1864] 



derived from Coal-tar. 



491 



may possibly contain the bivalent radicals phenylene, Cg H^, and tolylene, 



(CeHJ" 



(C,,HJ"=(C,H3)", 



when the molecular construction of the three colouring matters might be 

 represented by the formulae 



Aniline-red. Aniline-blue. Aniline-violet. 



(C, HJ," I N3, H, O (C, H3);' I N3, H, (0, HJ," \ N3, H, O. 

 H3 J (C,H,)3 J (C,H,)3 J 



We must not, however, forget that this is simply an hypothesis, and that 

 the elements in the complex atom Hie "^^7 associated in a great 

 variety of other groups. An interesting observation quite recently made 

 by Dr. Hugo Miiller, and communicated to me by my friend while these 

 pages are passing through the press, may possibly assist in further eluci- 

 dating the nature of this class of bodies. Dr. Miiller has found that 

 rosaniline and its coloured derivatives are instantaneously decolorized by 

 cyanide of potassium, a series of splendidly crystallized, perfectly colourless 

 bases being produced. The composition of these bodies, which will pro- 

 bably be found analogous to a substance similarly obtained from harmaline 

 by Fritzsche, remains to be established. 



November 17 j 1864. 

 Major-General SABINE, President, in the Chair. 



In accordance with the Statutes, notice of the ensuing Anniversary 

 Meeting for the election of Council and Officers was given from the 

 Chair. 



Mr. Gassiot, Dr. J. E. Gray, Dr. Hirst, Mr. Lubbock, and Dr. Odling, 



having been nominated by the President, were elected by ballot Auditors 

 of the Treasurer's accounts on the part of the Society. 



Among the presents announced was a Photograph of the Moon, from 

 Mr. Warren De la Rue, respecting which an extract of a letter from the 

 Donor was read as follows : — " Except to remove white and black spots, 

 the photograph is untouched. The size of the original negative is about 

 one inch, and from this was taken, in the first instance, a positive on glass 

 nine inches in diameter. The glass positive was used for the production 

 of four negativ^es, each containing a quarter of the disk. The proper 

 distance for viewing the picture is about six feet, or two diameters." 



VOL. XIII. 3 P 



