is correct may be ascertained by accurate analyses of other fluid oils in which the formation of benzoic acid, has been observed by mere oxidation in the air, or by action of nitric acid, particularly analyses of the oils of fennel-seed, anise-seed and cinnamon. If an inference be allowed from the behavior of chloro and cyanobenzoyl, respecting the peculiar nature of th, combination, which by the admission of water to the bitter almonds,, auses the formation of prussic acid and hydrobenzoyl (crude oil of the bitter al onds), then it appears to us possible, without wishing to anticipate the experiment, that there is contained in the almonds a union of cyanogen with another body which is different from the hydrobenzoyl merely in the content of oxygen, so that by the admission of the constituents of water, hydrobenzöyl on the one side, and prussic acid on the other are formed; it farther seems to us probable, if amygdalin is a decomposition product of this combination with alcohol, that a similar exchange takes place as in the decomposition of chlorobenzoyl by alcohol, with this only difference that the cyanogen or its constituents enters into the new combination. Benzoin in regard to its formation and physical properties possesses great similarity to the solid crystalline substances which are formed in other fluid oils; accurate analyses will unfold whether these (camphoroids) are the same in composition with the fluid oils from which they proceed, and whether the cause of their different states. or their other varying properties lies in the manner in which their constituents are combined. Letter from Berzelius to Wöhler and Liebig respecting Benzöyl and Benzoic acid. Accept my thanks for the very interesting communication of your united and important researches respecting the bitter almond oil. At your request I have examined my former experiments in regard to the composition of benzoic acid and find the result of your analysis wholly confirmed. I have also made as you desired an analysis of benzoate of silver, and from 100 parts of the salt previously dried at 1000 obtained by careful ignition, 46.83 gm. of metallic silver, which agrees as nearly as could be expected with the theoretical result calculated by you (46.86.) You have remarked that my analysis of benzoate of lead, perfectly agrees with the same. A later analysis made with sulphuric acid and alcohol gave the same result and consequently confirmed the atom of water of crystallization found in my first analysis. I herewith transmit the result of an analysis made in 1813 of sublimed benzoic acid, which I ignited in a tube with chlorate of potassa and chloride of otassium. After this metho 0.335 g. of the acid yielded 0.138 gm. water and 0.855 of carb .nic acid, which gives in one hundred parts; Carbon, Oxygen, 68.85 4.99 26.66 These numbers agree exactly with the composition of the hydrated acid C4 H12 O1. In vain did I endeavor to separate water from the benzoic acid, by saturating the crystallized acid with a given quantity of oxide of lead, and therefore could not infer the presence of water of crystallization; this analysis farther gave four atoms of oxygen, although I had previously found by analysis of the salt of lead that the acid in it saturated three times as much of the oxide as in the neutral benzoate, I was therefore induced since the results did not correspond, to reject this analysis of the crystallized acid. I next ignited given quantities of the neutral benzoate of lead, after endeavoring to free the same from water of crystallization by fusion. Each analysed quantity of the salt was produced by itself; I have always followed the same principle, because a fault in one single operation may become a constant fault in every analysis; I therefore fused each portion of the salt by itself and always obtained varying results; the cause of which difference I believed must be ascribed to to the volatilization of undecomposed benzoic acid. Upon now comparing the results of these analyses it is evident that different quantities of water still remained in the fused salt. In order to prevent the volatilizing of the acid I employed the salt of lead; this is the analysis I have described. The result calculated from the corrected atomic weight and compared with your analysis is as follows; The former analysis differs therefore from the theoretical composition by 0-702 carbon and 0.595 hydrogen, which overplus just as much diminished the oxygen. The results consequent upon your examination of the bitter almond oil, are the most important which vegetable chemistry has thus far received, and promise to diffuse an unexpected light over this part of science. The circumstance that a body composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, combines with other bodies, particularly with such as form salts, after the manner of a simple body, proves that there are ternary composed atoms (of the first order) and the radical of benzoic acid is the first example proved with certainty, of a ternary body possessing the properties of an element. It is true indeed that we have before considered sulphuret of cyanogen (Schwefelcyan) as such, but you are aware that its combinations may be viewd as sulphurets and the body itself seems to be a sulphuret of cyanogen. The facts proved by you give rise to such reflections, that we well may view them as the dawning of a new day in vegetable chemistry. I might for this reason propose to call the first discovered radical, composed of more than two elements, proin from gì dawn, in the sense άow 'r gwì ÿws sσrégws Acts xxXVIII. 20.) or orthrin (from gpòs aurora,) from which the names proic acid, orthric acid, and chloroproin chlororthrin can be employed with more facility. In consideration however, that the long received name benzoic acid would thereby become changed, and that we are always accustomed to respect names in general use where they do not embrace a double idea, by deriving new names from them, as boron from borax, potassium from potash, &c., it therefore appears to me in every respect more proper to employ the word proposed by yourselves and to change the term benzoic, into benzoylic acid.* From the moment we know with certainty of the existance of ternary atoms of the first order, which combine after the manner of simple bodies, it will greatly facilitate expression in the language of formulas, to denote each radical by a peculiar sign, through which the idea of the combination to be expressed, instantly and clearly strikes the reader. I will illustrate this by a few examples. Thus if we put benzoyl C14 H OBz, then we have, 0 * We at first chose the name benzoin, as it properly stands in Berzelius' letter, and have since substituted the word benzöyl, that benzoin may be used for isometric hydrobenzoyl; by the ending in yl, we are the less reminded of strychnin, salicin, &c.-W. & L. B: Benzöylic acid. BzCl=Chlorobenzöyl. B'z or BzS-Sulphuret of benzöyl.* = Bz+2NH3 Ammoniuret of benzöyl, (benzöyl ammonia.) If we put Amid=NH', we have Bz+NH Benzamid or bitter benzoylamid. C+NH2Oxamid. = K+NH Potassiumamid, (Berzelius' Chemistry, I. 794.) = If we further place oil of wine, which I propose to call etherin, = ES+HS Sulphovinic acid according to Hennel and Serullas. E+2S Sulphovinic acid according to Wöhler and Leibig. 2E'S+ E+ AH = = Sulphuric oil of wine. Acetic ether. 2E+ A=(Pyroacetic spirit?) (Brenzessiggeist. German.) E+2PIC=Zeise's ethereal salt. E+ 2Pt Ethereal oxid of Platinum. = E+ 2Pt Ether platinum. = Suppose by way of experiment, there is an oxid of etherine E, then +E+Ligneous spirit. (Aolzspiritus. German.) 2E+Acetal or Doebereiner's new oxy-ether. From these two last formulas, we perceive that acetal has the same relation to ligneous spirit, that pyroacetic spirit bears to acetic ether. But I think it necessary to insist, that such formulas be employed only when the ideas they express, are advanced in some measure to confirm truths, else they would lead to a Babylonian confusion. It will be of great interest, to ascertain the behavior of this body to sulphurets.-B. † According to the results of analyses of both bodies, which I sent by letter to Berzelius, and which will appear in one of the succeeding numbers of this Journal.-J. L. ART. IV.-SUPPLEMENT to a letter to the Hon. W. J. Duane, (late Secretary of the Treasury of the United States,) as published in this Journal, Vol. xxv, No. 2, p. 290; respecting the saving of houses and their inhabitants from fire, and the obtaining supplies of water and warm air. 1. THE interview which I had with Dr. Franklin, as noticed in the preceding letter, occurred at Paris; and probably, at a moment when news had just arrived there of an extensive conflagration in England; and I remember moreover, that it was late in the evening. Hence, the conversation is to be considered as casual, and also as having been brief.-It was confined to the great fact, that fires were often extensive in England, but were rarely so in France; and it assigned two causes for this difference; 1st, that the staircases and passages in the houses of the French, were usually constructed with incombustible materials; and 2d, that the interior of their rooms had little exposed wood-work in them, unless such as had mortar or some other incombustible material placed close behind it. Thus the Doctor's conversation regarded merely the spreading of fire from room to room, and from house to house. As the object of my letter is more extensive, I add here, from myself, that the French mode of constructing and of finishing houses, is attended with two other important advantages, besides that of checking the extension of fires. First-Life is evidently favored, if a secure passage in case of fire, is made from every apartment in a house, down to the ground floor; since such inmates in the house as are awake, will then take care of themselves; and their neighbors from without may fearlessly enter the house to look after those who are sleeping, and also after others who are unable to assist themselves, (as the sick or infirm, and little children.) Secondly-valuable moveables, in such circumstances, may easily be carried off and placed out of the reach of danger.-The plan of the French, therefore, especially in a country like the U. States, where so many houses are built throughout with wood, is not to be overlooked in great towns, notwithstanding the expertness of their firemen, and their ample provision of fire-engines, ladders, &c. and still less is it to be disregarded, where these advantages are wanting. I may be allowed to add here, that I have conjectured, that at the time of Dr. Franklin's communication as above mentioned, this phi |