4 30 The Royal Soctety Sotvree. 
considered as the most harmless of the patented improve- 
ments, except to the washerwomen, who, it is presumed, 
have been largely called upon to pay royalties to the 
sapient patentees. But even the use of soap or of ‘fatty 
acids with heat, are not altogether harmless. We may re- 
mark (contrary to the experiences of Frémy in his valuable 
researches), that many organic acids do exercise, per sé, a 
very appreciable action in destroying the strength and other 
properties of cellulin:—And markedly, fatty acids in union. 
even with so little alkali as merely to throw them into the 
globular form are, when employed with heat, considerably 
destructive to the strength of fibrous cells. Even the ac- 
tion of neutral soap employed with heat for a sufficient 
length of time produces a perceptible diminution of 
strength. Continued heat has doubtless much to do in induc-. 
ing this loss of strength, but without heat, the effect sought — 
is not accomplished. 
Viewing these results, we cannot look to an alkaline 
process for the perfection of treatment which we require 
for these fibres. 
(To be continued). 
THE ROYAL SOCIETY SOIREE. 
N the 2nd. ult. were collected at Burlington House 
perhaps, the greatest number of scientific and literary 
celebrities that have attended the Soirées of the Royal. 
Society for some time. The greatest object of interest of 
the evening was, the marvellous electro-magnetic machine, 
invented by Mr. Wilde. Rarely have we seen men natu- 
rally so stately and reserved, so excited, and no wonder for. 
never before has artificial light of such power and brilliancy 
been seen. Physicists, electricians, geologists, naturalists 
alike looked on at the brilliant experiment with admiration. 
We had written a description of Mr. Wilde’s wonderful 
machine, but have since seen in the “Standard” an ac- 
count we like so much better than our own, that we do not. 
think we can do bist than suka it at full enti in. 
our paper: é 
