‘The fat oils follow naphtha in the order of bodies that slightly act upon it; and the volatile oils, the fat oils; but they all contain sufficient oxygen to render the basis of potash alkaline, if it is exposed to them for a sufficient time and in proper quantities, and that more or less rapidly, according to the circumstances. When naphtha or the oils are exposed to air they soon alkalise the basis. Oxygen is absorbed from the air, and a soap is formed, brown from the decomposition of the compound fluid during the time of the alkalisation. If air be excluded the process is a much longer time in taking place; no gas is emitted in the fixed oils or in naphtha; but in the volatile oils hydrocarbonate is produced in small quantities, and in all these cases charcoal is deposited. In oil of turpentine the process is more rapid than in any other oil I have tried, and this oil contains either water or the elements of water, and perhaps a larger proportion of oxygen to its inflammable matter. ‘Nor ought we to be surprised that these substances have never been produced in nature. Their strong attraction for oxygen renders it impossible.’ ‘The division into two poles: ‘The basis of potash, by its strong attraction for oxygen, decomposes all the metallic oxides which I _have_ exposed to it by a gentle heat. ‘The oxides of lead it instantly acts upon, and the metal is revived and alkali formed. In consequence of this operation it cannot be preserved in tubes of flint glass. ‘Are the bases of the fixed alkalies simple bodies? I perhaps shall be asked. ‘But are these singular bodies themselves compounds? Have we reached the limits of our analysis--More capable of combining with oxygene than the basis of water? ‘The basis of potash serves almost as an accurate indication of the proportion of oxygene in bodies and exactly in proportion--camphor, spermaceti, wax, volatile oils. ‘In the course of my inquiries many circumstances arose at first anomalous, but which soon were capable of being explained, and which, when understood, seemed to extend the general facts which had been detailed.’ A long break here occurs in the Laboratory Notes. On November 23, 1807, Davy was taken ill with fever. On December 7 the Managers’ Minutes say, ‘Mr. Davy having been confined to his bed for the last fortnight by a severe illness, the managers are under the painful necessity of giving notice that the lectures will not commence until the first week in January next.’ On January 18 the managers of the Royal Institution ordered 500 copies of the following paper to be printed: NEW DISCOVERY IN CHEMISTRY. January 18, 1808. For the satisfaction of those proprietors who were not present at the opening of the Rev. Mr. Dibden’s introductory lecture on Wednesday last the managers have obtained and printed the following note of it: