70 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
Four Analyses of Nickel Cakes . — Metallic nickel 98*25 per cent., 
98*82 per cent., 98*83 per cent., 98*37 per cent. I am not able at 
present to give greater detail in the last analysis, the difference, 
however, is made np of some carbon, iron, and silicon. 
Of recent years a process has been patented to make nickel malle- 
able, and render the metal suitable for rolling and stamping. This 
process consists in adding to the fused nickel contained in a crucible 
a small quantity of metallic magnesium, the effect of this, according 
to some authorities, is to deprive the nickel of a minute quantity of 
oxygen. The metal that this sheet was made from, and the various 
nickel articles here, have been manufactured from nickel treated in 
this way. The importance of malleable nickel for many purposes 
in the arts is very great. 
Pure nickel is not a readily oxidisable metal, and its resistance to 
the action of the atmosphere, and also to the action of both fresh 
and salt water, admits of its being ranked in these respects with the 
precious metals. 
This valuable property of not being readily tarnished or oxidised 
offers special inducements to employ nickel for the exposed parts of 
machinery and engines, for surgical, optical, and scientific instru- 
ments and apparatus, for artistic and ornamental work of all sorts, 
in jewellery, and in a great variety of other ways. 
Another important property of nickel is its whitening effect upon 
copper when alloyed with it, forming the well known “ German ” or 
“ nickel silver.” Some very beautiful alloys of nickel, copper, and 
tin have been quite recently obtained, and these alloys have received 
the name of “ New Caledonia silver.” This alloy is peculiarly white 
in colour, whiter indeed than pure nickel itself. It is also yery 
malleable. I have obtained specimens of sheets made of this com- 
position, and likewise of some articles, which may be of interest to 
this Society, made from the same alloy. 
Another very important use of nickel is in the sheathing of ships; 
perhaps sufficient trials have not yet been made to speak con- 
fidently, but I may perhaps be allowed to quote the remarks of a 
gentleman present at the docking of a ship on which some experi- 
ments had been made. He was present at the docking of the 
“ Roma,” and writes as follows: — 
“ The whole ship, as far as it had been in the water, was covered 
