30 



formed together, or in other words, that one atom of rubian, by its 

 decomposition, gives rise to all five at the same time ; but that, from 

 the composition of these substances as compared with that of rubian, 

 it follows, that the decomposition affects three separate atoms of ru- 

 bian. One of these atoms loses 14 atoms of water, and is converted into 

 alizarine. The second loses 12 atoms of water, and then splits up 

 into verantine and rubiretine. The third takes up the elements of 

 water, and then splits up into rubianine and sugar. Whether it 

 would be possible to confine the decomposition of rubian entirely 

 to one of these processes, or whether all three are essential, he con- 

 siders is a question of the highest importance, not so much in a 

 theoretical as in a practical point of view ; and that should any che- 

 mist succeed in changing rubian entirely into alizarine, he would 

 be the means of giving a great stimulus to many branches of manu- 

 facture and adding largely to the national wealth. 



February 20, 1851. 



LIEUT.-COL. SABINE, V.P. and Treas., in the Chair. 



The Chairman stated, that Mr. John Scott Russell, who ceased 

 at the last Anniversary to be a Fellow of the Society in consequence 

 of the non-payment of his subscription, had applied to the Council 

 to be reinstated, alleging that his numerous avocations and absence 

 from England caused him to overlook the fact of his subscription 

 not having been paid. The Chairman therefore gave notice, that, 

 in accordance with the statutes, the question of the readmission of 

 Mr. Russell into the Society would be put to the vote at the en- 

 suing meeting. 



A paper was in part read, entitled " On Periodical Laws dis- 

 coverable in the mean effects of the larger Magnetic Disturbances," 

 by Lieut.-Col. Sabine, V.P. and Treas. R.S., &c. 



February 27, 1851. 



SIR FREDERICK POLLOCK, Lord Chief Baron, V.P., 

 in the Chair. 



The question of Mr. J. S. Russell's re-admission into the Society 

 was put to the vote and carried. 



Lieut.- Colonel Sabine's paper, entitled " On Periodical Laws dis- 

 coverable in the mean effects of the larger Magnetic Disturbances," 

 was concluded. 



In a discussion of the two-hourly observations of the magnetic 

 declination, made in 1841 and 1842 at the observatories of Toronto 

 and Hobarton, published in 1843 and 1845, the author expressed an 

 opinion that themagneticdisturbances,of largeamountand apparently 

 irregular occurrence, commonly called magnetic storms or shocks, 



