396 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



of nearly thirty years' investigation, by that eminent geologist 

 and civil engineer. 



Mr. Griffith had supplied an outline of this map published in 

 the Report of the Railway Commissioners for Ireland, 1838. It is 

 obvious that the information thus conveyed, as to the nature of the 

 materials of which the island is composed, affords the most solid 

 basis for sound calculation as to the future improvement of Ireland 

 by the application of its natural resources. 



GEOLOGICAL MAP OF A LARGE PORTION OF EUROPE. 



During the last year we have also witnessed the publication of 

 a beautifully coloured general Geological Map of Germany, France, 

 and England, and parts of the adjoining countries, compiled from 

 the larger original maps of Von Buch, Elie de Beaumont, and 

 Greenough, by Professor Von Dechen, in one large sheet, published 

 at Berlin.* This map exhibits the geological details of a larger 

 continuous portion of the surface of the earth than has ever before 

 been put together with so much exactness, and set forth on such 

 eminent authority. It also presents to the statesman and political 

 ceconomist the most important portions of central Europe, under the 

 new aspect of the natural divisions of the mineral formations, of which 

 each country is composed ; showing that in every region the nature 

 and disposition of the substrata lie at the foundation, not only of 

 its agricultural productiveness, but also of its capability of supplying 

 the materials, which form the basis of its industry and arts. As an 

 historical document, this map demonstrates the rapid progress of our 

 science, and the state of maturity which it has attained. 



Thus far I have occupied your attention with external matters of 

 extraordinary interest in the history of our science, which show 

 that geological knowledge is spreading its salutary influence, more 

 widely and rapidly than heretofore, over the practical business of 

 the country. I now proceed to consider the communications made 

 to the meetings of our Society during the past year. 

 [To be continued.] 



LIX. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



NOTE REFERRED TO IN THE ABSTRACT OF PROFESSOR DANIELL's 

 PAPER, p. 354-. 



THE preceding considerations will furnish a satisfactory clue to 

 the apparently anomalous origin of the currents in Becquerel's 

 circuits ; when, for example, nitric acid is placed on one side of a 

 diaphragm, and solution of potassa on the other, platinum electrodes 

 being placed in either cell and the circuit completed, oxygen is 

 evolved on the potassa side, and hydrogen shows itself in the acid 

 by its secondary action. " Nitrate of potassa is of course formed at 

 the junction of the acid and alkali. Now let us recollect what ni- 

 trate of potassa is in its electrical relations : it is an oxinitrion of po- 

 tassium (N + 6 O) + P- Aqueo-nitric acid is also an oxinitrion of 



* Schropp and Company, 1839. 



