for four-and-twenty hours. The chloride of
silver will be reduced by the formation of {477} chloride and sulphate of
zinc, and of pure silver, which will remain under the form of a blackish
powder, which is then to be washed, filtered, and preserved for the purpose
of making nitrate of silver.

2. The chloride of silver which is to be reduced is put into a flask with
about twice its volume of a solution of caustic potash (of one part of
caustic potash to nine of water), in which a small portion of sugar has
been dissolved. Let it boil gently. The operation is complete when the
blackish powder which results from this process, having been washed in
several waters, is entirely soluble in nitric acid, which is easily
ascertained by experimenting on a small quantity. This powder is to be
preserved in the same way as the former for the purpose of converting it
into nitrate of silver.

3. The metallic silver is obtained in the form of a button, by mixing
thoroughly 100 parts of dried chloride of silver, 70 parts of chalk or
whitening, and 4 parts of charcoal. This mixture is to be exposed in a
crucible to a fierce red heat for at least half an hour. When completely
cold the crucible is broken, and a button of pure silver is the result. The
first two processes are those which I should most strongly recommend to
your correspondents.

N. C.

* * * * *

Replies to Minor Queries.

_Ashes of "Lignites"_ (Vol. ix., p. 422.).--RUSTICUS is obliged to the
Editor for so soon giving a reply to his Query; but seems convicted of
being a bad penman, like many other rustics. For the strange word,
respecting which he asked for information, having seen it used in a
newspaper, was not _lignites_ but _liquites_. RUSTICUS could have guessed
that the ashes of _lignites_ were but wood-ashes under a pedantic name; but
a term which looks, to a rustic, as if chemists meant to persuade him to
burn his beer for a valuable residuum, is more perplexing.

RUSTICUS.

_Old Rowley_ (Vol. ix., p. 457., &c.).--The late Sir Charles Bunbury, who
was long the father of the Jury, and considered as an oracle in all matters
relating to it, told me, many years ago, that Charles II. was nicknamed
"Old Rowley" after a favourite stallion in the royal stud so called; and he
added, that the same horse's appellation had been ever since preserved in
the "Rowley Mile," a portion of the race-course still much used, and
well-known to a