16 REPORT — 186G. 



To see whether the above assumptions, as to the chemical nature of east 

 iron, are correct, it is proposed — • 



(1) To make some pure iron. 



(2) To alloy the pure iron with various amounts of carbon and to test the 

 physical and chemical properties of these alloj's. 



(3) To alloy the pure iron in ditferent proportions Avith other metals and 

 metalloids. 



From the forgoing considerations I expect to be able to produce analogous 

 alloys to iron and carbon with some of the other metals, having the peculiar 

 properties of cast iron, steel, and wrought iron ; and probably some may be 

 found to be much better adapted for certain purposes than the alloys of car- 

 bon and iron — for instance less liable to become crystalline by age, &c. 



(4) To alloy the pure iron with various amounts of carbon, and to add to 

 these alloys such substances as are found in the commercial irons so as to 

 study their respective effects on the physical and chemical nature of cast iron, 

 and more especially on their influence on the solvent power of iron for 

 carbon. 



It is intended to investigate carefully the action of dilute and strong acids 

 on the various alloys of iron and carbon, in order to see how far, and under 

 what conditions, the carbon is evolved as carburetted hydrogen. 



The experiments will be made on a small scale, fusion taking place in one 

 of De%ille's oxyhydi'Ogen furnaces, which gives an admirable means of experi- 

 menting with refractory metals. 



The pure ii'on will partly be prepared from the oxalate, and partly by the 

 electrotype process, and fused in lime crucibles. 



The experiments liave already been commenced, and I hope at the next 

 Meeting of the Association to report good progress. 



Report on Observaiions of Luminous Meteor s,\^Qo-(S(S. By aCommittee, 

 consisting of James Glaisiier, F.R.S., of the Roijal Observatory, 

 Greenwich, Secretary to the British Meteorological Society, S^c. ; 

 Robert P. Greg, F.G.S., S^c. ; E. W. Brayley, F.R.S., S^c. ; and 

 Alexander S. Herschel, B.A. 



The Committee have the satisfaction to present in thcii' Report a marked 

 degree of progress over their success in former years. Observations of three 

 large meteors, at the Eoyal Observatory, Groen-n-ich, have been confirmed b}' 

 descriptions of observers at distant places, so that tlie height and velocity of 

 the meteors could be conclusively determined (Appendix I. 1, 2, 4) ; and the 

 accounts of meteors continually communicated bj- observers to the Committee 

 have led in other cases to obtaining the same satisfactory result. 



The Committee are particularly indebted to Mr. Warren De la Eue for a 

 collection of excellent descriptions of the detonating firebaU of the 21st of 

 November 1805, placed by Mr. "Warren De la Eue at the disposal of the Com- 

 mittee, by which the earth-distance, the velocity, and the direction of this 

 meteor in space could be determined. 



Exact determinations of the height, and other particulars of large meteors 

 in diiFerent parts of the globe, arc collected in this Ecport, following the 

 Catalogue, in Appendix II. llemarkablc statements regarding the large 



