386 Proceedings of the Roj/ai Society, 



able to discard or adopt them at pleasure ; treating them 

 rather as parts of the scaffolding of the building of science, 

 than as belonging either to its foundations, materials, or orna- 

 ments : — That, they will look, where it be'possible, to practical 

 applications in science ; not, however, forgetting the dignity 

 of their pursuit, the noblest end of which is to exalt the powers 

 of the human mind, and to incre'kse the sphere of intellectual 

 enjoyment by enlarging our views of nature, and of the power, 

 wisdom, and goodness of the Author of nature." 



Thursday, Dec. 14. — A paper was communicated by the 

 Secretary, detailing the composition and properties of some 

 new compounds of chlorine and carbon, discovered by Mr. 

 Faraday. He has ascertained that, by exposing carburetted 

 hydrogen, mixed with great excess of chlorine, to the action 

 of light, a white crystalline substance is formed, which, when 

 purified by washing with water, is a perchloride of carbon. 

 This substancejs nearly tasteless; its odour resembles camphor ; 

 its specific gravity is about 2 ; it is a nonconductor of electri- 

 city. It is volatile, and in close vessels fuses at 320°, and 

 boils at 360°. It is not very combustible, but burns when held 

 in the flame of a spirit lamp, with the emission of much smoke 

 and acid fumes. It is insoluble in water, but readily soluble in 

 alcohol and ether; these solutions deposit arborescent and 

 quadrangular crystals. It also dissolves in volatile and fixed 

 oils. It is scarcely acted upon by alcaline and acid solutions ; 

 but most of the metals decompose this substance at a red heat. 

 Potassium burns brilliantly in its vapour, causing the deposi- 

 tion of carbon, and the production of chloride of potassium. 

 The metallic oxides also decompose it at high temperatures, 

 producing metallic chlorides, and carbonic acid or oxide, ac- 

 cording to the proportion of oxygen present ; no water is pro- 

 duced, showing the absence of hydrogen in the compound. 

 It appears, from various analytical experiments upon this com- 

 pound, among which may be mentioned its decomposition, by 

 passing it through red-hot peroxide of copper, that 100 parts 



