Miscellanies. 369 
Place of Observation. : 1 iol Greeawic 
he im 8. 
B. —4 56 0.02 
Brooklyn, N. Y. : . F. R. 0.80 
E. 2.31 
B. —4 51 47.65 
New Haven, Conn, . ° ‘ E. 56.82 
: B. —4 51 16.92 
Southwick, Mane: . ‘ ‘ E. 20.16 
, eye tS B. —4 50 43.62 
Wesleyan University, apn $2 ; E. 41.73 
Williamstown College, Mass. . ° B. —4 52 26.93 
Dorchester Observatory, Mass. . é B. —4 44 22.76 
The committee to whom was referred the paper of Prof. Loomis, 
entitled ‘ Additional Observations of the Magnetic Dip in the United 
States,” reported in favor of its publication, and which was ordered 
accordingly. ‘These observations are incorporated in Art. V. of this 
Vol., p. 41. 
The committee, consisting of Dr. Hare, Dr. Bache, and Mr. Booth, 
on a paper entitled «On a new compound of deutochloride of plati- 
num, nitric oxide, and hydrochloric acid; by Henry D. Rogers, 
Professor of Geology in the University of, Pennsyivania, and Martin 
H. Boyé, Graduate of the University of Copenhagen,” reported in 
favor of publication in the Transactions of the Society. The publi- 
cation was ordered accordingly. 
This substance is procured by dissolving platinum in an excess of 
nitromuriatic acid, and evaporating nearly to dryness; after which it 
is treated with aqua regia, freshly prepared, from concentrated hy- 
drochloric and nitric acids. A little water is afterwards added, drop 
by d just sufficient to keep the chloride of platinum dissolved, 
when the compound will remain in the form of a gamboge yellow 
powder. It is then separated by decanting and filtering, and pressed 
between the folds of bibulous paper, and dried in vacuo over sulphu- 
ric aci 
The piccipilats is a yellow, minutely crystalline powder, which ab- 
sorbs water with great avidity. It may be preserved, without decom- 
position, in dry air, or in vacuo. Itis decomposed by water, alcohol, 
&c., with extrication of nitric oxide, chloride of platinum remaining 
in solution. A concentrated solution of chloride of platinum has, 
however, no action on it. Heated in an atmosphere of hydrogen, it 
gives off a large amount of chloride of ammonium, leaving a residu- 
um of metallic platinum. 
Anatysis.—The salt analyzed, was prepared and kept in the man- 
ner described. Heated to the temperature of 212° F., it does not 
