90 PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Oct., 1875. 



case, compactness and general accuracy in presenting the several groups, and 

 the exhibition at the same time of a remarkable continuity in the sequence of 

 the atomic numbers with striking numerical relations between the Groups and 

 Series. 



I will close with two remarks. The first is that the continuity of sequence 

 just mentioned is broken by two notable gaps ; one of 9 successive units from 

 40 to 50 between the last member of series C and beginning of series D, TmfiUed 

 by a single number from any part of the Table ; the other much greater, from 

 137 to 197, an interval of 59 successive units in which only two numbers occur, 

 182 and 184. The second remark is, that the dyad Hg with its high atomic 

 weight 200, can find a place in the Table only in column H, I, and line +2, 

 where it wiU be associated -^ith Pb, Ba, &c. To associate it with Pb is not 

 new, but it is not usual to admit it as a member of the Calcium group, and I 

 have not inserted it. If this be permitted or it be regarded as a member of 

 the Magnesian sub-group, then the difference between its atomic weight and 

 that of Cd, namely 88, will be exactly the same as, between those of Mo and W, 

 between those of Cb and Ta ; but then what I have called the continuity of 

 sequence will be broken bj^ an inversion, the number 200, exceeding some of 

 those that follow it. 



JANUARY 22d, 1885. * 



The President in the Chaii'. 



The Chau-man stated that the Society had been called together 

 to discuss the practicability of resinning its regTilai' work, 



* Fi-om November, 1875, to January, 1885, the operations of the Society 

 were practically suspended. The dark night of pohtical persecution which 

 had settled on the South, with all its attendant evils, the perfect paralysis of 

 Industry in all its departments, the utter prostration of business, the depression 

 of the money-market, the stringency of the times, in a word, the struggle for 

 mere subsistence, all had theii- influence on the workings of the Seciety. A 

 large number of its most active and useful members were forced to leave 

 Charleston because of a want of emplojTnent and the few who remained were 

 so disheartened and discouraged as to be able to do nothing. But through the 

 persistent and unwearied efforts of the President, (.Prof. Lewis E. Gibbes,) 

 operations were resumed in January 1885. 



