504 



of those pursuits to which the Hoy.il Society is devoted, and an 

 earnest 'desire to aid in their advancement. 



That it may please Divine Providence to soften the affliction of 

 YOUR MAJESTY and Your Royal Family, and support you in this 

 heavy trial, is the earnest wish and prayer of YOUR MAJESTY'S 

 loyal and devoted subjects, the President, Council, and Fellows of 

 the Royal Society of London. 



On the motion of the Lord Chief Baron, seconded by Mr. Hey- 

 wood, it was Resolved, That the Fellows do most cordially concur 

 in the Address now read from the Chair. 



The Address was then signed by the President on behalf of the 

 Council and Fellows. 



The following communications were read : 



I. " Preliminary Note on the Nature and Qualities of Voltaic 

 Currents." By GEORGE GORE, Esq. Communicated by 

 Professor STOKES, Sec. U.S. Received January 9, 1862. 



1. In a recent paper "On the production of Vibrations and 

 Sounds by Electrolysis," I have shown that if a voltaic current of 

 suitable quantity from two Grove's or five Smee's elements is passed 

 by a mercury anode through a solution composed of 1 grains of 

 cyanide of mercury and 100 grains of hydrate of potash, dissolved 

 in 2-f ounces of hydrocyanic acid containing 5 per cent, of anhy- 

 drous acid, into an annular cathode of mercury about 2 or 3 inches 

 diameter and -J-th of an inch wide, visible and symmetrical vibrations 

 of the negative mercury, accompanied by definite sounds, are pro- 

 duced ; and the current becomes intermittent as long as the vibra- 

 tions continue, similar to a current made intermittent by means of 

 an ordinary break-hammer. 



2. If two voltaic currents of suitable and equal quantity (measured 

 by a voltameter in the circuit), the one being generated by about 

 eight Smee's elements of large immersed surface, and the other 

 generated by twenty Smee's elements of small surface, are passed 

 separately through the arrangement just described, vibrations and 

 sounds are in each case produced j but with the current from the few 



