160 



square film with its sides 4 inches each, the slabs will be urged toge- 

 ther by a force equal to the weight of half a cube of water, of which 

 the side is 4 inches ; that is, the weight of 32 cubic inches of water or 

 1*15 pound, which is a very considerable force. Secondly, the film of 

 water existing, as it does, under less than atmospheric pressure, has 

 its freezing-point raised in virtue of the reduced pressure ; and it would 

 therefore freeze even at the temperature of the surrounding ice, 

 namely the freezing-point for atmospheric pressure. Much more 

 will it freeze in virtue of the cold given out in the melting by pressure 

 of the ice at the points of contact, where, from the first two causes 

 named above, the two slabs are urged against one another. 



The freezing of ice to flannel or to a worsted glove on a warm 

 hand is, I consider, to be attributed partly to capillary attraction 

 acting in similar ways to those just described ; but in many of the ob- 

 served cases of this phenomenon there will also be direct pressures from 

 the hand, or from the weight of the ice, or from other like causes, 

 which will increase the rapidity of the moulding of the ice to the 

 fibres of the wool. 



II. "On Spontaneous Evaporation/' By BENJAMIN Guy 

 BABINGTON, M.D., F.R.S. &c. Received June 7, 1859. 

 (For Abstract, see p. 127.) 



November 30, 1859. 



ANNIVERSARY MEETING. 



Sir BENJAMIN C. BRODIE, Bart., President, in the Chair. 



Colonel Yorke reported, on the part of the Auditors of the Trea- 

 surer's Accounts, that the total receipts during the past year, in- 

 cluding ^63466 3s. 2d. received from the Stevenson bequest, 

 amounted to ^670 16 Os. 5d. ; and the total expenditure, including 

 ^2700 invested in the Funds, amounted to ^66596 Os. 5d., leaving 

 a balance in the Treasurer's hands amounting to 420. 



The thanks of the Society were voted to the Treasurer and 

 Auditors. 



The Secretary read the following lists : 



