MRS. B.

You have an easy method of satisfying yourself in that respect by observing the process of brewing, which, in every essential circumstance, is similar to that of making wine, and is really a very curious chemical operation.

Although we cannot actually make wine at this moment, it will be easy to show you the mode of analyzing it. This is done by distillation. When wine of any kind is submitted to this operation, it is found to contain brandy, water, tartar, extractive colouring matter, and some vegetable acids. I have put a little port wine into this alembic of glass ([Plate XIV.] Fig. 1.), and on placing the lamp under it, you will soon see the spirit and water successively come over—

[Plate XIV.]

Vol. II. p. 213.

Fig. 1. A Alembic. B Lamp. C Wine glass.
Fig. 2. Alcohol blowpipe. D the Lamp. E the vessel in which the Alcohol is boiling. F a safety valve. G the inflamed jet or steam of alcohol directed towards a glass tube H.

[Larger view]

EMILY.

But you do not mention alcohol amongst the products of the distillation of wine; and yet that is its most essential ingredient?