ON ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. 59 



The returns of the Census having only recently been collected, too little 

 time has as yet elapsed for the perfect arrangements of the tables to be 

 completed, but your Committee have reason to believe that the recommenda- 

 tions contained in the above memorial wUl ultimately be, to a considerable 

 extent, adopted by Her Majesty's Government. 



Postscript. — Since the above Report was drawn up, the Committee have 

 received a formal reply from the Home Office (dated 26th September, 1871), 

 informing them that the Home Secretary " has desired the Registrar General 

 for Scotland, and has requested the Lord Lieutenant to desire the Census 

 Commissioners in Ireland, to frame their tables in conformity with those 

 submitted by the Registrar General for England and Wales, and approved 

 by Mr. Bruce, as far as circumstances will admit ; and that with this view 

 he has instructed the above-mentioned officers to place themselves in com- 

 munication with the Registrar General for England and Wales." 



Report of the Committee appointed for the purpose of Superintending 

 the Publication of Abstracts of Chemical Papers. The Committee 

 consists o/Prof. A. W. Williamson, F.R.S., Prof. H. E. Roscoe, 

 F.R.S., Prof. E. Fkankland, F.R.S. 



The Committee are glad to be able to announce that regular monthly re- 

 ports of the progress of Chemistry have been published since April 1st, 1871, 

 by the Chemical Society. These Repoits have been rendered, as far as pos- 

 sible, complete by abstracts, more or less full, of all papers of scientific in- 

 terest, and of the more important papers relating to applied chemistry. The 

 abstracts have been made by chemists, most of whom are members of the 

 Societj% whose zeal for the science has induced them to undertake the work 

 for the small honorarium which the Council has been able to offer. A 

 numerous Committee of Publication has been formed, whose Members gra- 

 tuitously undertake the revision of the proofs and a comparison of the ab- 

 stracts with the original papers. 



The Reports are edited by Mr. Watts, each monthly part being bound up 

 with the corresponding number of the Chemical Society's Journal. Each 

 volume wiU be furnished with a full index, and will give a complete view of 

 the progress of Chemistry during the year. 



The Committee feel that their thanks are due to aU those gentlemen en- 

 gaged in the work for having already so far succeeded in accomplishing a 

 task of such difficulty and importance, and they confidently hope that their 

 continued exertions wiU still further perfect the details of the scheme so as 

 gradually to increase the usefulness of the Reports. 



It is right to state that the funds of the Chemical Society available for 

 the purpose of the Reports, although so opportunely aided by a grant of 

 £100 from the British Association, were insufficient to defray the necessary 

 expenses, and that voluntary contributions to the amount of upwards of 



