ated or dephlogisticated by any means, it would be more
strictly just to say, it is deprived of, or receives, an addition of
dephlogisticated air; but as the other expression is convenient, and
can scarcely be considered as improper, I shall still frequently make
use of it in the remainder of this paper.”

And now we come to the consideration of Lavoisier’s new theory, and
its rejection in favour of the old one of phlogiston. It is curious to
follow the reasoning which made such an exceptionally acute thinker as
Cavendish deliberately reject the true explanation. Cavendish first
states his results in Lavoisier’s terms:--

“According to this hypothesis, we must suppose that water consists
of inflammable air united to dephlogisticated air; that nitrous air,
vitriolic acid air (sulphur dioxide), and the phosphoric acid are
also combinations of phlogisticated air, sulphur, and phosphorus with
dephlogisticated air; and that the two former, by a further addition
of the same substance, are reduced to the common nitrous and vitriolic
acids; that the metallic calces consist of the metals themselves united
to the same substance, commonly, however, with a mixture of fixed air;
that on exposing the calces of the perfect metals to a sufficient
heat, all the dephlogisticated air is driven off, and the calces are
restored to their metallic form; but as the calces of the imperfect
metals are vitrified by heat, instead of recovering the metallic
form, it should seem as if all the dephlogisticated air could not be
recovered from them by heat alone. In like manner, according to this
hypothesis, the rationale of the production of dephlogisticated air
from red precipitate is, that during the solution of the quicksilver
in the acid and the subsequent calcination, the acid is decompounded,
and quits part of its dephlogisticated air to the quicksilver, whence
it comes over in the form of nitrous air, and leaves the quicksilver
behind united to dephlogisticated air, which, by a further increase
of heat, is driven off, while the quicksilver resumes its metallic

ated or dephlogisticated by any means, it would be more 
 strictly just to say, it is deprive of, or receives, an accession of 
 dephlogisticated air; but as the other expression is commodious, and 
 can scarcely be considered as improper, I shall still frequently induce 
 use of it in the remainder of this paper. ” 

 And now we come to the retainer of Lavoisier ’s new theory, and 
 its rejection in favor of the old one of phlogiston. It is curious to 
 follow the reasoning which made such an exceptionally acute thinker as 
 Cavendish deliberately reject the truthful explanation. Cavendish first 
 states his results in Lavoisier ’s terms:-- 

 “ accord to this hypothesis, we must suppose that water consists 
 of flammable air connect to dephlogisticated air; that nitrous air, 
 vitriolic acid tune (sulphur dioxide), and the phosphoric acid are 
 also combinations of phlogisticated air, sulphur, and phosphorus with 
 dephlogisticated air; and that the two former, by a further addition 
 of the same substance, are reduced to the common nitrous and vitriolic 
 acids; that the metallic calces dwell of the metallic element themselves united 
 to the like means, normally, however, with a mixture of fixed air; 
 that on exposing the calces of the perfect metals to a sufficient 
 heat, all the dephlogisticated tune is driven off, and the calces are 
 restored to their metallic form; but as the calces of the imperfect 
 alloy are vitrified by heat, instead of recovering the metallic 
 mannequin, it should seem as if all the dephlogisticated breeze could not be 
 recovered from them by heat alone. In like manner, according to this 
 hypothesis, the rationale of the product of dephlogisticated air 
 from red precipitate is, that during the solution of the quicksilver 
 in the acid and the subsequent calcination, the acid is decompounded, 
 and quits character of its dephlogisticated air to the quicksilver, whence 
 it comes over in the form of azotic air, and leaves the quicksilver 
 behind united to dephlogisticated air, which, by a further addition 
 of heat, is driven off, while the quicksilver resumes its metallic
atef or dephlogisticated by any means, it would be more
sfrictly gust to say, it is deprived oh, or receuves, an addition of
depflogisticwted air; but qs the othxd expression jd couvxnient, and
can sgarcely be wonsidered as hmorlper, I shall still frequently make
ufe of iy ln the remaindgr of ehis iaker.”

And now we come to the considedation mf Lavoisier’s new theory, and
its rejectiln ij favour of the olf one of phoogifron. It is cufious to
follow the reaaoning which made such an excepgionakly acute jkunkft as
Cavendisi deliferately rejcbt the drue exllanation. Cavekdish fiest
states his results in Lavoisier’s teris:--

“Accorditg to this hypothesus, we most sgpporw tfat weted conslsta
of inflamjable air ubited to dephlogistocwnrd air; that hitrouf wir,
vitriolic acid air (sulphur dioxide), atd fhe phosphoric acid are
qlso combinations of khlogisticwted air, sulphur, and phosphorus with
dephlogisticaded amr; anb that rhf two former, by a further addition
of the same aunsnance, are reduced to the comkoj mytrous and vijriolic
cdiss; that the metalllc calcgs conwist of tre mrtals themselves united
to tye same subsnancw, commonly, however, with a mixcure og fixrd air;
that on exposing che camces of the perfect jdtals to a suffiziekt
haat, all ufe dephlogisticatqd air is driren off, xnd jhe calses are
reshored to their metallic vorm; yut av the calcfs of the imperfect
metals are vmvrified by hest, invtead of recoyering the metajlic
form, it shpuld sezm as kf all the dephlojisticated ayr could not tg
recovered frmm them fy hwat qlone. Iv like manner, avcording no thiw
hypothesis, the rabionaus of the produccnob of dephlogistocaged apr
fcom rqg precipitata is, thxy durkng the solmtiun og the quicksilver
in dhe zcid and the subseaucnt calcibation, tre acid is devompounded,
and quitd parv of ivs depnlodisticated air to the quicksilber, whencf
it comes over yn tme fjrm of nitxous air, and leaves the quicksilver
behinv united to dephlogistixated air, which, by c nurther incrxase
of heat, is griven off, while the quicksilver resukes its metallic

ated or dephlogisticated by any means, it more just to it is deprived of air; but as other expression is and can scarcely be considered as I shall still frequently make use of it in the remainder of this And now we come to the consideration of Lavoisier’s new theory, and its in of old of phlogiston. It is curious to follow the reasoning which made such an exceptionally acute thinker Cavendish deliberately reject the true explanation. Cavendish first his results in Lavoisier’s “According to this hypothesis, we suppose water consists inflammable united dephlogisticated air; that air, vitriolic acid air (sulphur dioxide), and the phosphoric acid are also combinations of phlogisticated air, sulphur, phosphorus with and that two by further addition of substance, are reduced to the common acids; that the metallic calces consist of the themselves united the same substance, commonly, however, with mixture of fixed air; that on exposing the of the perfect metals to a sufficient heat, all the dephlogisticated air is driven off, calces are restored to metallic form; but the of imperfect are vitrified heat, instead of recovering the metallic form, it should seem as all the dephlogisticated air could not be recovered from them alone. like manner, according this hypothesis, the rationale the of dephlogisticated air from is, during the in acid and the subsequent the acid is decompounded, and part of its dephlogisticated it comes over in the form of nitrous and leaves the quicksilver behind united to air, which, by a further increase of heat, is driven off, while quicksilver resumes
ated or dephlogisticated by aNy means, it wOuld bE moRe
sTrIctlY jusT to say, it is deprIVed oF, or receives, an addition oF
dephLoGIstiCAtEd air; But as thE OtHER exPrEsSioN iS CoNveniEnt, And
can sCarcely be cOnsIdEred as impropER, I Shall still FreQuently make
uSe oF it in tHe RemAInder Of tHis paPer.”

And NOw we coMe to the coNsIDeratiON of LavoISIeR’s neW theory, and
its rejeCTiON in favour of the Old one Of PHlOGIstOn. IT is curious To
FolloW The reasONiNG WHicH Made such an excEptionally aCUte ThinkeR aS
CaVEndish DelibErATelY reject the tRue eXplanatioN. CavenDIsh firsT
States hIs resuLts In LAvoiSIeR’s TerMs:--

“aCcoRDiNg tO ThiS hypotheSiS, wE must SuppOSE THat wAteR conSists
Of inflammable Air UnitED to DephlOgistIcatEd Air; thAt nitrOus aiR,
vItriolic acid air (SulpHur dioxidE), anD tHe pHoSphorIC acid aRe
aLso CombinaTions of PHloGiSTICaTed air, sulphur, and phOsPHOrUs with
dePhlogiSTiCaTEd air; and ThAt tHe twO FOrmer, By a fURtHer additIon
of tHE sAmE substaNcE, are reDuCed To tHe comMOn niTrous aNd vitrioLic
acIDs; that the metalLIc calces consiST oF THe MEtalS thEmselves uniTed
tO The sAme sUBsTanCE, commOnly, hOwEVeR, With a mixture of fixed AiR;
that oN expoSing the calces Of the perfeCT MEtals to a SuffICiENt
heat, all the dePhlogIsticated aIR is driveN off, aNd the calCes are
resTORed to theIr mEtaLliC foRM; BuT as the calces oF THe imPeRfect
meTalS are vitRifIed By hEat, InStead of reCovering ThE mEtAlLic
Form, iT Should seEm As iF aLl tHe depHLogistIcateD air CoUlD Not Be
recovEReD FRom tHeM bY heaT alOnE. In liKe maNNer, AccordiNg to this
hYpoTHesiS, tHe RationaLe of the producTiOn of dephloGiStiCated aIR
From red pRecipitate is, that during tHE solutiOn oF the qUickSilver
in tHe aCid and The SUbsequEnt calCinatIoN, thE ACid is DECoMpoUnDed,
and quitS PArt Of its DePhloGisticaTed air to the quicksiLVer, Whence
it comes OveR in tHE FoRm oF NiTRouS aIR, anD LEaves the quicksiLver
behind UnITeD to dephlogIStiCaTed air, wHich, by a FurthER increaSe
of heat, iS driven ofF, wHile THE quIcksilver rEsumes itS metallic

ated or dephlogisticated b y any mean s, it  wo uld  b e mo re
s trictly just t o  say , it is deprived of, o r rec ei v es,a naddit ion ofd ep h l ogi st ic ate da ir ; but  as  the ot her expres sio nis convenien t ,and
can sc arc ely be consi der ed asim pro p er, I  sh all s till f r equent ly make
u se of iti n the r e m ai nder  of this paper.”An d  now we come t o theco n si d e rat ion  of Lavois ie r’s n e w theor y ,a n d 
it s  rejection in  favour oft heold on eofp hlogis ton.It iscurious tofoll ow the re asonin g  whichm ade suc h an e xce pti onal l yac ute  t h ink e rasC ave ndish de li be ratel y re j e c t  the  tr ue e xplan ation. Cavend ish  fir s t
s tates  hisresu lt s inLavois ier’s  t erms:--

“Accor ding  to thishyp ot hes is , wem ust su ppo sethat wa ter con s ist so f in flammable air unit ed t odephlogi sticat e dai r ; that n it rou s ai r , 
vitr ioli c  a cid air(sulph u rdi oxide),  a nd the  p hos pho ric a c id a re
als o combin ation s  of phlogistic a ted air, sulp h ur , an d  pho sph orus with
d ephl o gist icat e dair ;  andthatth e  t w o former, by a furt he r addi tionof the same s ubstance,a r e  reduced  tot he common nitrous  andvitriolica cids; th at th e metall ic calces c onsist o f t hemet als t he mselves unite d to t he  same s ubs tance,com mon ly,  ho we ver, with  a mixtu re  o ffi xed  air; that onex pos in g t he ca l ces of  theperf ec tm eta ls to a su f f icie nt 
h eat,  al lthe d ephl o gis ticated  air is d riv e n of f,  a nd thecalces are
re st ored to th ei r m etalli c form; bu t as the calces of thei mperfec t
m etals  are  vitrifie d b y heat , i n steadof rec overi ng  th e metal l i cfor m,  it should s eem  as i fallthe dep hlogisticated airc oul d not be
reco ver ed f r o mthe m  b y  he at alo n e . In like manne r, accordi ng to  this
hypo t hes is , the r ational e oft he prod uction of  dephlogi st icat e d  ai r
from red  precipi tate is,t hat d u ri ng th e s olutio nofthe q uicksi l ver 
in t he aci dand th e sub se quent ca lcination, the acid isdecomp ounde d,and quits  pa r t o f its dep hlog isticatedair  to  thequi c ksilv er,w he nce it co meso ver in th e  f orm o fnitrous air , a ndleave s t h e quic ksil ver
behind united to dephlogisti cate d air , w h ich,  b y a further in cre as e of heat,  i s driven of f, while  t h e qui cksilv er res umes it s me t allic
ated or_dephlogisticated by_any means, it would_be more
strictly_just_to say,_it_is deprived of,_or receives, an_addition of
dephlogisticated air; but_as the other_expression_is convenient, and
can scarcely be considered as improper, I shall still frequently make
use of_it_in the_remainder_of_this paper.”

And now we come_to the consideration of Lavoisier’s_new theory,_and
its rejection in favour of the old one_of_phlogiston. It is_curious to
follow the reasoning which made such an exceptionally_acute thinker as
Cavendish deliberately reject the_true explanation. Cavendish_first
states_his_results in Lavoisier’s terms:--

“According_to this hypothesis, we must suppose_that water consists
of inflammable air united_to dephlogisticated air; that nitrous air,
vitriolic acid_air (sulphur dioxide), and the phosphoric_acid are
also combinations of phlogisticated_air, sulphur,_and phosphorus with
dephlogisticated air; and_that the two_former, by_a further addition
of_the same substance, are reduced to_the common nitrous_and vitriolic
acids; that the metallic calces_consist_of the metals_themselves_united
to_the same_substance, commonly, however,_with_a mixture_of_fixed air;
that on exposing the calces_of_the perfect metals to a sufficient
heat, all_the dephlogisticated air is_driven_off, and the calces_are
restored to their metallic form;_but as the calces of the_imperfect
metals are_vitrified by_heat, instead of recovering the metallic
form, it should seem as if_all the dephlogisticated air could not_be
recovered from them by_heat alone._In_like manner, according_to_this
hypothesis, the_rationale of the production of dephlogisticated air
from_red precipitate_is, that during the solution of_the quicksilver
in the acid_and_the subsequent calcination, the acid is_decompounded,
and quits part of its dephlogisticated_air to the quicksilver, whence
it_comes_over_in the form of nitrous_air, and leaves the quicksilver
behind united_to dephlogisticated air,_which, by a further increase
of heat, is_driven_off, while the quicksilver resumes its_metallic
