1857.] General Monthly Meeting,- 413 



sulphuric acid does not form a permanent constituent of the result- 

 ing substance, though it takes so important a share in its pro- 

 duction. 



The strength of this new substance, before alluded to, and its 

 indestructibility by water, indicate many uses to which it may be 

 applied. It will, probably, replace, to some extent, vellum in book- 

 binding ; it will furnish material for legal documents, such as 

 policies of insurance, scrip certificates, &c. ; it will take the place 

 of ordinary paper in school-books, and other books exposed to con- 

 stant wear. Paper, after having been printed either from the sur- 

 face or in intaglio, is still capable of conversion, by Mr. Gaine*s 

 method ; no part of the printed matter being obliterated by the 

 process. Parchment-paper also promises to be of value for pho- 

 tographic purposes,* and also for artistic uses, in consequence of the 

 manner in which it bears both oil and water-colour. 



[J.B.] 



GENERAL MONTHLY MEETING, 



Monday, April 6. 



William Pole, Esq. M.A. F.R.S. Treasurer and Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 



John Alger, Esq. 



William Bowman, Esq. F.R.C.S. F.R.S. 



Francis H. Dickinson, Esq. 



Alexander Guthrie, Esq. 



Edmund Packe, Esq. 



Manuel Perez, Esq. 



Jose Maria Perez, Esq. and 



John Webb, Esq. 



were duly elected Members of the Royal Institution. 



M. Henri Ste-Claire Deville, of Paris, 



was unanimously elected an Honorary Member of the Royal 

 Institution. 



♦ Photographs on this paper were exhibited. 



