328 Notice from Dr. Robert Hare. 
of the year should notice whether the.radiating point shifts with 
the direction of the earth’s motion, as it will do if the motion of 
‘the meteors is only apparent and proceeds from our own motion 
in revolution. I have enlarged these remarks much beyond my. 
intention : my only object has been to do a part, however hum- 
ble, in settling one of the abi pegs involved in panes 
ae December 6, 1838. 
se = 
Arr. XI.—WNotice from Dr. Roserr Hare, Professor of Chem- 
istry, &c., respecting the fusion of platina, also respecting @ 
new E sinc and a series of eal — formed with the 
aplemenis ett water. Gnd 
: TO PROF. SILLIMAN. 
honing : Philadelphia, Dee. 15th, 1838. 
My Dear Friend ,—I send you for the Journal a brief notice 
of some results, observations, and inferences, which are nearly in 
the same language in which they were communicated to the 
Chemical Section of the British Association for the Advancement 
of Science. 
I have by improvements in my process for fusing platina, suc- 
ceeded in reducing twenty five ounces* of ‘that metal to a state 
so liquid, that the containing cavity not being: sufficiently capa- 
cious, about two ounces overflowed it, leaving a mass of twenty 
three ounces, I repeat that I see no difficulty in extending the 
power of my apparatus to the fusion of much larger masses. 
When nitric acid or sulphuric acid with a nitrate is employed 
to generate ether, there must be an excess of two atoms of oxy- 
gen for each atom of the hyponitrous acid which enters into com- 
bination. This excess involves not only the consumption of a 
large proportion of alcohol, bit also gives rise to several acids and 
to some volatile and acrid liqnida. 
It occurred to me that for the production of pure hyponitrous 
ether a hyponitrite should be used. The’ ree bis a realized 
my expectations. 
By subjecting hyponitrite of pie or oda al 
luted ‘sulphuric acid, I have obtained a ‘species of ether which 
” 
:™ Troy a The actual ee wo 1 ars. 1 te i remaining 
weighed 10,937 ers. 
: a 
Seiten. Sake ag 
