'^''^ French National Institute. 



precipitated by copper, it was none of the other knowrf 

 metals. Mercury, agitated in a warm nitrous solution of 

 this niclalj acquired the consistence of an amalgam, which 

 when exposed to a red heat left a white metal— palladiuni j 

 which gave a red solution, as before, with nitrous acid, 

 could not be precipitated by sal-ammoniac or by nitre, but 

 yielded a yellow precipitate with prussiate of potash, and 

 in the order of ils affinities was precipitated by mcrcurv, but 

 not by silver. The author, however, adopted afterwards 

 another process for obtaining palladium, depending on one 

 of its most distinguishing properties, by means of which it 

 may be obtained with the utmost facility. To a solutioiv 

 of crude platina, whether neutrahzed by evaporation of the 

 redundant acid, or saturated by any of the alkalies, by lime 

 or by magnesia, by mercury, coppLT, or iron, and also whe- 

 ther the platina has or has not been precipitated from it by 

 sal-ammoniac, it is only necessary for the separation of the 

 palladium that );russiate of niercurv be added to the solu- 

 tion. In a short time it becomes turbid, and a tlocculent 

 precipitate is gradually formed of a pale yellowish white 

 colour. The prussiate of palladium thus obtained, when 

 heated, yields that metal in a pure state. 



FRENCH NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 



On the 23d of .Tune the first class of the French National 

 Institute, that of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences^ 

 held a public sitting, when the following papers were read : 



_ 1st, Chaptal's report on the prize question respecting the 

 winter sleep of animals. 



2d, Delambre's eulogy of P. F. A. Mechain. 



3d, Memoir of Pinel on the treatment of lunatics in i 

 large hospital, and on the result of three years' experience 

 at the Salpetriere. 



4th, Memoir on the terrestrial magnetism, by Biot. 



5th, Jussieu's account respecting the last voyage of dis- 

 covery. 



6th, Cuvier's eulogy on Dr. Priestley. 



The prizes also were adjudged for the papers on the last 

 prize questions. 



An Account of the Lahovrs of lite Class of the Mathema- 

 tical and Physical Sciences of the French Natioiial Insti- 

 tute from the 20th of June 1804 to the same Day 1805^ 

 By M. CuviEK, perpetual Secretary. 



[Continued from p. 178.] 



We have in commerce three kinds of strong glue, those 



«f Eiigland, Flanders, aud Paris. The first is the best, and. 



8 the 



