Milburd and Layder have arranged the Professor's glass bottles, glass jars, retorts, and all the other articles requisite for a Chemical Lecture.
He informs us, that, owing to his friend Mr. Layder's kindness, and to the accident of his having brought with him a few chemicals, he (the Professor) will be enabled to give us an amusing and instructive discourse.
“With experiments,” adds Layder gravely, from his seat.
Happy Thought.—Get as far away from the lecturer as possible. Near the door.
The ladies being nervous, are re-assured by Milburd and Layder, who say (in answer to Madame Regniati,) that, “there is to be no firing,” and further, that “there is no experiment on the table which can hurt the audience.” This latter observation is added sotto voce, and is evidently not intended for the Professor's ears.
Jenkyns Soames commences he says with Hydrogen. (Hear! hear! from Milburd and Layder.)
“Hydrogen,” he goes on, “is a most powerful refractor.”
“O my Jo!” exclaims the Signor in the front row, which he evidently thinks is too near. “It vill go off, and 'urt some-bod-dy.”
The Professor informs him, that Hydrogen mixed with Atmospheric air, in the proportion of two to five, will explode; but he does not mean to exhibit this peculiarity of Hydrogen. He shows us how the lime-light is obtained, and requests that the room may be darkened. Milburd and Layder, turn down the gas, and remove the candles.
This is done too suddenly for the Professor, who has some trouble in finding the right materials in the dark.