"f. Thirty measures of it expofed to water previously boiled, was rapidly abforbed; when the diminution was complete, rather more than a measure remained. g. Pure water faturated with it, gave it out again on ebullition, and the gas thus produced retained all its former properties. "h. It was abforbed by red cabbage juice; but no alteration of colour took place. ". Its tafte was diftinctly fweet, and its odour flight, but agreeable. j. It underwent no dimination when mingled with oxygene, or nitrous gas." P.86. We may conclude, that 100 cubic inches of pure nitrous oxide weigh 50,1 grains at temperature 50°, and atmospherical preffure 37. I was a little furprifed at this great specific gravity, particularly as I had expected, from Dr. Priestley's obfervations, to find it lefs heavy than atmospherical air. This philofopher fuppofed, from fome appearances produced by the mixture of it with aëriform ammoniac, that it was even of lefs fpecific gravity than that gas." "Thus in nitrate of ammoniac, four affinities may be supposed to exist. "1. That of hydrogene for nitrogene, producing ammoniac. 2. That of oxygene for nitrous gas, producing nitric acid. 3. That of the hydrogene of ammoniac for the oxygene of nitric acid. 66 4. That of the nitrogene of ammoniac for the nitrous gas of nitric acid. "At températures below 300°, the falt, from the equilibrium between these affinities, preferves its existence. "Now, when its temperature is raised to 400°, the attractions of hydrogene for nitrogene, and of nitrous gas for oxygene, are diminished; whilft the attraction of hydrogene for oxygene is increafed ; and perhaps that of nitrogene for nitrous gas. "Hence the former equilibrium of affinity is deftroyed, and a new one produced. "The hydrogene of the ammoniac combines with the oxygene of the nitric acid to generate water; and the nitrogene of the ammoniac enters into combination with the nitrous gas to form nitrous oxide: and the water and nitrous oxide produced, moft probably exift in binary combination in the aëriform state, at the temperature of the decompofition. "But when a heat above 800° is applied to nitrate of ammoniac, the attractions of nitrogene and hydrogene for each other, and of oxygene for nitrous gas, are ftill more diminished; whilft that of nitrogene for nitrous gas is deftroyed, and that of hydrogene for oxygene increased to a great extent : likewise a new attraction takes place; that of nitrous gas for nitric acid, to form nitrous vapour. Hence a new arrangement of principles is rapidly produced; the nitrogene of ammoniac having no affinity for any of the fingle principles at this temperature, enters into no binary compound: the oxygene of the nitric acid forms water with the hydrogene, and the nitrous gas combines with the nitric acid to form nitrous vapour, All these substances most probably exist in combination at the temperature of their production; and at a lower temperature, affume the forms of nitrous acid, nitrous gas, nitrogene, and water." P. 114. Having transcribed fo much of this interefting Divifion, we shall endeavour to be more concife in our account of the remaining part of this work. The fourth Divifion contains a variety of experiments, tending to manifeft the components of nitrous gas. This gas was decompofed, both by means of charcoal, and by means of phofphorus; whence it appeared, that 100 parts of nitrous gas contain 53,4 of oxygene, and 46,6 nitrogene. In the fame Divifion we find the narration of feveral experiments concerning the abforption of nitrous gas by water, as also by certain faline folutions. The opinions of Priestley and Kirwan on the converfion of nitrous gas into nitrous oxide, are examined in the fifth Divifion; to which this author fubjoins fome of his own experiments and obfervations on the fame fubject. The first Divifion of the fecond Refearch, contains experiments and obfervations on the combinations of the nitrous oxide with various fluids, both elaftic and non-elaftic; as alfo with the three alkalies. The particulars are numerous, but not very interefting. The contents of the fecond Divifion are more deferving of attention; but, with refpect to them, we inuft refer our readers to the work itfelf. The third and fourth Researches contain the most useful part of the fubje&t; namely, the application of nitrous oxide to the animal body. They thow how far it may be refpired, and what changes it produces in the body, as well as what changes the gas itself undergoes. The experiments which are defcribed in the fequel, were made by confining warm-blooded animals in jars full of the nitrous oxide. This gas was produced from nitrate of ammoniac, and was received into jars filled with water previously faturated with that gas. The following conclufions were derived from thofe experiments. "1. Warm-blooded animals die in nitrous oxide infinitely fooner' than in common air or oxygene; but not nearly in fo fhort a time as in gafes incapable of effecting pofitive changes in the venous blood, or in non-refpirable gafes. 2. The larger animals live longer in nitrous oxide than the smaller ones, and young animals die in it fooner than old ones of the fame fpecies. 3. When animals, after breathing nitrous oxide, are removed from it before compleat exhauftion has taken place, they are capable of being restored to health under the action of atmospheric air. 4. Pe 4. Peculiar changes are effected in the organs of animals by the refpiration of nitrous oxide. In animals deftroyed by it, the arterial blood is purple red, the lungs are covered with purple fpots, both the hollow and compact mufcles are apparently very inirritable, and the brain is dark colored. 5. Animals are destroyed by the refpiration of mixtures of nitrous oxide and hydrogene nearly in the fame time as by pure nitrous oxide; they are capable of living for a great length of time in nitrous oxide mingled with very minute quantities of oxygene or common air." P. 361. The fourth Research contains the account of various cafes of perfons, who, having refpired the nitrous oxide, were affected with very fingular fymptoms. In the perufal of thofe cafes, the reader may be either amufed or aftonifhed, according as he gives partial or entire credit to the narrations. This work contains a fingle plate, with a delineation of a well-contrived mercurial air-holder, BRITISH CATALOGUE. POETRY. ART. 18. St. Anne's Hill, a Poem. Dedicated to the Hon. Charles James Fox. 4to. 34 PP. 55. Debrett. 1800. This Poem, which, though by the help of an Introduction and Notes, it is eked out to a 5s. book, consists of lefs than 200 lines, is written in the form of a dialogue between the Poet and his Mufe. The former, as is ufual on fuch occafions, expreffes an amiable diffidence and reluctance to fing, it being winter, and his fancy chilled by the weather, although the 24th of January is Mr. Fox's birth-day. But the Mufe (more fuo) is peremptory; and, without further contest, the Poet proceeds to celebrate his patron for many perfonal accomplifhments and good qualities which he does poffefs, and fome political merits which, in our opinion, are much more questionable. The poetry, in general, rifes not above mediocrity, and fometimes falls below it: but the following elegant lines, by General Fitzpatrick, are introduced. "The ftar whofe radiant beams adorn In In youthful prime with ardour glows, Thefe lines are, it feems, infcribed in a Temple on St. Anne's Hil dedicated to Friendship, and they deserve this public notice. ART. 19. Sir Hubert, an Heroic Ballad. By John Weftbrooke Chand ler. 12mo. 7s. 6d. Vernor and Hood. 1800. A romantic ftory, verfified to the extent of eight fections, and 228 pages. The tale is tedious enough, but the verfification is often animated and harmonious; and the writer's mind seems well stored with poetical images, which may perhaps hereafter be exhibited in a form more likely to attract the public obfervation. ART. 20. Poems: to which is added, Lord-Mayor's Day, a mock hee roick Poem. By David Rivers, Author of Letters on the political Conduct of the Diffenters, Editor of the Abridgment of Park's Travels, Beauties of Saurin, &c. &c. 8vo. 15. Rivingtons. 1800. The first thing which caught our eye in this collection, was a confolatory addrefs to Mr. Pybus, occafioned by fome critiques on his Poem, in which these lines occur. "The wife ne'er heed the fnarling critic's rules, It is plain that Mr. Rivers does not heed the "fnarling critic's ules;" but we hope he will, before he obtrudes another poetical publication on the notice of the world. We are afraid the Poem on Lord-Mayor's Day will not procure the writer an invitation to fit with the honourable names he has introduced in his Poem, on the 9th of November. ART. 21. Fugitive Pieces, in Profe and Verfe, confifting of Fables, &c. moral and fentimental. By William Hart. 8vo. 135 pp. Richardfon, &c. 1801. Mercy on us! a poetical Preface of 54 pages, closely printed! We have entered upon, and must go fairly through it; and we shall tempt our readers to do the fame, by extracting the very best lines we can find in it. Thus it opens: "As is a cart preceded by a horse, Pardon BRITISH CATALOGUE. Poetry, Pardon the fimile, I own its low, Unless by fome apology prefac'd, 539 Would stick i'the flough in which by dulnefs plac'd," P. iii. "Oh, that I could clap Pegasus to the fhafts; Alas! that generous fteed you may invoke in vain, And that fo malty, 'tis not good e'en for an afs." P. xii. So much for what Mr. Hart calls his poetry; now for his profe. "When Aurora, gently foaring on the dappled wings of the morn, opes, to the bright folar regent, the burnished portals of heaven, fwift and metereous its rays electric fhoot across the grand azure concave. At his glad fome approach, adown the vaft ethereal expanfe, opaque, night's roriferous fhadows glide; all nature, doft of his dark mantling gloom, once more puts on the chequered trim of vernal beauty, which light and heat, grand fource of life and joy, affords: then the drooping floweret once more raises its rofcid head, and smilingly exfoliates its long-hidden beauties to the amorous glance of nature's most lovely paramour." P. 2. Will any of our readers condemn us, for withholding a further account of this book? If they should, we must endeavour to pacify them by an acceptable piece of information, It appears from the Subfcribers' Names", (p. 59) that most of the author's patrons are of Lynne Regis in Norfolk. This circumtance is peculiarly fatisfactory. For it happened that, together with the lift of fubfcribers to this book, another lilt was feen by us, of fubfcribers for the relief of the families of our brave feamen, killed or wounded in the late gallant action off Copenhagen. This latter fubfcription, which does so much honour to our countrymen, cannot fail of meeting with univerfal encouragement in a very opulent town, deeply interested in the event of that action; and we shall look with high expectation, and doubtlefs with equal gratification, at the amount of fubfcriptions from that quarter. If the Fugitive Pieces" of Mr. William Hart have experienced fo liberal a bounty in Norfolk, what may |