261 



of the Works of Standard Weights and Measures. (Doc. No. 

 261. Ho. of Reps. Treas. Department.) — From Mr. Hassler. 



FOR THE CABINET. 



A Collection of Turkish Coins, commencing with those of Othman, 

 founder of the present Dynasty. — From John P. Brown, U. S. 

 Dragoman, at Constantinople. 



A communication was read from Mr. Forshey, of Louisiana, 

 entitled "Observations upon the Meteors of August, by C. G. 

 Forshey," which was referred to a Committee. 



Mr. Boye stated, that Mr. Clarke Hare and he had succeeded 

 in producing a perchloric ether. 



It is a colourless liquid, heavier than water, and of a sweet, but 

 afterwards acid taste, resembling that of the oil of cinnamon. Its 

 most remai'kable property is its explosiveness. Not only by ignition, 

 but even by friction or percussion, it explodes with extreme violence, 

 and cannot therefore be handled without the greatest precaution. 

 When it is borne in mind, that perchloric acid, containing seven 

 atoms of oxygen, loosely combined with chlorine, is in this substance, 

 in contact with sufficient carbon and hydrogen to be converted into 

 carbonic oxide and water, the violence of its explosion will easily be 

 accounted for. 



Mr. Boye further stated, that he hoped to be soon able to give a 

 farther account of this substance ; of the way in which it is obtained, 

 and of some other similar reactions, which they are now engaged in 

 studying. 



Mr. Vaughan exhibited from M. Alexandre Vattemare a fac 

 simile of an original grant by Charles of England to William 

 Penn; and also a fac simile of a deed of sale, by William Penn, 

 of 20,000 acres of land, for 800 pounds sterling; — the original 

 deed being in Penn's handwriting. 



Mr. Walker made an oral communication on the subject of 

 the August shower of meteors. 



These meteors returned, this year on the 9th instant, and were 

 observed at the High School Observatory, by Mr. Walker, as well 

 as by Messrs. Forshey, of Louisiana, and Hamilton, of this city. 

 The evenings of the 10th and 11th, being partly cloudy, and the 



