252 Mr. C. Tomlinson on the Action of Nuclei. [Jan. 28, 



distillate might be expected, I asked my friend Mr. Hatcher, late of King's 

 College, to perform some experiments for me. The following are selected 

 from his results. 



1 . A glass flask with a wide neck was filled about one-third with distilled 

 water ; it was boiled over a gas-burner, rapidly weighed, and replaced over 

 the burner. After boiling twenty minutes, it was weighed again. The 

 flask was once more filled to the original quantity, and some bits of coke 

 were added ; it was boiled and weighed as before, the gas-flame remaining 

 unaltered all the time. 



Results. — Water boiled away in the first trial (water only) 995 grains, 

 in the second trial (with coke) 1130 grains. 

 Ratio of products, as 100 : 113*6. 



2. Water was made to distil freely from a still, and the quantity col- 

 lected in fifteen minutes was weighed. A few pieces of coke were then 

 aided to the water in the still, and the distillate collected again during 

 fifteen minutes. 



Results. — Distillate from water only, 293 grains ; from water with coke, 

 310 grains. 



Ratio of products, as 100 : 105'8. 



3. A similar trial was made with common wood-charcoal ; but the vessel 

 having been made much cleaner by the action of the first boiling, the water 

 boiled irregularly, with bumping. The addition of the charcoal made the 

 boiling tranquil and regular. 



Results. — Distillate from water only, 262 grains ; from water with 

 charcoal, 334 grains. 



Ratio of results, as 100 : 12/-4. 



January 28, 1869. 

 Lieut. -General SABINE , President, in the Chair. 



Pursuant to notice given at the last Meeting, Sir Henry Holland pro- 

 posed, and Lord Justice Bovill seconded The Most Noble the Marquis of 

 Salisbury for election and immediate ballot. 



The ballot having been taken, the Marquis of Salisbury was declared 

 duly elected. 



Pursuant to notice given at the last Meeting, the question of the read- 

 mission of Sir John Macneill and Mr. Edward Solly was put to the vote, 

 and the ballot having been taken, those two gentlemen were declared read- 

 mitted into the Society. 



The following communications were read : — 



