460 



solid state of selenium which evolves heat on crystallizing all ap- 

 pear to be homologues, at once, of liquid water below 32, and of the 

 glassy state of matter. 



Should this hypothesis be verified, water below 32, or rather, per- 

 haps, from the temperature of maximum density downwards through 

 that of freezing, may have to be regarded as the type of the vitreous 

 condition of matter ; and the causes of the peculiar characters of 

 that condition, its effects on the transmission of the vibrations of 

 sound and light, the conchoidal fracture, &c., may have to be dis- 

 covered by researches on its molecular nature. 



III. " On the Effect of the presence of Metals and Metalloids 

 upon the Electric Conductivity of Pure Copper." By A. 

 MATTHIESSEN, Esq., and M. HOLZMANN, Esq. Communi- 

 cated by Professor WHEATSTONE. Received March 14, 1860. 

 (Abstract.) 



After studying the effect of suboxide of copper, phosphorus, 

 arsenic, sulphur, carbon, tin, zinc, iron, lead, silver, gold, &c., on 

 the conducting power of pure copper, we have come to the conclusion 

 that there is no alloy of copper which conducts electricity better than 

 the pure metal. 



May 3, 1860. 

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



In accordance with the Statutes, the Secretary read the names of 

 the Candidates recommended by the Council for Election into the 

 Society, viz. 



Frederick Augustus Abel, Esq. 

 Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P. 

 John Frederic Bateman, Esq. 

 Edward Brown-Sequard, M.D. 

 Richard C. Carrington, Esq. 

 Francis Galton, Esq. 

 Joseph Henry Gilbert, Esq. 



Thomas Hewitt Key, Esq. 

 Joseph Lister, Esq. 

 Rev. Robert Main, M.A. 

 Robert William Mylne, Esq. 

 Roundell Palmer, Esq., Q.C. 

 John Thomas Quekett, Esq. 

 Edward Smith, M.D. 



Sir William Jardine, Bart. 



The following communications were read : 



