Chemistry and Physics. 367 
present, and when, consequently, the liquid which moistens the 
crystals contains ethylic oxalate. But it seems evident that the 
congealing point will depend quite as much on the amount of 
liquid which chances to be left with the crystals, as upon the 
purity of the wood-spirit, so that two operators working with 
the same materials would be apt to get quite different results. 
Accordingly, the congealing point attained at (5) compared 
with the table would indicate the presence of 8-4 per cent of 
ethylic aleohol, whereas there was present about ten per cent. 
This conclusion is to be regretted, as the method, if reliable, 
would have been valuable. 
March 2, 1872. 
Art. L.—Discovery of a New Planet; by Prof. James OC. Wat- 
Son. From a letter to one of the editors, dated Ann Arbor, 
April 4, 1872. 
_Idiscoverep last night, in the constellation Virgo, a planet 
-eahpe unknown, of which I have observed the following 
places : 
Ann Arbor M. T. a é 
1872, April 3, 12" 20" 09% 13% 23™ 43°13 
3,13 51 30 18 23 40°42 —9° 28’ 2071 
8.15 13 43 18 23 3759 —9 27 42 8 
Hourly motion, Ac=—2%0 Ad=+27'"0. 
The planet shines like a star of the eleventh magnitude. 
SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 
I. CHEMISTRY AND Puysics. 
1. On the aromatic phosphines.—A. W. Hormany has obtained 
the first known members of the series of aromatic phosphines cor- 
responding to the aromatic ammonias. When two molecules of 
chloride of benzyl, two molecules of iodide of phosphonium, and 
one molecule of oxide of zine are heated together in a closed — 
4 white crystalline mass is formed, from which the author obtat 
a ae liquid boiling at 180°C., and having the formula, 
: . oes ar 
Pia ", Which is that of benzyl-phosphine. The liquid is in- 
Soluble j i wari aga 
in water, but soluble in alcohol and ? “PL The 
crystallized iodhydrate, which has the formula €,H, 
Corresponding chiadiginake and bromhydrate appear not to crys 
