190 Miscellanies. 
erts, Jr. and Isaiah Lukens will appear in Vol. IV of the Philosoph- 
ical Transactions of Philadelphia. The report will contain 
1. Observations made by Jos. Roberts, Jr. at the Friends’ observ- 
atory in Philadelphia. 
“2. a se Sears C. Walker, at a place 1433 feet 
west of the above named observatory. 
3: ie na John Gummere, Burlington, N. J. 
4. : «€ Prof. Renwick, Columbia College, N. 
York. 
5. s s Robert Treat Paine, Cape Malabar light 
house, Lat. 41° 32’ 58.3” N., Long: 
70° 017 20¢4.W:, i 
6. £ y F. R. Hassler, city of Washington. 
cS sf “ Prof. R. M. Patterson, Univ. Virginia. 
8. Meteorological observations by Prof. A. D. Bache, Univ. Penn. 
We forbear to quote, from a report which is as yet unpublished. 
26. Chloro-chromic acid.—Dr. Torrey has repeatedly prepared 
this compound, called by Dumas, per-chloride of chromium. Dr. 
Thomson in his original memoir on chromium, states that the acid 
will not inflame phosphorus, while Dumas asserts the contrary. In 
Dr. Torrey’s experiments explosion generally followed the contact 
of the two substances. This information being communicated to 
Dr. Thomson, it induced him to repeat his experiments with this en- 
ergetic compound. It appears (see his New System, Vol. I, p- 339,) 
that the phosphorus is not affected when it is made perfectly dry, and 
that it may even be fused under the liquid acid in this state. Mr. 
George Chilton and his son, assisted by Dr. Ellet of New York, as 
well as Dr. Torrey, have verified all Dr. Thomson’s assertions. e 
best way which they found of getting perfectly dry phosphorus, was 
to shave off the outside of a stick, so as to remove the whole of the 
white crust which usually forms on this substance in water. The 
salt employed in making the acid should be fused so as to render it 
perfectly anhydrous. 
27. Effect of Elasticity.—Having had occasion to illustrate, by the 
annexed figure, an old but very curious experiment, I have thought 
it might not be uninteresting to such of the younger readers of this 
al, as have not been made acquainted with it, and I have there- 
fore inserted the following notice. 
Place a wine glass upon the edge of a table and another wine glass 
upon the edge of another table, at the distance of three or four feet; 
