"The compound of sodium and chlorine has been called muriate of soda, in the French nomenclsf ture; for it was falsely supposed to be composed of muriatic acid gas, and soda; and it is a curious circumstance, that the progressof discovery should have shewn tliat it is a less compounded body than hydrate of soda, which six years ago was considered as a simple sub - stance, and one of its elements."