28 
distilled to 850% a brown resinous substance remained in the 
flask; the distillate was too small to fractionate. The bichro¬ 
mate solution was filtered ; a cjuantity of dark green nodules 
were obtained, which were composed of the acid united, with the 
chromic oxide. These were powdered, and boiled on a water 
bath in a flask with soda, then filtered; the filtrate was a dark 
brown colour, ft was rendered acid by hydro-chloric acid, which 
precipitated a white curdy powder, which was collected on a 
niter, washed wdth cold water, then re-dissolved in carbonate of 
sodium, filtered, re-precipitated by hydro-chloric acid, filtered, 
washed, dissolved on the filter with boiling alcohol, and precipi¬ 
tated by hot water, filtered and washed with cold water, again 
re-dissolved in boiling alcohol, boiled with animal charcoal to 
remove traces of colour, filtered, precipitated by boiling water, 
filtered, washed, dried. The acid thus formed is precisely 
identical vcith that obtained by Dr. Zincke by the oxidation, 
with the same re-agents, of Benzyl-toluol; it occurs as white 
silky plates which melt at 194% can be sublimed, and forms 
crystalline salts. The formation of the same acid from these 
two hydro-carbons shows that the relative positions of the re¬ 
placed atoms of hydrogen in the second benzol ring are the same; 
and also that these hydro-carbons follow the same law of oxida¬ 
tion as the aromatic hydro-carbons which have one atom of 
hydrogen replaced by a hydro-carbon radical of the fatty series, 
in which case benzoic acid is always formed, the length of the 
side chain making no difference. It will also be observed that 
these complicated hydro-carbons and acids can be built up 
synthetically from the simple elements—carbon and hydrogen. 
The paper was illustrated by diagrams from the pencil of Mr. 
Wakefield. 
November 5th.— The Chairman (W. Gray, Esq.,) said the 
collection of antiquities which lay on the table was not an ordi¬ 
nary donation. It had been presented by their respected vice- 
president the Bev. J. Kenrick, and represented the labour of a 
York antiquary, the late Mr. James Cook. 
Mr. Ford said it would be right for the meeting to depart a 
little from the ordinary practice of combining together the whole 
