a name given by Mr Kirwan to a new metallic substance, supposed to be discovered by M. Monnet. It was met with in some lead foundries at a place named Pontaou in Brittany; being separated from the lead ore during its torrefaction. It resembles lead in colour, weight, solubility in acids and other pro- perties, but differs from it in being more fusible, brittle, easily scorified and volatilized, and likewise not being malleable with lead in fusion. Meffius Hassenfratz and Girond contended, that this saturnite was nothing but a compound of different substances, and accordingly gave an analysis of it as consisting of lead, copper, iron, silver, and sulphur; the proportions of which must natu- rally vary according to the quality of the ore put into the furnace. M. Monnet, however, insisted that the substance analyzed by them was not that which he had discovered; but when he again visited the mines above- mentioned, he could meet with none of the substance there which he found before.