"Royal Society. 51 



time in a state of fusion at a red heat, is perfectly definite ; and also 

 that the loss represents one half of the chlorine which the salt con- 

 tains. But in the double salts formed by the protochloride of pal- 

 ladium with the chlorides of the alkaline metals, he finds that the 

 similarity of constitution usually occurring between the compounds 

 of ammonium and potassium is violated. From his analysis of the 

 oxychloride of palladium the author concludes that it is quite ana- 

 logous to the ordinary oxychloride of copper. He then examines a 

 variety of products derived from the action of a solution of caustic 

 potash on solutions of ammonia-chlorides of potassium. Their 

 properties he finds to indicate analogies between palladium and 

 other metals, whose laws of combination are better known. The 

 sulphate, the ammonia-sulphates, the nitrates, and the ammonia-ni- 

 trates of palladium, and lastly, the double oxalate of palladium and 

 ammonium, are, in like manner, subjected to examination in a de- 

 tailed series of experiments. 



The second section of the paper relates to the compounds of pla- 

 tinum, and comprehends researches on the composition of the proto- 

 chloride of platinum ; on the action of ammonia on biniodide of pla- 

 tinum ; and on the action of ammonia on the perchloride of plati- 

 num; in which the properties of these substances are detailed and 

 the formulae expressing their composition deduced. 



There was also read, "Magnetic Observations made at Prague for 

 September 1841." ByC.Kreil. Communicated by S. Hunter Christie, 

 Esq., M.A., Sec. R.S. 



April 7. — The following papers were read, viz. — 



Meteorological Observations, taken in conformity with the Re- 

 port drawn up by the Committee of Physics, including Meteorology, 

 for the guidance of the Antarctic Expedition, as also for the fixed 

 Magnetic Observatories, transmitted to the Society by the Lords 

 Commissioners of the Admiralty and the Master-General of the Ord- 

 nance, and communicated by the Council, were read ; viz. — 



1. " Meteorological Observations taken on board H.M. Ship Ere- 

 bus, for August and September 1841." By Capt. James Clark Ross, 

 R.N., F.R.S., Commander of the Expedition. {Forms 1 and 2.) 



2. " Meteorological Observations taken by the Niger Expedition, 

 for May, June and July 1841." 



3. " Meteorological Observations taken at the Magnetic Observa- 

 tory, Ross-Bank, Van Diemen's Land, for November and December 

 1840, and January, February and March 1841." {Forms 1 and 2.) 



4. " Meteorological Observations taken at the Magnetic Observa- 

 tory, Cape of Good Hope, for October and November 1841." By 

 F. Eardley Wilmot, Esq., Lieut, in the Royal Artillery. {Forms 1 

 and 2.) 



5. " Meteorological Observations taken at the Magnetic Observa- 

 tory, Toronto, for January, February, March, April and May 1841." 

 By C. W. Younghusband, Esq., Lieut, in the Royal Artillery. {Forms 

 1 and 2.) 



6. " Of the ultimate distribution of the Air-passages, and of the 

 modes of formation of the Air-cells of the Lungs." By William Addi- 



E2 



