478 Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



Oxide of ethylene is a gas. at ordinary temperatures ; but below three 

 degrees centigrade it is a liquid. When a glass tube containing this 

 body is opened, a jet of vapour rushes out, and may be lighted. If 

 this vapour be conducted in a jar of hydrochloric acid gas, it imme- 

 diately enters into union with it, with almost the energy and rapidity 

 of ammonia. It is an unique base, without nitrogen, and without 

 a metal ; but it connects these two classes of bases together. It 

 bears a remarkable analogy to an oxide of a metal, yielding definite 

 compounds with acids, and even displacing some mineral bases from 

 their combinations with acids. Its salts form double compounds 

 with salts of barium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, lead, and mercury, 

 and these compounds invariably contain two equivalents of the 

 metal. From various considerations, however, Professor Wurtz 

 is led to conclude that the equivalents of these metals should be 

 doubled ; an argument in favour of this conclusion being drawn 

 from their specific heat, which is half that of many of the other 

 elements. If the equivalents were doubled, these metals would 

 occupy a position in the salts above named identical with that 

 occupied by ethylene. Oxide of ethylene is capable of combining 

 directly with water, in the same manner as some metallic oxides ; 

 if the water be in excess, glycol is formed ; if the oxide preponde- 

 rate, other hydrates are produced, containing two, three, or four 

 equivalents of the oxide to one of water. An analogy may be 

 traced between these hydrates and certain complex hydrates of silicic 

 and stannic acids, the relations of which had previously seemed 

 somewhat doubtful. 



But oxide of ethylene unites not only with hydrochloric and 

 other acids, to form a great variety of saline compounds, but also 

 with ammonia, forming bodies containing one, two, or three equiva- 

 lents of oxide to one of ammonia. Of these there are several 

 analogous to the ammonia compounds of copper, mercury, and 

 platinum. 



ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.— June 16. 



Surveying Voyage in the Pacific. — Dr. Shaw read a paper on 

 the Surveys of H.M.S. Herald, in the Pacific, under the command 

 of Capt. H. Mangles Denham, R.K, F.R.G.S. This surveying 

 voyage, undertaken in consequence of the representations made to 

 Her Majesty's Government of the benefits which would result to 

 commerce and navigation from a thorough examination of the 

 dangers of the Western Pacific, extended from the year 1852 to 

 1861. A slight conception of the results of this voyage may be 

 realized when it is mentioned that no fewer than 163 determinations 

 of latitude and longitude were obtained, besides 2601 magnetic 

 results, 41 islands carefully mapped, with 42 reefs and shoals, and 

 450 miles of the Australian coast-line. One of the many practical 

 results is, that ships making the voyage from India and China to 

 Australia can now save one-fifth of the distance usually traversed, 

 owing to many supposed reefs having been expunged from our 



