344 Account of the new Observatory at Gbttingen. 



mass of evidence, proving the truth of the important proposi- 

 tion which I at first laid down, namely, that the chemical power 

 of a current of electricity is in direct proportion to the absolute 

 quantity of electricity which passes (377. 783.). They prove, 

 too, that this is not merely true with one substance, as water, 

 but generally with all electrolytic bodies; and, further, that 

 the results obtained with any one substance do not merely 

 agree amongst themselves, but also with those obtained from 

 other substances^ the whole combining together into one series 

 of definite electro-chemical actions (505.). I do not mean to 

 say that no exceptions will appear : perhaps some may arise, 

 especially amongst substances existing only by weak affinity ; 

 but I do not expect that any will seriously disturb the result 

 announced. If, in the well considered, well examined, and, 

 I may surely say, well ascertained doctrines of the definite 

 nature of ordinary chemical affinity, such exceptions occur, as 

 they do in abundance, yet, without being allowed to disturb 

 our minds as to the general conclusion, they ought also to be 

 allowed if they should present themselves at this, the opening 

 of a new view of electro-chemical action ; not being held up 

 as obstructions to those who may be engaged in rendering 

 that view more and more perfect, but laid aside for a while, 

 in hopes that their perfect and consistent explanation will 

 finally appear. 



[To be continued.] 



XL VI. Account of the new Observatory for Magnetic Obser- 

 vations at Gbttingen*, 

 "V17*E are indebted to the munificence of Government for 

 " a new institution, devoted to an important part of na- 

 tural philosophy, namely, an Observatory, erected for magnetic 

 observations and measurements. Although the building was 

 commenced last autumn, and the interior arrangements so far 

 advanced at the beginning of this year that daily observations 

 could be made in it ever since that period, we have forborne 

 giving an account of it in this publication, as we wished to 

 add at the same time some of the results of the observations. 

 The magnetical apparatuses, constructed on new principles, 

 and placed, in 1832, in our astronomical observatory, have 

 been fully described in a former Numberf, from which it will 

 be seen that very exact results may be obtained by their use. 



* From the Gottingische gelehrte Anzeigen for August 1834. 



•j- A translation of Prof. Gauss's memoir in which these apparatus are 

 described, will be found in our report of the proceedings of the Royal So- 

 ciety for Feb. 14,1833: Lond. and Edinb. Phil. Mag. vol. ii. p.291.— Edit. 



