326 
NATURE 
[FEBRUARY 4, 1904 
lated the invariant E. Its value was given at length 
in the second edition, where it occupied thirteen pages, 
but I have not thought it worth while to reprint so 
long a formula.’’ Yet to the volume which contained 
this elaborate investigation and many others involving 
equal skill and almost equal labour he prefixed the 
words :—‘‘ To A. Cayley, Esq., and J. J. Sylvester, 
Esq., I beg to inscribe this attempt to render some of 
their discoveries better known, in acknowledgment of 
the obligations I am under, not only to their published 
writings but also to their instructive correspondence.’ 
Questions of priority must be left to some more 
learned pen, and to a writer who has less reason 
to revere Salmon and to respect his reticence. 
The value of his work is shown by the number of the 
editions and of the translations of his treatises, and by 
the honours he received from every quarter. To a 
friend who might question him about his honours he 
would say, ‘‘ You will find all about them in that 
drawer.”’ He received them with humility, though he 
well knew he was worthy of them. i 
DR. W. FRANCIS. 
R. WILLIAM FRANCIS, whose death we recorded 
last week, was born in London in February, 
1817. After his school-time, spent partly at Uni- 
versity College School, but chiefly in France and 
Germany, at St. Omer, Cravelt, and Gera, he studied 
for a short time at University College, London (then 
known as the University of London), whence he pro- 
ceeded to the University of Berlin and subsequently to 
Giessen, where Liebig was then at the height of his 
scientific activity. Here he took the degree of Doctor 
of Philosophy in 1842. His long residence abroad, sup- 
plemented by frequent subsequent journeys, many of 
them on foot, gave him an accurate knowledge of 
French and German, and enabled him to become per- 
sonally acquainted with a very large number of the 
leading men of science on the Continent. 
In 1842 he established the Chemical Gazette, which 
he continued to edit until December, 1859, when it was 
merged in the Chemical News. By this publication 
and by the translations and abstracts he contributed for 
many years to the Philosophical Magazine, he did valu- 
able service in making known the work of foreign 
chemists to their English colleagues. Among other 
work of the same kind were translations of important 
foreign papers, including Ohm’s “ Die galvanische 
Kette mathematisch bearbeitet ’? and Helmholtz’s cele- 
brated paper, ‘‘ Die Erhaltung der Kraft,” for Taylor’s | 
“Scientific Memoirs.» From 1851 until his death he 
was one of the editors of the Philosophical Magazine 
and of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History 
from 1859. His wide acquaintance with various 
branches of science, as well as with leading scientific | 
men at home and abroad, made him well fitted for these 
functions, and the sound judgment with which he dis- 
charged them is generally recognised. 
Dr. Francis was one of the original members, pro- 
bably the last survivor of them, of the Chemical 
Society, having been elected an Associate in 1841 and 
a Fellow shortly afterwards. He was elected a Fellow of 
NOTES. 
A PROVISIONAL committee has been formed with the object 
of commemorating the scientific work of the late Prof. A. 
Cornu by means of a medal struck for that purpose. The 
committee includes more than fifty members of the Institute 
of France; and the secretary is M. E. A. Martel, 8 Rue 
Me’nars, Paris. 
Tne King, accompanied by the Queen, opened Parlia- 
ment in state on Tuesday. In the King’s speech reference 
was made to the insufficiency of the supply of the raw 
material upon which the cotton industry of this country 
depends, and the hope was expressed that the efforts which 
are being made to increase the area under cultivation in 
various parts of the Empire will be attended with success. 
Among the measures to be introduced is a Bill to amend 
the laws relating to education in Scotland. 
A Larran message from Rome states that the Academy 
of Sciences at Turin has divided the Ballauri prize of 1200l. 
between Signor Marconi and Prof. Grassi, of Rome, and 
has awarded the Brasso prize of 350/. to the Duke of the 
Abruzzi. 
Dr. D. H. Scorr, F.R.S., has been elected president of 
the Royal Microscopical Society for the ensuing year. 
Tue Daily Chronicle announces the death of Mr. W. G. 
McMillan, to the Institution of Electrical 
Engineers. 
secretary 
Tue petition of the Linnean Society of London praying 
for the grant of a supplemental charter has been referred 
to a committee of the Lords of the Privy Council, and is 
down for consideration by their lordships on March 1. 
A PETITION in support of the Bill for the adoption of the 
metric weights and measures, which will be introduced in 
the House of Lords by Lord Belhaven and seconded by 
Lord Kelvin, is being extensively signed throughout the 
kingdom. 
Pror. Henrt Corpier, of the School of Modern Oriental 
Languages at Paris, has been appointed president for 1904 
of the Geographical Society of Paris. 
Tue thirty-first annual dinner of the old students of the 
Royal School of Mines will be held on Friday, February 26, 
at the Hotel Cecil. The chair will be taken by Mr. A. G. 
Salamon. ‘Tickets may be obtained from Mr. David A. 
Louis, 77 Shirland Gardens, London, W. 
At the annual meeting of the Psychical Research Society 
held on January 29, it was announced that the fund in- 
tended to endow a research scholarship had reached 6195/., 
Sir Oliver Lodge, the 
Prof. 
but a minimum of 8oool. is needed. 
retiring president, introduced the 
W. F. Barrett, who delivered his presidential address. 
new president, 
Ir is proposed to hold a horticultural and gardening ex- 
hibition in the month of June next under the auspices of 
the Royal Botanic Society in the new exhibition grounds 
| of the society, situated in the centre of the Botanic Gardens - 
| in Regent’s Park. 
the Linnean Society in 1844. He was also a Fellow of | 
the Royal Astronomical Society and an original mem- 
ber of the Physical Society. For the greater part of 
his life Dr. Francis was actively engaged in business | 
as a partner, since 1852, in the well-known firm of 
Taylor and Francis, successors of Richard and John E. 
Taylor, printers and publishers. 
The proposed scheme embraces horti- 
culture, forestry, botany, educational methods, nature-study, 
and a special section for cclonial produce. In addition to 
the exhibition, 
arra ngement. 
lectures and conferences are in course of 
Grants in aid of research have recently been made from 
the Rumford fund of the American Academy of Arts and 
| Sciences as follows :—to Prof. E. W. Morley, for his re- 
He died at his residence, the Manor House, Rich- | 
mond, on January 18. 
NO. 1788, voL. 69] 
search on the nature and effects of ether drift, rool.; to 
Prof. Carl Barus, for his research on the study by an 
