44 REPOET — 1870. 



On hvo spectra of Carbon existing at the same Temperature. By W. M. "Watts. 



In this paper the author gave an account of his attempt to ascertain whether the 

 two totally different spectra of carbon depend on a difference of temperature. The 

 No. 1 spectrum is that given by olefiant gas or carbonic oxide and various other 

 compounds of carbon, either when burnt in air or oxygen or by means of the electric 

 spark at ordinary pressures. 



The No. 2 spectrum is produced only by the electric spark in a vacuum, and is 

 given vmder such circumstances either by olefiant gas or carbonic oxide. The 

 temperature of the flames producing the No. 1 spectrum varies from below 2000° C. 

 to 10,000° C, whilst by enclosing vapour of sodium in the Geissler tube giving the 

 No. 2 spectrum, the author found that at first the line D showed, which comes out 

 below 2000° C, and afterwards, as the tube was heated, Na|3, which indicates a 

 temperature of about 2000° (as it is produced in flames which just melt platinum), 

 and finally Na y (which does not appear till 3000° C). 



Daring these changes the carbon No. 2 spectrimi remained unaltered ; the author 

 concludes therefore that both spectra are equally producible by temperatures of 

 between 2000° and 3000° C, and that the difference between them, whatever its 

 cause, does not depend upon temperature. 



CHEMISTRY. 



Address hj rrofossor Hexkt E. Roscoe, B.A., Ph.D., F.li.S., F.C.8., 



President of the Section. 



Gentlesien, — 

 In the midst of the excitement of the horrible war in which the two most scientific 

 nations of the Continent are now plunged, and in which even the professors of 

 chemistry and their students take a humane part, let us endeavour to turn our 

 thoughts' into channels more congenial to the scientific inquirer, and allow me to 

 recount to you, as far as I am able, the peaceful victories which, since our last 

 Meeting, in Exeter, have been achieved in our special department of Chemistry. 

 And here may I be allowed to remind you of the cosmopolitan character of science, 

 of the fact that it is mainly to the brotherly intercourse of those interested in 

 science, and in its applications to the arts and manufactures in different countries, 

 that we ought to look for the small but living fire which in the end will surely 

 serve to melt down national animosities, and to render impossible the breaking out 

 of disasters so fatal to the progress of science and to the welfare of humanity' as 

 that of which we are now unfortunately the spectators. 



With regard to the position of chemical science at the present moment, it will 

 not take a careful observer long to see that, in spite of the numerous important and 

 brilliant discoveries which every year has to boast, we are really but very im- 

 perfectly acquainted with the fundamental laws which regulate chemical actions, 

 and that our knowledge of the ultimate constitution of matter upon which these 

 . laws are based is but of the most elementary nature. In proof of this I need only 

 refer to the difierent opinions expressed by our leading chemists in a discussion 

 which lately took place at the Chemical Society on the subject of the Atomic 

 Theoiy. The President (Dr. Williamson) delivered an interesting lectiu-e, in 

 which the existence of atoms was treated as " the very life of chemistry." Dr. 

 Frankland, on the other hand, states that he cannot imderstand action at a distance, 

 and therefore he cannot comprehend the discontinuity of matter, an idea lying at 

 the base of the notion of atoms. Sir B. C. Brodie and Dr. Odling both agree 

 that the science of chemistry neither requires nor proves the atomic theory ; whilst 

 the former poiats out that the true basis of the science is to be sought in the 

 investigation of the laws of gaseous combination, or the study of the capacity of 



