PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION, OTHE APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING ABO BODI LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE; SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS, 1850. PREFACE. NOTWITHSTANDING the exercise of much labour and thought during the progress of this volume through the press, in the endeavour to bring it within its present limits, the importance and variety of the subjects on which it treats have, precluded the possibility of so doing. When the student of nature investigates the connexions and mutual interdependencies of those kingdoms which together constitute the scheme of creation, and even when only in one direction, as in the present case, the subject is exhaustless. The Chemistry of Creation is a theme not for one, but for many volumes. In the present Work the attempt has been made to introduce all the recent dis b coveries in chemical science, related to nature's chemistry, and to apply them to the explanation of the chemical phenomena presented in the earth, the air, and the ocean. That this attempt has been made in the use of familiar language, and with the desire to avoid the technicalities of science, will not be allowed to detract from the value and importance of the narrated facts and discoveries of chemical philosophy. That this volume may be the companion of the lover of nature, and that it may assist him to trace in its varied and beautiful chemical phenomena the work of Him who is perfect in knowledge and excellent in working, is the desire of the writer, and the object of his book. t CHELSEA, 1850. R. E. CONTENTS. Origin of Chemistry-Egypt-Arabia-China-Glass-blowers in Egypt-Europe-Dreams of the Alchemists-Trans- mutation of Metals-Juggling Tricks-Elixir of Life- Universal Solvent--Birth-time of Scientific Chemistry— Progress of the Science-Cavendish - Watt - Davy Dalton-Faraday-Liebig-Prout - Present Importance Common, and Philosophical Observation-The Scene-What is an Element?- Gases - Fluids Solids-Remarkable Arrangement in Nature-Laughing Gas- Economy of Creation-Imperfection of our Knowledge-Oxygen-Hy- drogen-Nitrogen - Carbon-Iron rusting-Why?-Che- mical Affinity-Composition of a Dew-drop-Chemical Laws-The First-Oxygenated Water-The Second-The Third-The Fourth-Importance and Influence of these Laws-This is not all-LIGHT-Prismatic Spectrum- Composition of a Sunbeam-Influence of Sunlight-Light and Colours-HEAT-Operation of, in Nature-Flowers- ACTINISM-Chemistry of Sunlight-" Nature's sweet Re- storer"-Daguerréotype-Talbotype-Magnetic Registers— ELECTRICITY, necessary in Operations of Nature-Use and Importance to Man-Electric Telegraph--Electric Clock- |