Mr. ^ATiER on Mineral Veins and (Vutn- Wont Stones. 231 



Professor William Thomson read a paper " On the Thermo-Elcctric 

 Properties of Platinum, Copper, and Iron." 



February 18, 1852. — Mr. Ckum in the Chair. 



Mr. William Harvey, junior, and Mr. Charles Wilson, were elected 

 members. 



Dr. Penny read a paper on " The Chemical Analysis of Commercial 

 Salts of Potash." 



Mr. Daniel Miller, C.E., described his " Patent Hydraulic Purchase 

 Machinery," for drawing up Ships on Slip Docks, and "Hydi-aulic 

 Quadrant Dock." 



March 3, 1852. — Mr. Crum in the Chair. 



Mk. Alexander Harvey reported that the Magistrates and Town 

 Council had unanimously concurred with the Philosophical Society in 

 the proposal to invite the British Association for the Advancement of 

 Science to revisit Glasgow, and had appointed a committee in furtherance 

 of the object. 



It was moved by Mr. Liddell, seconded by Dr. Walker Arnott, and 

 agreed, to remit to the Council to prepare an invitation to the British 

 Association for the Advancement of Science to hold its meeting in 

 Glasgow in 18.53, or at the earliest period convenient to it ; and also to 

 select a deputation from this Society to lay the invitation before the 

 Association at its meeting in Belfast during the present year; and 

 further authorize the Council, or a committee of it, to co-operate with 

 the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Committee of Town Council, and with 

 the other public bodies in the city who propose to send similar invitations. 



Mr. J, Napier read the following paper : — 



XXVIII. — Remarks upon Mineral Veins and Water-Worn Filones. By 

 James Napier, Esq., F.C.S. 



In the crust of the earth are found a great many cracks or fissures 

 varying in size from a few inches to hundi-eds of feet in breadth, and of 

 a length and depth unknown. These cracks are supposed by some to be 

 the results of an internal upheaving pressure, by others, of a magnetic 

 current. 



A great number of these fissures have become wholly or partially filled 

 with various kinds of minerals, generally of a crystalline character, and 

 often distinct from any composing the rocks, forming the side walls of the 

 fissure. These cracks thus filled are termed veins — minm-al veins. To 

 account for the filling of these veins by minerals, many .^peculations and 



