ADVERTISEMENT. The scientific writings of James Smithson, the distinguished founder of the Smithsonian Institution, have been collected and are published in the present volume, in accordance with the instructions of the Board of Regents. These memoirs were originally contributed to the "Transactions of the Royal Society of London," of which Smithson was a member, between the years of 1791 and 1817, and to Thomson's "Annals of Philosophy," between 1819 and 1825. They are twenty-seven in number, and embrace a wide range of research, from the origin of the earth, the nature of the colors of vegetables and insects, the analysis of minerals and chemicals, to an improved method of constructing lamps or of making coffee. Some of these papers were translated into French by the author and others, and published in the "Journal de Physique, de Chimie, et d'Histoire Naturelle, etc." These writings of Smithson prove conclusively his scientific character and his claim to distinction as a contributor to knowledge. Among the personal effects of the founder of the Institution were several hundred manuscripts, besides a large collection of scraps and notes on a great diversity of subjects, including history, the arts, language, rural economy, construction of buildings, &c., which unfortunately were destroyed by the fire at the Smithsonian building in 1865. It is probable that Smithson also contributed articles to other scientific and literary journals than those mentioned, but none have been found, though the leading English periodicals of the day have been carefully examined for the pur pose. Appended to the writings of Smithson is a review of their scientific character by Professor Walter R. Johnson, communicated to the National Institute, of Washington, in 1844; and one by J. R. McD. Irby, prepared for the Institution in September, 1878. The material for this work has been collected and prepared for publication by Mr. Wm. J. Rhees, Chief Clerk of the Institution. SPENCER F. BAIRD, Secretary Smithsonian Institution. WASHINGTON, D. C., October, 1879. CONTENTS. An account of some Chemical Experiments on Tabasheer Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Vol LXXXI, for the year 1791, Part II, p. 368. Read July 7, 1791. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Vol. XCIII, p. 12. Read November 18, 1802. Philosophical Magazine, London, Vol. XXIX, 1807, p. 275. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, On a Native Compound of Sulphuret of Lead and Arsenic . Page. 65 On Native Hydrous Aluminate of Lead or Plomb Gomme . 67 On a Fibrous Metallic Copper 68 Thomson's Annals of Philosophy, Vol. XVI, 1820, p. 46. An account of a Native Combination of Sulphate of Barium and Fluoride of Calcium 71 Thomson's Annals of Philosophy, Vol. XVI, 1820, p. 48. Thomson's Annals of Philosophy, Vol. XVII; New Series, On the Detection of very Minute Quantities of Arsenic and 75 Thomson's Annals of Philosophy, Vol. XX; New Series, Some Improvements in Lamps 78 Thomson's Annals of Philosophy, Vol. XX; New Series, Thomson's Annals of Philosophy, Vol. XXI; New Series, A Means of Discrimination between the Sulphates of Barium and Strontium 81 Thomson's Annals of Philosophy, Vol. XXI: New Series, On the Discovery of Acids in Mineral Substances 82 Thomson's Annals of Philosophy, Vol. XXI; New Series, An Improved Method of Making Coffee 87 Thomson's Annals of Philosophy, Vol. XXII; New Series, A Discovery of Chloride of Potassium in the Earth 89 Thomson's Annals of Philosophy, Vol. XXII; New Series, |