Ladenburg's "Entwickelungsgeschichte der Chemie." Wurtz's "History of the Atomic Theory." Watts's "Dictionary of Chemistry." Whewell's "History of the Inductive Sciences." Rodwell's "Birth of Chemistry;" "Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery and Alchemy" (London, 1850); "Popular Treatises on Science written during the Middle Ages," edited for the Historical Society of Science by Thomas Wright, M.A. (London, 1841); "Ripley Reviv'd; or, An Exposition upon Sir George Ripley's Hermetico-Poetical Works," by Eirenaeus Philalethes (London, 1678); "Tripus Aureus, hoc est Tres Tractates Chymici Selectissimi" (Frankfurt, 1618). "Alchemy;" article in "Encyclopaedia Britannica." Boyle's "Sceptical Chymist." "Biographie Universelle;" for notices of Berzelius and Lavoisier. "English Cyclopaedia;" for notices of Black, Berzelius and Lavoisier. Black's "Lectures," with Memoir: edited by Dr. Robinson. Priestley's "Memoirs:" written partly by himself. Priestley's works on "Air," etc. Lavoisier's "Oeuvres." Dalton's "Life," by Dr. Henry; "Life," by Dr. R. Angus Smith; "New System of Chemical Philosophy." Davy's "Collected Works;" with Life, by his brother; "Life," by Dr. Paris. Berzelius's "Lehrbuch," and various dissertations. Woehler's "Jugenderinnerungen eines Chemikers." Graham's "Collected Memoirs." Sketch of Graham's life, in Chemical Society's Journal. "Life-Work of Liebig," by A. W. Hofmann. "Dumas," by A. W. Hofmann. Various dissertations by Liebig and Dumas in _Annalen_, and elsewhere. My warmest thanks are due to my friend, Mr. Francis Rye, for the great assistance he has given me in correcting the proof-sheets. M. M. PATTISON MUIR. CAMBRIDGE, _April, 1883_. CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTORY 1 CHAPTER I. ALCHEMY: AND THE DAWN OF CHEMISTRY. Beginnings of natural knowledge--Chemistry in the Middle Ages--Alchemy--The phlogistic theory 5 CHAPTER II. ESTABLISHMENT OF CHEMISTRY AS A SCIENCE--PERIOD OF BLACK, PRIESTLEY AND LAVOISIER. Introduction of accurate measurements into chemistry--Black's researches on alkalis and on fixed air--His conception of heat--Priestley's experiments on airs--His discovery of oxygen--Lavoisier, the founder of the science of chemistry--He clearly establishes a connection between composition and properties of bodies 30 CHAPTER III. ESTABLISHMENT OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CHEMICAL SCIENCE--PERIOD OF DALTON.