220 Royal Institution. 



the author did not in any of his numerous experiments 

 try the antidotal powers of oxygen on the system. 



March 12. A paper by Dr. Herschel on the second co- 

 met was read. This astronomer has been equally occupied 

 with what he calls the second comet, as with that of 181 1 : 

 he considers the latter, which, although much nearer the 

 earth, is almost invisible by the naked eye, as much older 

 than the former ; that it has experienced as little rJccration 

 in its perihelion passage as our earth ; that it is opaque, 

 destitute of any phosphoric lumination, and shines with a 

 borrowed light, contrary to that of last year. This cir- 

 cumstance he inferred, as it is visible only through glasses of 

 low magnifying powers, being seen distinct with a mag- 

 nifier of 150 or l6o, but quite confused with one of 170 

 times, whereas the former was seen perfectly with a glass 

 magnifying 700 times. The diameter of its nucleus he es- 

 timates at 2637 miles; its cheuelure extends over upwards of 

 six millions of miles. According to the author's theory of 

 comets, by the condensation of nebulae, he imagines the 

 present to be much more condensed and perfect than the 

 precedir.g one, and looks forward to its attaining all the 

 other characters of a habitable planet. 



March 19. A paper by Dr. Henry of Manchester, il- 

 lusirative of a former paper by this chemist on oxymuriatic 

 gas, was u;ad. He decomposed by electricity muriatic acid 

 gas into hydrogen and oxymuriatic gas, and produced wa- 

 ter by electrizing muriatic acid gas niiAeJ with oxygen. He 

 considered his experiments on the whoie as favourable to 

 professor Davy's theory, but cid not attempt to decide po- 

 sitively on the subject. He ols- rved, however, that the 

 greater number of facts seemed to favour Mr. Davy's 

 views. 



Two mathematical papers by Mr, Knight were communi- 

 cated to theSociety through the medium of Mr. Davy. They 

 were of a nature not to be read, but of considerable length, 

 accompanied with tables and diagrams illustrating the at- 

 traction of planes. TheSociety then adjourned over two 

 Thursdays, on account of the holidays, till the 9th of April. 



ROYAL INSTITUTION. 



Mr. Davy's Lectures on the Elements of Chemical 



Philosophy. 

 Mr. Davy's sixth lecture was delivered on Saturday, the 

 29th of February. It related to radiant or ethereal sub- 

 stances. 



