170 Proceedings of the Boyal Society of Edinburgh. 



are extremely soluble in hot water, and are quite neutral to test- 

 paper. They gave, by analysis, a result corresponding with 



3(C,oHi2N02HO) PO5 



These results the author considered sufficient to establish the fact, 

 that the phosphates of the organic alkalies agree in their constitution 

 with the inorganic salts of that acid ; and he concluded his paper by 

 observing, that the relations of these bases to phosphoric acid might 

 be made u^j of as a means of classifying them. Thus quinine, which 

 replaces three equivalents of water in phosphoric acid, might be com- 

 pared to oxide of lead and the oxides of the heavy metals. Brucia 

 miofht represent the inorganic alkalies. While strychnia, which, 

 under ordinary circumstances, replaces only one equivalent of water, 

 belongs to a class which has no analogue among the series of inor- 

 ganic bases. 



Monday, 20ih December 1847. 

 The Right Rev. Bishop Terrot, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The following Communication was read : — 

 Ejiamination of some Theories of German Writers, and of 

 Mr Grote, on the Authorship of the Iliad and Odyssey. 

 By Professor Dunbar. 



Monday, 3d January 1848. 

 The Right Rev. Bishop Terrot, Vice-President, in the Chair. 

 The following Communication was read : — 



On Algebraical Symbolism. By Bishop Terrot. 



Monday, 17ih January 1848. 

 Dr Christison, Vice-President, in the Chair. 

 The following Communications were read : — 

 1. Account of a Geological Examination of the Volcanoes 

 of the Vivarais. By Professor Forbes. 



The author having, on former occasions, stated some results of his 

 travels in Auvergne and the Cantal, gives a more detailed descrip- 

 tion of the volcanoes of the Vivarais, which have been less fre- 

 quently and less accurately described. 



He first gives an account of the journey from Le Puy across the 

 chain of the Cevennes which culminate at the volcanic summit of the 

 Mezeuc, by the course of the Loire, to Montpezat in the department 

 of the Ardeche. 



The best descriptions of the Vivai-ais are those of Foajas de Sf 



