1814.] Royal Socicly. ^ 69 



positive. This was explained by endeavouring io show that certain 

 substances transmit only one kind of electricity. But it occurred 

 to Mr. Brande that it was more probably owing to the carbonacious 

 matter of the flame of a candle being, as in the Vokaic battery, 

 attracted by the negative ball. Accordingly, a set of experiments 

 were made, Aviiich confirmed this idea. The flame of phosphorus 

 was most attracted to the positive ball, which of course became 

 hottest. The same was the case with the flame of burning sulphur. 

 The flame of hydrogen gas was attracted to the negative ball ; that 

 of sulphureted hydrogen, to the positive. Carbonic oxide flame 

 was scarcely attracted to either. Olefiant gas was rather attracted 

 to the negative, while the flame of phosphureted hydrogen was 

 attracted to the positive ball. Benzoic acid sublimed was attracted 

 to the positive ball, but its flame to the negative. Burning camphor 

 was in like manner attracted to the negative ball. These and 

 several other experiments confirm the opinion of Mr. Brande; 

 though some phenomena occurred wliich he considered as anomalies 

 not so easily applicable. 



On Tuesday, the 30th of November, the Society met in order 

 to choose the oflice-bearers for the ensuing year, when the following 

 Gentlemen were chosen : — 



The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. President. 

 Dr. William Hyde Wollaston, and Taylor Combe, Esq. Secre- 

 taries. 



Samuel Lysons, Esq. Treasurer. 



Dr. Thomas Young, Secretary for Foreign Correspondence. 



There were retained of the Old Council : — 



Right Hon. Sir J. Banks, Bart. John Pond, Esq. Astr. Royal. 



Sir Charles Blagden, Knt. Smithsoa Tennant, Esq. 



The Lord Bishop of Carlisle. Rev. VVm. Tooke. 



Taylor Combe, Esq. Wm. H. Wollaston, M. D. 



Samuel Lysons, Esq. Thomas Young, M.D. 

 Earl of Morton. 



There were elected into the Council : — 



Mr. Astley Cooper. Thomas Murdoch, Esq. 



George Bellas Grcenough, Esq. Edward Rudge, Esq. 



Thomas Harrison, Esq. Sir Geo. Thom. Staunton, Bart, 



Earl of Mansfield. Wm. Cliarles Wells, M.D. 



Francis Maseres, Esq. Giffin Wilson, Esq. 



The number of deaths since the last election was 13. The new 

 members admitted during the course of the year amounted to 20. 

 The Coplcyan medal was given to Mr. Brande, for his jiapers on 

 the existence of alcohol in fermented liquors, and for iiis other 

 chemical papers published in the Philosophical Transactions. The 

 ordinary members on the election list amount to 575, the foreign 

 members to 43. 



On Tiiursday, the 9th of December, part of a paper by Dr. 



