1895. 



on the Rarer Metals and their Alloys. 



519 



and B a crystal of diamond from the series prepared by M. Moissan, 

 drawings of which illustrate his paper.* The rest of the specimens, 

 C to F, were obtained by myself by the aid of his method as above 

 described : C represents a dendritic growth apparently composed of 

 hexagonal plates of graphite, while D is a specimen of much interest, 

 as it appears to be a hollow sphere of graphitic carbon, partially 

 crushed in. Such examples are very numerous, and their surfaces are 

 covered with minute round graphitic pits and prominences of great 

 brilliancy. Specimen E (which, as already stated, was one of a series 

 shown to the audience) is a broken crystal, probably a tetrahedron, and 

 is the best crystallised specimen of diamond I have as yet succeeded in 

 preparing. Minute diamonds, similar to A, may be readily produced, 



rV\ 



FlG. 10." 



-Preparations for the microscope of diamonds and other forms of 

 carbon obtained from carburised iron. 



and brilliant fragments, with the lamellar structure shown in F, are 

 also often met with. 



The close association of the rarer metals and carbon and their 

 intimate relations with carbon, when they are hidden with it in iron, 

 enabled me to refer to the production of the diamond, and afford a 

 basis for the few observations I would offer in conclusion. These 

 relate to the singular attitude towards metallurgical research main- 

 tained by those who are in a position to promote the advancement of 

 science in this country. Statements respecting the change of shining 

 graphite into brilliant diamond are received with appreciative interest ; 

 but, on the other hand, the vast importance of effecting similar 

 molecular changes in metals is ignored. 



We may acknowledge that " no nation of modern times has done 

 so much practical work in the world as ourselves, none has applied 

 itself so conspicuously or with such conspicuous success to the 

 indefatigable pursuit of all those branches of human knowledge which 

 give to man his mastery over matter." f But it is typical of our 



* Comptes Rendue, vol. cxviii. 1894, p. 324. 

 f ' The Times,' February 22, 18ii5. 



2 N 2 



