Royal Irish Academy, 109 



Experiments. Theory. 

 Carbon, =78-82- 7930] 

 Hydrogen, = 10 46 - 10-35 > 10000 

 Oxygen, = 1072 - 10*35 J 

 The specific gravity of the vapour of this liquid was found to be 

 5-204, air being 1. The theoretical density from the formula above 

 given is 5-315, and one atom forms two volumes of vapour. It has, 

 therefore, the same density as camphor, and like it may be considered 

 as consisting of 



1 volume of vapour of oil of turpentine, = 4*7643 

 I volume of vapour of oxygen, = 0*55 13 



1 volumeof vapour of dumasine, =5*3156 



Professor Kane read some passages of a letter from M. Dumas, of 

 which the following is an extract: 



'•**** The researches, of which you have given me an account*, 

 promise the happiest results for science, I cannot too much encou- 

 rage you to complete them j you will see by the journals that I have 

 communicated your letter to the Academy of Sciences, where it met 

 with the most honourable reception. Allow me to add, that M. Peligot 

 and myself had obtained the carbo-hydrogen, Cg H4, as well by 

 sulphuric acid as by anhydrous phosphoric acid. We had found that 

 potassium gave the product C^ H3 O, which you have obtained in 

 another manner, but we were stopped by the composition of the sulpho- 

 mesitylate of baryta, of which you have given the explanation. These 

 researches have been made some time, but other matters caused us 

 to neglect them, and I do not now regret it, since they are in such 

 good hands. * * * * " 



****** I announced yesterday to the Academy the existence of 

 tlie carbo'Vinate of potash, which is 



C0.,+ C4H,0 + C0,. 

 I also obtained, conjointly with M. Peligot, the carbo'tnethylate of 

 baryta, which is 



Ba. OCO^ + C.HgO-f-CO^. 

 In these bodies the acid changes very readily into carbonic acid and 

 alcohol, or pyroxylic spirit ; and it is remarkable, that to form them 

 it is sufficient to pass carbonic acid into a solution of baryta in spirit 

 of wood, or of potash in ordinary alcohol. I do not doubt but that 

 similar bodies can be obtained with pyroacetic spirit, but I shall leave 

 to you the pleasure of isolating them. * * * * 



*'****! shall communicate next Monday to the Academy, some 

 observations which may interest you more than any other person ; 

 I mean on compounds very analogous to double chlorides, and which 

 I have obtained by means of urea and the alkaline chlorides. Such 

 bodies appear to me decisive on the theory of the amides. * * ♦ * " 



Sir William Betham read a paper" On the Affinity of the Phoenician 

 and Celtic L-anguages, and on the Cabiri and their Mysteries." 



* On pyroacetic spirit. See Lend, and Edinb. Phil Mag., vol. x. p. 488, 

 and the proceedings of the Academy for April 10 above. Prof. Kane's First 

 Series of Researches on the same subject will be found at large in vol. x, p. 

 45 et ^cy.— Edit. 



