98 



no claim to the advantages mine possesses, either in facility of exe- 

 cution or rapidity of result. I think 'he says it requires six or eight 

 minutes to accomplish what mine does in two or three seconds. 

 After my process was published by being read at the meeting of the 

 Association at York, the sulphate of iron was applied to iodised 

 paper, but not before. That proceeding has increased its sensibility, 

 and made it approach in sensibility to mine ; but it obviously does 

 not interfere with my right to consider the Catalysotype my own 

 child, and to call it what I please. However, I think all experi- 

 mentors with light owe you a great debt, and should pay particular 

 attention and respect to your opinion on a subject for which you 

 have done so much ; I will, therefore, not insist on adhering to the 

 word Catalysotype, but leave the process to be dealt with as a fact 

 in the general history of active chemistry. For the present the 

 name must be borne with, as my Paper is written and given to Dr. 

 Robinson ; but if it ever should be again spoken of, which is per- 

 haps not probable, we will not elevate it to the honour of a distinct 



prefix. 



" I am, &c. 



" Thomas Woods." 



May 26, 1845. 



SIR Wm. R. HAMILTON, LL.D., President, in the 

 Chair. 

 A sealed packet was opened, with the consent of Mr. R. 

 Mallet, by order of the Academy, which he had deposited 

 with the Academy at the meeting of the 13th of November, 

 1843. Mr. Mallet then stated the subject matter of the en- 

 closed document to be certain propositions regarding improved 

 methods of working atmospheric railways, and that his object 

 in calling for the production of the packet upon this evening 

 was to claim his priority of invention, as similar plans have 

 been since proposed by French and English engineers. 



A letter from Mr. Clibborn was read by the Secretary, 

 relating to the discovery of ijertain gold antiquities near Naas. 



