SODA. 
175 
as well as fishermen's incomes. When fish are scarce prices are 
high, and a small quantity has to be carried; but when over- 
plentiful, many tons are not sent off at all. Adopting this 
principle, really a sliding scale, is only carrying out the principle 
already accepted for all rates; viz., that the cost of carriage 
must be in proportion to the cost of the commodity carried. 
CONVERSAZIONE. 
(January 8th, 1885.) 
For account of the proceedings at this Conversazione, see Report 
of the Secretaries. 
SODA. 
SYLLABUS OF LECTURE BY R. OXLAND, Ph.D., F.C.S. 
(Read January 15th, 1885.) 
Properties and uses of soda explained and illustrated. In the 
early part of the present century obtained only from barilla. Le 
Blanc's process of manufacture from common salt a result of the 
French Revolution. The manufacture of chlorine a consequence, 
with an enormous impetus to the production of lead, manganese, 
sulphur, soap, soda, glass, and other products. The wet process of 
extracting copper, gold, and silver, an incident of the use of 
sulphur ores. The substitution of the ammonia process for that of 
Le Blanc. Will it issue in the manufacture of ammonia from the 
nitrogen of the atmosphere 1 
