911 



4. " On the gaseous transformation of Water, by means of a pile 

 in two separate compartments having no other electric communica- 

 tion between them besides conducting wire& of copper, and giving, in 

 the one oxygen alone, and hydrogen alone in the other." By M. 

 Daniel Paret. Communicated by Thomas Bell, Esq., Sec. R.S. &c. 



After premising that, at the present time, it is the generally re- 

 ceived opinion that water is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen, 

 the author states that he now brings forward an experiment v/hich 

 proves, not that water is a compound, but really a simple element, 

 the generator of oxygen and hydrogen, since, without being decom- 

 posed, a volume of water being given, it may be entirely transformed 

 at will, either into oxygen or into hydrogen. Thus, he considers, it 

 is no longer a decomposition of pre-existing elements v/hich is ef- 

 fected, but really a gaseous transformation into two " sub-elements" 

 which are formed at the expense of the water, by the transposition 

 of its combined or coercitive electricity which places itself in excess 

 in the water which becomes oxygen, at the expense of another 

 volume which becomes hydrogen. He considers that this will, no 

 doubt, appear very extraordinary, but that nevertheless it is uovi^ 

 " un fait accompli et acquis a la science." 



After describing the experiments which he considers support his 

 -doctrine, the author concludes by observing that these experiments 

 prove, — 1st, that contrary to the indefensible theory, a compound 

 electric fluid which is decomposed and recomposed, there is a true 

 transfer of fluid in the current, which besides would be sufficiently 

 evident by its motive power. 2nd. That the electric fluid is really 

 the coercitive agent of cohesion. 3rd. That water is not a com- 

 pound, is not an oxide, but truly a first element, the generator of 

 oxygen and of hydrogen. 4th. In fine, it reveals a power unknown 

 until now, and that very likely many other bodies are in the same 

 case as water. 



In a second communication the author states that he had occa- 

 sionally met with some anomalous results on repeating his expe- 

 riments, and then points out how these are to be obviated. 



January 31, 1850. 

 LIEUT.-COLONEL REID, R,E., Vice-President, in the Chair. 

 The following papers w^ere read : — 



i. "An account of a remarkable Aurora Borealis seen at ^Montreal 

 on the 1 3th of August 1 849." By Mr. Thomas McGinn. Commu- 

 nicated by Thomas Bell, Esq., Sec. R.S., ore. 



The author having witnessed a singular aurora on the 13th of 

 August, in this communication gives a description of the phasno- 

 menon. He states that, on the evening in question, the whole north- 

 ern hemisphere*was screened by thick dark clouds, which, though 

 very small, were closely packed together. Shortly after sunset (7^ 

 34™) it became quite dark, and at 8 o'clock the existence of the 



