March i i, 1909] 



NA TURE 



47 



the constancy of the heat of neutralisation of strong 

 acids bv strong bases, the introduction of the con- 

 ception of the avidity of acids and bases, and the 

 working out of a thermal method of measuring 

 avidity. In his investigation of solution and hydra- 

 tion, Thomsen paved the way for future work, 

 cleared away many misconceptions, and put the 

 thermal aspects of the questions on a secure basis. It 

 is not vet time to interpret the thermal data con- 

 cerning the classification of elements wherewith 

 Thomsen has enriched chemistry ; but the data are 

 there, established by a most careful and ingenious 

 experimenter. In speaking of Thomsen "s work on 

 the thermochemistry of carbon compounds, one has 

 to distinguish between the data and the theoretical 

 discussion of them. The data are sure. Personally, 

 1 think his theoretical conclusions are inadmissible. 



The tremendous question of chemical affinity was 

 attacked, thermochemically, by Thomsen with bold- 

 ness. So long ago as 1854 he announced his much- 

 discussed generalisation : — " Every simple or complex 

 action of a purely chemical character is accompanied 

 by production of heat." In 1882 he was not quite 

 so sure, and modified his dictum, asserting that 

 " the great multitude of chemical processes which are 

 accomplished without the aid of foreign energv, and 

 are free from by-reactions, are accompanied bv produc- 

 tion of heat." This form of the law of maximum 

 work is surely a sound generalisation, but it is purely 

 empirical. Thomsen never thoroughly analysed the 

 concept chemical affinity. Affinity is only one factor 

 of chemical energy, as quantity of heat is only one 

 factor of thermal energy. Thomsen 's great contri- 

 bution to the subject of chemical affinity is the mass 

 of his well-established thermochemical data. 



It seems to me that the two marks of Thomsen 's 

 experimental work are its soundness and its orderli- 

 ness. There is nothing haphazard, nothing slipshod 

 about it. He worked on a definite plan ; he worked 

 with all his might; his work must remain to his 

 everlasting honour. M. M. Pattison Muir. 



NOTES. 



The attention of all who are interested in the work of 

 zoological exploration is directed to the expedition which 

 is now being- organised by Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant to 

 explore the Charles Louis Mountains of Dutch New 

 Guinea, which form the highest part of the range extend- 

 ing right across the island from east to west. The 

 highest peaks have an altitude of some 17,000 feet. A 

 rich harvest is expected, for until recently the hostility 

 of the natives has frustrated all attempts on the part of 

 European travellers to enter this territory. This hostility, 

 however, has now been overcome, and no effort should be 

 spared by the naturalists of this country to be the first 

 in the field to tap what will certainly prove to be one of 

 the richest zoological regions in the world. Mr. Grant 

 is endeavouring to secure ample funds in order that both 

 the zoology and botany of this region may be thoroughly 

 investigated. If this is to be done, a sum of at least 

 3000!. will be necessary. A considerable portion of this 

 sum has already been generously provided, but more . is 

 yet required, and it is hoped that this will speedily be 

 forthcoming. Those who desire to help should send sub- 

 scriptions to Mr. C. E. Fagan, British Museum (Natural 

 History), Cromwell Road, S.W. The leadership of the 

 expedition has been entrusted to Mr. Walter Goodfellow, 

 who has already done much valuable work in the explora- 

 tion of New Guinea. To make the more certain of success 

 he will be accompanied by Mr. \V. Stalker and Mr. 



NO. 2054, "^'OL. 80] 



A. F. R. Wollaston, both of whom have done good work 

 in New Guinea, as well as in other parts of the world. 



TuE executive committee of the British Empire League 

 is organising a movement to provide London with a monu- 

 ment to Captain Cook. Cook was a man of science as 

 well as an explorer ; his hydrographical surveys are excel- 

 lent examples of the scientific work of our navy, and he 

 contributed also to astronomical and medical science. Last 

 November the British Empire League appointed a sub- 

 committee to promote the object and to form a general 

 committee. We have received a list of the names of dis- 

 tinguished persons who have consented to join the general 

 committee, and these include representatives of Australasia, 

 the Colonial Office, the Admiralty, the scientific societies, 

 the shipping industry, and the Cleveland district of York- 

 shire — of which Cook was a native. The general com- 

 mittee will later appoint an executive to collect the neces- 

 sary funds, to determine the character of the memorial, 

 and to select the best available site. It is estimated that, 

 if the monument be in the form of a statue, 3000Z. will be 

 needed. Fuller particulars can be obtained from the secre- 

 tary to the British Empire League, Mr. C. Freeman 

 Murray, Norfolk House, Laurence Pountney Hill, E.C. 



On Monday evening Dr. M. A. Stein read before the 

 Royal Geographical Society a paper on his geographical 

 and archaeological explorations in Chinese Turkestan in 

 1906-S. We have from time to time noticed Dr. Stein's 

 discoveries while his expedition was in progress. His 

 lecture on Monday evening strengthened opinion as to the 

 importance of his researches, and brought out very clearly 

 the widespread influence exercised by Indian and classical 

 art on Buddhistic temple worship throughout Central 

 .Asia during the early centuries of the Christian era. Dr. 

 Stein told the story of one important discovery about which 

 until now he has kept a discreet silence. He was greatly 

 desirous of examining a secret store of ancient manu- 

 scripts which had been accidentally discovered by a Taoist 

 priest in the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, south-east 

 of Tun-huang. The priest knew nothing about the 

 character and importance of the treasures he was guard- 

 ing, but it was only after prolonged discussion that he 

 consented to produce some of the manuscripts for Dr. 

 Stein's inspection. These happened to be fine rolls of 

 paper containing Chinese versions of certain Buddhist 

 texts, which the colophons declared to have been brought 

 from India and translated by Hstian-tsang, the famous 

 Chinese pilgrim, whom Dr. Stein is wont to call his 

 patron saint. Much impressed by what he regarded as a 

 special interposition by Hsiian-tsang on Dr. Stein's behalf, 

 the priest was induced to show the explorer the secret 

 chamber containing his treasures. These were piled up 

 without any sort of order to a height of 10 feet, and com- 

 prised not only written documents, but fine paintings on 

 silk and cotton, ex-votos in all kinds of silk and brocade, 

 and streamers in various fabrics. Dated documents 

 showed that the chamber must have been walled up about 

 1000 .\.D., but some of the records dated back so far as 

 the third century a.d. After prolonged negotiations, Dr. 

 Stein was permitted to make a selection from the docu- 

 mentary and other remains, and filled with them twenty- 

 nine cases, which have now been deposited in London. 

 We hope to return to the subject of Dr. Stein's discoveries 

 at greater length on the publication of his paper. 



The death is announced of Senhor J. Barbosa Rodrigues, 

 director of the botanical garden at Rio de Janeiro, and. 

 author of several works on Brazilian flora. 



