PROCEEDINGS. XXXU1 



past a great many mineral specimens were sent up from New 

 Caledonia, both to Mr. Yale and himself, for determination. 

 Mr. Yale had received a specimen of nickel ore and reported 

 upon it, and Mr. Bensusan had some chromate of iron sent to 

 him about the same time, on which he also reported. By some 

 mistake a paragraph appeared in the Herald, giving Mr. Ben- 

 susan the credit of the nickel discovery, whereupon he at once 

 wrote to disclaim that honor, hazarding the suggestion that the 

 mistake might possibly have occurred through his having almost 

 simultaneously reported on the chrome discoveries. At that 

 time the researches years previously of M. Gamier, were com- 

 paratively unknown ; but in justice to Mr. Yale, it might be 

 alleged that he had never, so far as the speaker was aware, 

 claimed to be the discoverer of the nickel. 



Mr. Benstjsan read passages from letters received from New 

 Caledonia, stating that on the report of M. G-arnier a company 

 had been formed in France, and that they sent out a staff of 

 men to work the chrome ores ; but these men could find none, 

 and returned to France ; that subsequently fifty tons of the 

 supposed chromate of iron was sent home , to Brest, and found 

 to be magnetic oxide of iron only. Instead however of regret- 

 ting the mistake which had occurred, he considered it a cause for 

 congratulation, as it had been the means of calling forth from 

 the Bev. W. B. Clarke the interesting, instructive, and exhaustive 

 paper with which the members had this evening been gratified. 



The vote of thanks to Mr. Clarke was carried unanimously. 



Mr. Bensusan exhibited some specimens of chrome colours, 

 recently made in New Caledonia, from chromate of iron, lemon 

 green, green, cinnabar red, &c, and stated that a M. Quinquet 

 had recently discovered a method of making from chrome ore a 

 beautiful green colour for wall papers, rivalling in brilliancy the 

 well known Scheele's green, without possessing its poisonous 

 arsenical combinations. 



The meeting then adjourned until the 2nd June. 



WEDNESDAY, 2nd JUNE, 1875. 



Chris. Bolleston, Esq., in the Chair. 



The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. 



The following gentlemen were duly elected ordinary members 

 of the Society, viz. : — 



John Living, C. H. Sahl, 



The Hon. Geoffrey Eagar, E. L. Montefiore, 



The Hon. John Lackey, M.P., Edmund Burton, 



G. P. Slade, Henry Alfred Gilliat. 



