ON THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE. IX 



Is the idea of equivalents empirical and independent of the idea of 

 atom or molecule V 



Would it be desirable to place chemical notation in harmony with 

 the progress of science ? 



The last question was answered with much emphasis in the affirma- 

 tive ; but M. Dumas thought the time had not yet come to adopt a 

 definite method of notation. He wished, however, to see at once added 

 to the system of Berzelius the modifications which were rendered ne- 

 cessary by the recent progress of organic chemistry. One important 

 point to which he called the attention of the congress was the necessity 

 of looking at the requirements of instruction : in this respect unity in 

 language and theory seemed to be most desirable. The President 

 concluded by expressing the hope that the meeting would not be the 

 last, and that next year the European chemists would again meet to 

 discuss some of the points of a science cultivated at present with so 

 much ardor and success. 



In the department of geographical research, the past two or three 

 years have been periods of great activity ; and especially in the ex- 

 ploration of Central Africa the zeal of explorers seems to have been 

 greatly increased* " The earlier discoveries of Livingstone," says Sir 

 R. I. Murchison, in Ms address before the Section of Geography and 

 Ethnology, at the last meeting of the British Association, " have been 

 followed by other researches of his. companions and himself, which, as 

 far as they go, have completely realized his anticipation of detecting 

 large elevated tracts, truly Sanatoria as compared with those swampy, 

 low regions near the coast, which have impressed too generally upon 

 the minds of our countrymen the impossibility of sustaining a life of 

 exertion in any inter-tropical region of Africa. The opening out of the 

 Shire river, that grand affluent of the Zambesi, with the description of 

 its banks and contiguous lofty terraces and mountains, and the devel- 

 opment of the healthfulness of the tract, is most refreshing knowledge, 

 the more so as it is accompanied by the pleasing notice that in this 

 tract the slave-trade is unknown, except by the rare passage of a gang 

 from other parts; whilst the country so teems with rich vegetable 

 products, including cotton and herds of elephants, as to lead us to hope 

 that a spirit of profitable barter, which powerfully animates the natives, 

 may lead to their civilization, and thus prove the best means of eradicat- 

 ing the commerce in human beings. Whilst Livingstone was sailing to 

 make his last venture, Captains Burton and Speke were returning from 

 their glorious exploits into a more central and northern region of South 

 Africa, where they had discovered two great internal lakes, or fresh- 

 water seas, each of them not less than three hundred miles in length. 

 I may here notice, to the honor of our government, that Captain Speke, 

 associated with another officer of the Bengal army, Captain Grant, has 

 received 2500, to enable him to terminate his examination of the 

 great Nyanza lake, under the equator, and we have reason to hope 



