On the Production of Vibrations and Sounds by Electrolysis. 401 



then fix it in its distended state, and if then by the transference* to 

 the water beside it of cold taken from any other ice at the freezing- 

 point we cause it to grow, which it may do if there be no other 

 crystal of ice beside it more free than it to receive accessions, then 

 the additional matter will, I think, lay itself down m the same state 

 of tensile stress as the original spiculum was put into by the applied 

 pull. The contractile force of the crystal will thus be increased in 

 proportion to the increase of its cross sectional area. If it now be 

 allowed to contract and relax itself, it will give out, in doing so, more 

 mechanical work than was applied to the original spiculum during 

 distention. Hence there would be a gain of mechanical work with- 

 out any corresponding expenditure ; or we could theoretically have a 

 means of perpetually obtaining mechanical work out of nothing, 

 unless it were the case that greater cold is required to freeze water 

 into ice on the stressed crystal than on a crystal free from stress. 

 Hence we must suppose that a greater degree of cold will be required 

 to cause the stressed crystal to grow. The reasoning just given has 

 been for brevity stated somewhat in outline ; but I trust the full 

 meaning can readily be made out, and that what has been said may 

 suffice. 



I wish now to suggest as an important subject for investigation, 

 The Effect of Change of Pressure (hydraulic pressure) in changing the 

 Crystallizing Temperatures of Saline or other Solutions of given 

 Strengths, — as I feel sure that such effect must exist, but am not 

 aware that it has been hitherto discussed or experimented on, and 

 as it is intimately connected with the matters under consideration in 

 the present paper and with subjects discussed in previous papers, 

 which I have submitted to the Royal Society, on Ice. 



" Determination of the Magnetic Declination Dip, and Force, at 

 the Fiji Islands, in 1860 and 1861." By Colonel William James 

 Smythe, of the Royal xVrtillery. 



" On the Calculus of Functions." By W. II. L. Russell, Esq., A.B. 



" On Tschirnhausen's Transformation." By Arthur Caylev, Esq., 

 F.R.S. 



December 12. — Maj or- General Sabine, R.A., President, in the 



Chair. 



The following communications were read : — 



" On a Series for calculating the Ratio of the Circumference of a 

 Circle to its Diameter." By Amos Clarkson, Esq. 



" On the Production of Vibrations and Sounds by Electrolysis." 

 By George Gore, Esq. 



In this communication, which is a continuation in subject (but 

 different in title) of a previous investigation " On the Movements of 

 Liquid Metals and Electrolytes in the Voltaic Circuit," the author has 



* A theoretic air-engine for making such transferences of heat or cold was' 

 used in the reasoning by which I determined theoretically the lowering of the 

 freezing-point by pressure ; and the same is admissible here. 



