PROCEEDINGS 



OF 



THE ROYAL SOCIETY. 



1839. No. 38. 



April 11, 1839. 



The MARQUIS of NORTHAMPTON, President, in the Chair. 



Lieutenant H. Alexander Ormsby, I. N., was balloted for, and 

 duly elected into the Society. 



A paper was read, entitled, " On a new equi-atomic compound of 

 Bicyanide with Binoxide of Mercury." By James F. W. Johnston, 

 Esq., F.R.S. 



In this paper an account is given of the properties of a salt, ob- 

 tained by agitating with red oxide of mercury a small proportion of 

 hydrocyanic acid, and which the author finds to be distinguished 

 from the bicyanide of mercury by its sparing solubility in cold water, 

 by the strong alkaline reaction exhibited by its solution, (a property 

 which indicates an excess of mercury,) and by its susceptibility of 

 detonation by heat, depending on this excess being in the state of 

 an oxide, and on the action of the oxygen on a portion of the car- 

 bon of the cyanogen it contains, and the presence of which is shown 

 by the disengagement of hydrocyanic acid gas when acted on by 

 hydro sulphuric and hydrochloric acids. 



Tlie analysis of this salt, given by the author, shows it to con- 

 sist of 



Carbon ; 5-203 



Nitrogen 6*025 



Oxygen 3*098 



Mercury 85-674 



100. 



The formula of which composition is as follows : 

 Hg. Cy.,. + Hg. O.,. 



April 18, 1839. 



JOHN WILLIAM LUBBOCK, Esq., V.P. and Treas., 

 in the Chair. 



John Thomas Graves, Esq., M.A., and the Rev. Samuel Roffey 

 Maitland, were balloted for, and duly elected into the Society. 



