31 



Eblanine is anhydrous, and contains no nitrogen. 

 The mean of 4 analyses gave as the composition in 100 

 parts, 



Carbon,. ... 75.275 



Hydrogen, . . . 5.609 



Oxygen, . . . 19.116 

 The composition, calculated according to the formula 

 c n H 9 °4? would give 



Carbon, .... 75.79 



Hydrogen, ... 5.30 



Oxygen, . . . 18.91 

 But as we have as yet no means of ascertaining the atomic 

 weight of eblanine, this result must be viewed merely as an 

 approximation. 



Eblanine cannot be confounded with any known sub- 

 stance, and must rank as a curious addition to the list of 

 compounds produced in the destructive distillation of wood ; 

 to which must also be added, aldehyd, a substance lately 

 discovered by Liebig, but first pointed out as existing in 

 pyroxilic spirit, by Mr. Scanlan, who obtained it before the 

 discovery of Liebig was known in Dublin. 



Sir William Betham read the first of a series of papers 

 " On the Cabiric Mysteries and Phoenician Antiquities." 



In this paper the author stated his conviction that the 

 Cabiri were a secret society or brotherhood, who concealed 

 their acquirements in science and the arts from all but the 

 initiated ; that this society originated with the Phoenicians, 

 and was for a very long period confined to that people and 

 their colonies ; that the arts of navigation, mining, &c, the 

 science of astronomy, and indeed all other branches of know- 

 ledge with which they were acquainted, were enveloped by 

 them in mystic fables and allegories, to conceal them from 

 the vulgar ; and that from these was derived the whole sys- 

 tem of mythological theology of the Greeks and Romans. 



