Greene.] -^4 ' [April 2, 



separate than those formed in the reaction with liydrochloric acid. Indeed, 

 cliloracetic acid boils at about 186^, and benzoyl chloride at 198° : in the 

 experiments of M. Loir, the latter compound seems to have distilled over 

 first, leavinL? the chloracetic acid in the retort. At temperatures near 150°, 

 the products of this reaction are acetyl chloride, chloracetic acid, benzoyl 

 chloride and chlorobenzoic acid ; at lower temperatures, the principal 

 products are acetyl chloride and chlorobenzoic acid. 



From his experiments, M. Loir considers that there is a difference in 

 constitution between benzoj'-l acetate and acetyl benzoate, but the results 

 of these experiments being erroneous, such a conclusion is unsustained. 

 These bodies thus named are identical ; all of their reactions under the same 

 conditions are the same, and they must be represented by the same rational 

 formula. 



Stcded Meeting April 2, 1880. 

 Present, 12 members. 



Mr. Fraley, Prof. P. E. Chase, Dr. R. E. Rogers, Mr. J. S. 

 Price, Dr. Cresson, and Mr. Phillips signilied by letter their 

 acceptance of the appointment to represent the Society at 

 Boston on the 26th of May. 



Dr. G-enth declined the appointment to prepare a notice 

 of the late Prof. Roepper, on the score of ill-health. 



A letter of envoy was received from the U. S. IS'aval 

 Observatory in Washington. 



A letter requesting contributions to the burnt library at 

 St. John, 'New Brunswick, was received from Mr. Jas. Dom- 

 ville. Honorary Secretary, House of Commons, Canada, dated 

 Ottawa, March 11, 1880. 



Donations for the library were received from the Acade- 

 mies at Rome, Berlin, Brussels, and Philadelphia; the Geo- 

 graphical Society at Bordeaux ; the Victoria Institute, R. 

 Astronomical Society, and London Nature; the Societies at 

 Quebec and Milwaukee ; the Boston Natural History Society ; 

 Cambridge Museum C. Z., and New England Genealogical 

 Society ; the Observatories at Washington and Mexico ; the 

 University and Peabody Institute at Baltimore ; Mr. J. S. 

 Price, and Mr. Henry Phillips, Jr. 



The death of Guillaume Philippe Schimper, at Paris, 



