408 



mixed oxygen and hydrogen, which result from the decompo- 

 sition of a grain of water, there be electricity concealed equal 

 to 240 millions of one-inch sparks, when the mixture is de- 

 tonated, so as to recompose water, a flash of lightning and 

 clap of thunder ought to be the consequence, instead of the 

 little bright flame and the trivial crack which occur. 



But it is not merely this immense quantity of electricity 

 that is unaccounted for. Professor Faraday conceives that the 

 electricity which holds the elements of a grain of water in com- 

 bination, enormous as its quantity is afiirmed to be, can only 

 be overcome, during decomposition, by an equal quantity of 

 electricity. What then becomes of this second portion ? 

 What has become of the first ? We have not been able to 

 discover traces of either. No less than 480 millions of one- 

 inch sparks are concerned in the decomposition ofone grain or 

 drop of water, and we can find no account of any portion of 

 them. 



Mr. Donovan thus concludes this portion of his paper : 

 " 1 conceive that the rules of discussion warrant my running 

 this hypothesis as closely to the impossible as I can. The 

 higher the authority, the stronger must be the argument to 

 give it any chance of success. It is on this account that I 

 take the liberty of reasoning thus freely on the opinions of so 

 celebrated a philosopher." 



The President and Dr. Apjohn made some remarks on 

 Mr. Donovan's communication, in opposition to his views, 

 and confirmatory of the received doctrine of the identity of 

 electricity from different sources. 



DONATIONS. 



A Silver Hiberno-Danish Coin and a Bronze Celt, found at 

 Newington, County Kildare. Presented by James Forbes, Esq. 



The Twenty-sixth Report of the Leeds Philosophical So- 

 ciety, for 1845-6. Presented by the Society. 



