374 Miscellanies. 
The general committee consists of all members present who have 
communicated any scientific paper to a philosopical society, which 
paper has been presented in its transactions, or with its concurrence. 
The members of philosophical institutions, who may be sent as dep- 
- uties from those institutions to any meeting of the association, shall 
be members of the committee for that meeting. 
Officers elect of the association. 
Rey. W. Buckland, D. D. F. R.S., &c. President. 
David Brewster, LL. D. F.R.S. ‘ Vice Presidetits 
Rev. W. Wheewell, F. R.S., &c. 3 
William Gray, Jun. 
John Phillips, F. G. S., &c. 
Ch. Daubeny, M.D. F.R.S., &c. S . 
Rev. B. Powell, F. R.S., &c. p Secretaries: 
John Robinson, F. R.S., &c. 
~ Rev. J. Yates, F.L.S., &c. ¢ 
Local committees were appointed for London, Edinburgh, Dublin 
and India. Professor Airy has undertaken to prepare a report on 
the state and progress of Astronomy ; Dr. Brewster, a similar report 
on Optics; Prof. Whewell, on Mineralogy ; Mr. Johnston, on Chem- 
istry ; and Mr. Forbes, on Meteorology. —Phil. Mag. Nov. 1831. 
17. Conducting Powers of Liquid Gases—(H. T. Kemp.)—By 
making liquefied sulphurous acid gas a part of the circuit of the gal- 
vanic battery of 250 pairs of plates, shocks were received, water was 
decomposed, and the galyanometer was acted on, as if a continuous 
metallic communication had existed. Liquid sulphurous acid is 
therefore an excellent conductor of electricity. Cyanogen, 00 the 
contrary, was found to be a perfect non-conductor, even to a voltaic 
current of 300 pairs of plates. Liquefied chlorine was also found to 
be a perfect non-conductor of electricy from a battery of 250 pairs 
of plates. The author then tried liquefied ammoniacal gas, but 
could not ascertain whether it was a conductor or non-conductor of 
electricity, It is in all probability a non-conductor. 
18. Power of Carbon to destroy the Bitterness of certain Bodies.— 
M. Duburga observed that charcoal destroyed the bitterness oF 8 
tincture of gentian root, whilst it had no action on that of the cen- 
taury ; in consequence of which observation, Dr. Kopff made many 
experiments on different bitter substances, and found great we 
of action. Each experiment was made with two ounces of dist 
