Institute of France. ^27 



Some beautiful experiments illustrating the properties of 

 dephlogisticated muriatic acid, or cklorhie, (as it had been 

 called by Sir H. Davy, in consequence of its peculiar colour, and 

 to avoid all hypothetical reference to its composition), were ex- 

 hibited, and its application to the purposes of bleaching con- 

 cisely illustrated. Mr. Brande feared that its application to 

 whitening rags for paper-making, had been productive of some 

 mischief; and that the spots and blemishes of the paper common 

 in many of the magnificent productions of our press, might be 

 referred to the effects of this substance. 



On the other discoveries of Scheele, noticed by Mr. Brande, 

 our limits prevent us from dwelling : he particularly alluded to 

 that of the fluoric acid j and relieved the narrative and illustra- 

 tion of Scheele's discoveries with some admirable remarks upon 

 his character and genius as a philosopher. 



FRENCH INSTITUTE. 



Monday, January 9,1815, the anniversary meeting of the Class 

 of Mathematical and Physical Sciences of the French Institute 

 , took place. The principal object of the meeting was the dis- 

 tribution of prizes. M. Lalande's annual astronomical prize for 

 the most interesting observation or the most useful memoir on 

 the science of astronomy, was adjudged to M. Piazzi, astronomer 

 rojal, of Palermo, for his ample catalogue of nearly 7500 stars 

 published in 1814. 



The two prize subjects for 1817 are: first. To determine the 

 action of the thermometer filled with quicksilver, at least from 

 zero to 200^ centigrade ; the law of refrigeration in vacuo, the 

 laws of refrigeration in the air, hydrogen, and carbonic acid gas, 

 at different temperatures and in different states of rarefaction : 

 secondly, To determine the chemical changes which take«;place 

 in fiuits during and after fructification. 



The Class will also adjudge in the public sitting for 1816, 

 a prize for the best work or memoir, in print or manuscript, on 

 the application of mathematical analysis to a question in physics, 

 or to the best experiments in general physics, with which it shall 

 be made acquainted previous to October 1, 1815. 



M. Delambre then read a biographical notice of AbbeBossut 

 and M. Cuvier of Count Rumford; when the Class adjourned. 



At the meeting of the Class of Physical and Mathematical 

 Sciences on the 23d of January 1815, a report was read on a 

 memoir by M. Le Pere, inspector of roads and bridges and 

 member of the Institute of Egypt, respecting the ancient com- 

 munications between the Indian ocean and the Mediterranean 

 by the Red sea and the isthmus of -Suez. S])caking of the result 



P2 of 



