in fiery globules. Sulphur gave out a light which made the audience appear of a livid colour; phosphorus burnt with dazzling brilliancy. The lecturer actually made oxygen support combustion under

water.

The properties of nitrogen are principally of a negative nature: it does not support combustion, and is destructive to animal life. He plunged a lighted taper into some of this gas, and it was immediately extinguished. He observed, that if the air was pure oxygen, the earth would burn at a fearful rate, till nothing would be left to support flame; and animals would live with a hundredfold intensity, finishing their course in a few hours. On the other hand, were the air wholly composed of nitrogen, animal and vegetable life could not exist. How beautifully, by a due mixture of both, is the atmosphere adapted to the wants of creation!