166 ANNIVERSARY R!IEETlNG OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY. March 30 1859. Dr. MILLER,Vice-President in the Chair. The following Report was read by the Secretary ltEYORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL. THECouncil have much pleasure ill congratulating the Fellows upon the prosperous condition of the Society. During the past year the meetings have talreii place regularly at Burlingtoil HOIIISC, on the first and third Thursdays in the month; and judging from the large attendances the Council after two years experience have every reason to bc satisfied with the change of locality and day of meeting whereby the Fellows of the Chemical Society are brought iiito association mitli those of the Royal and Linnaean Societies. During the past ycar tbe Chemical Society litis increased tlic number of its Fellows from 277 to 302 as shewn in the followiiig statement Number of Fellows at last Anniversary March 30 1858 .. 277 Fellows since admitted . 34 Fellows deceased . . .3 Fellows removed in defavlt of subscription . 6 Increase 25- Present nuniber of Pellows 302 Foreign Members . . 24 Associates . 9 L - REPORT OF THE I’RESII)I<ST AKD COUNCIL 1G7 At the last Anniversary tlie number of Associates mas thirtceIl. Of these three have since been elected Fellows and five havc ceased to be Associates in conseqnence of tlie time for which they were elected having expired. Four fresh elections have beer1 made so that the present number of ilssociates is niire. The names of the deceased Fellows are I1u gli L ee P c?.t t in s on F.R.S . Ncwcastle-on-Tyne j Th oru ton J ohi1 11er apat h Bristol; William Gregory M.D. F.R.S.E. Edinburgh. Mr. Pattinson was one of the original Members of the Chemical Society. The following Papers twenty-fdur in number have been read at the Meetings of the Chemical Society between March 30 185$ and March 30 1859. 1. “On a New Method of preparing Propionic Acid :” by Mr. J. A. Waiiklyn. 2. ‘‘On some Compounds of Iodide ad Bromide of Mercury with the Alkaloids :” by Mr. T. B. Groves 3. On the Quantitative Estimation of Sulphides Sulphites Hyposulphites and Sulpliates in the presence of one another :’’ by DIP. J. W. Kynaston. 4. On Nitrate of Amy1 and its Derivatives .” by Dr.I?. Guthric. ‘C ti. ‘‘On a New Method of preparing Peroxide of Chlorine :” by Messrs I?. Crace Calvert and E.Davics. 6. ‘(On the Deposits found in the Chimncys of Gold and Silver Reverberatory Furnaces :” by Mr J. Kapier. 7. ccOii the Formation of Chrysammic Acid by the Action of Nitric Acid on Aporetin:” by Dr. Warren De la &ue and Dr. Hugo &fuller. 8. “On the General Action of Oxidizing Agents on Sulphocyanides and on a special reaction attending the use of Nitric Acid :” by 3Ir.E. A. Hadow. 9. Mineralogical Contributions containing Notices of Meteoric Iron from Zacatecas in Mexico ; Pseudomorphous Cinnabar from Spain; Libethenite from Southern Africa ; Columbite from Greenland :” by Dr. 13ug o 31uI1 er.10. “On the Prodnction of some ncw Ureas :” by Dr. H ofm ilii n. I 1 ‘(On the Analysis of the Water of a Spring at Billingborough in Lincolnshire:” by Mr. Kynilston. 12. ‘‘On Bibroniacctic Lici.l :” by Rlessrs. Perkin and Diippa. 13. cc Oil the halysir of the Water of Holywell North Wales :” liy Mr. James Bsrratt. 1-1. “On the Itelations of thc Atomic Weights of the Elements :” by Mr. J. Mercer. 15. “On thc Detection of Alum in Bread:” by Mr. John H or sky. 16. u On some Minerals containing Arsenic and Sulphur from Chili :” by Mr. F. Field 17. C‘Onthe Prescnce of Ammonia in Ice and on the Action of Ice-water upon Lead :” by Dr. 31ed 1o ck. 18. On Titanic Acid :” by Mr. E.Riley.19. cc On the Conversion of Lactic Acid into Propionic Acid :’’ by Dr. C. Ulrich. 20. “On some Native Combinations of Ode of Mercury and Oxide of Antimony :” by Mr. F. Field. 21. “On the Constitution of Lactic Acid:” by Professor Kolhc. 22. ‘‘On a New Method for the Qmntitative Estimation of Nitric Acid :” Ly Dr. Pugh. 23 ‘(OH Sorbic Acid :” by DP.IIof m mi n. 24 On some Derivatives from the Olefines :?’ by Dr. Guthrie. Discourses ha1e beeii delivercd ‘(On Atoms and Equivalents :” by Dr. Odling. cc On the Air of Towns :” by Dr. R. Angus Smith. (‘On Ammonia :” by Dr. Hofmann. (f On the Composition of the Animal Portion of our Food and on its Ttclation to Bread:” by Dr. Gilbert. ‘l 0:i the Colouring Matters of Madder :” by Dr.E. S ch uuck. It will hz eiideirt froni the abo7.e list thd iiot only 178s chemistry been stcadily progressiug during the past year but tliat contributions of very considerable interest have becii madc to this Society. The papers of Messrs. Perkin & Duppa and of Dr. Ulrich liavc gone far to establish the position of the glycolic and lactic acids in their relations to the fatty acids of the primary series ;while the cnrious results of Mr. TV anld y 11 mliicli resdted in the formation of propionic acid €ram the atstion of carboiiic anhydride upon sodium-ethyl point out a Dew mode of transfer-ring compounds from one homologous group to that iinmc-diately bclom it. Dr. M ofintcnn’s researches on the amnouias and urcas have undergone great elaboration while his investiga- tion of the distillate from the juice of the moantain-ash berry has resulted in the discovcry of a new fatty acid of great interest both in its composition and properties.It is unfortunate that the examination of natural organic pro-dncts has of late been somewhat neglected for by such investiga- tions only can chemists hope to fill up the many gaps that now exist in the series of organic groups the completion of which is esscntial to the comprehension of the collateral relations of organic bodies. The departments of mineral and analytical chemistry havc lilrewise received valuable contributions amoilg which may lie meutioned in particular Dr. Pu gh’s iiigenious process for thc estimation of nitric acid.The Council have also to congratulate the Society upm that great iudication of proapcrity a good balance-sheet. During the past year death has remcved froin among us a man wliosc active labours in scicnce both in its abstract and applied fields have gained for him a wick- spread and well-earned reputation; we allude to Hugh Lee Pattiuson who cspired at his residencc at Scot’s House Newcastle-L~pon-T~ne cn thc 1lth Nov. 1858. Our lamented Fellow was born at Alstoii ithere his parents belonging to the smaller laiidholders of‘that locality had for gene-rations resided and in which placc lie received such an eclucation as its scliool a3ordeil. His however was noi one of t?iose minds wliich are dependcut for their development on the assistance of others.Gifted with grcat powers of obscwation and enclowccl with habits of accurate thought Mr. Pat tinson at an early period in life gave proof of an intellect of no common order. A subordinate appointment at a soapery in Newcastle gavc him an opportunity of pursuing his studies in chemistry to which his attention had been directed by accidentally hearing a lecturc on that science. These studies were pursued with such arclour aiict perseverance that a few years aFher\varcls n~hcii the Cornmissiori ers of Greenwich IIospital required an assay master for their mines ill Alston Moor hL*. Pnttiiisoii TV~Sfouacl by the authoritics to have sufficieiitly qualified hirnsel€ by self-ins truction to nndertalie the very responsible duties of the situatiw.This new field af6orded him ample scope for pursuing his favourite investigations ; and among the varied subjects wliich engaged his attention the process as then carried on for sepa-rating silver from lead occupied a prominent position. Previous to thc discorcry which connects liis xitime iii so distinguished a way with metallurgical science silver was obtained from its associated lead by the conversion of the last-named inetal into litliarge lcxving the pure silver behind which lithnrgc had to bc reconvertcd into lead at considerable expense in each process and with considerable loss of metal. After agreat number of urisiiccessful attempts to effect tlic separation of these substarms by a less circuitous method 14r.P attin son discovereci that a mixture containing only a very few ounces of silver to the too of lead appeared to rcsolve itself into two portions one remaining fluid afcer the other had assumed a solid and granular condition. It occurrecl to him that possibly tliere rnigJit bc a cliffereiicc in the quantity of silver con- tained in these two portions. nepeatecl espcrimcnts established tlic corrcctncss of this supposition and its value 3s applied to sepa-rating the two mctals was at oilcc pcrfecily apparent The process after beiiig matrired was patcntcd 211~1wry scon became csten-sively used as the Pattinso?i yroccss of dcsilwrizinx lead. It3 economy of application was siich that certain lciiids of this metal which previously would not bear tlic cxpcnsc.of having the silver extracted could iiow be profitably handed over lo the refiner and this to such an extent that it has bccii estimated that 54,000 Ounces of silver are now annually added to our productions of this precious metal which previous to Rfr. Patt in son’s discovery woulcl have remained uselessly as an impurity of lead. At a later pcriod JMr Pattinson added to tlic actrantages lic had conferred on applied chemistry by his discovery of a simple means of extracting magnesia from thc limestone rock containing that earth by means of carbonic acid; and afterwards returning to his original field of investigating the properties of lead he discovered a rapid method of producing> direct from lead ore a beautifd pigrricnt now extcii- sively used arid known as Pattinson’s oxychloriclc of lend.The manufacture of these two substances forms the chief produce of a very extensive manufactory> etablislicil by him ad his partners at Washington in the county of Durham. IIis position as one of the proprietors of these works together 11itli bcing largely intc- restcd in those of a still more extensivc clwacter at Felling for the manufslcture of soda alum bicarbonate of soda and other sub-stances gained for MY.Pattinson a very prominent place among the chemical manufacturers of this kingdoin. The scientific pursuits honcver of our deceascd membcr wrc neither exclusively directed to the acquisition of wealth nor to thc founding cf lucrative concerns. A considerable amount of atten-tion was bestr;;ved on the study of electricity and the allicd science of magnetism; and it mas by his acute observztion thLt the develop- ment of frictional electricity was first detected in high pressure steam when escaping from a small aperture.Subsequently he devoted much time to the study of astronomy and at great expensc ercctcd at Scot’s House a very powerful telescope equa- torially mounted an instrument which wm cmployeil by Professor Smythe in his observations on the Peak of Tcneriffe. The Itoyal the Astronomical and other learned Societies recog- nized the scientific attainments of Mr. Pattinson by clecting him a Fellow of thcir respective Institutions. Thornton John Hcrapath yoiingest son of‘William Hera-path Esq. F.C.S. kc. Analytical Chemist and senior Magistrate of Bristol TI~~S bom in that city in the year 1830.His chemical education was received in his father’s laboratory and his labours commenced at ;Imry early age At thirteen lie began analysis; his first published paper was printed when hc vas sixteen and his first course o€ public lectures was given when he was eighteen. He worked incessantly not only in Chemistry but also in Microscopy Botany Entomology Natural History and Philosophy. At the age of twenty-six he accepted the appointnient of chief chemist to the Mexican and South American Smelting Company for threc ycars during which time he resided at Herradura near Coquimbo in Chili and in the intervals of his duties pursued his researches into the natural productions maniicrs habits &c.of the inhabitants sending home drawings specimens or descriptions of everything he thought worthy of note. At the end of his engagement he proposed visiting Iris native land; but on his voyage home he was imfwtunatcly drx-;;.ncd on Deccmbcr Oth 1858 at the agc of twenty-eiglit. His pcrson as tall and very thin ; his cliaractcr trntliful honcst aid colzscientions. Mind-hearted and gcnerous hc "3s a univcrml favourit2 wlizreve;. lie wcnt. As a proof of his adour i:i scicnce IIC imile a long series oi c:ipzriments upon tlic physiclogical eiTects of scvcral poiscris (plrcspiiwctted oil nus-~ vomica hc.) ~qionhis OI system cortinu:rig them as far as they could be eiictured. He ra.3 an indef'ttigablc coiltyibutor to cbc-itiical scicnce liming ~JLhhh!d110 fcn.zr tliari sixty-one papers sc~e~al of wliicli appeared in the Journal of tliis Socicty.At tlic piiotl of his death he was engaged in thc prodxiion of a scrics cf tnbles of specific gavity hardncsx boiling and melting points SoluLiiity kc. or" organic and mineral substances together with a list of all lrriown organic substames; thc manuscript of which he h.s left in a state ready for p-dlic~tion. The late Professor Gregory of Edinburgh mhose death occurred on the 24th of April 1858 wzs the fourth son of Dr. James Gregory who for a period of thirty-onc yeass discliarged the duties o€ Professor of the Practice of P1ijsic in the University cf Edi~h~irgh.William Gregory was born in Dcccmber 1803 and was therefore fifty-four at the time of.his cleath. He was a graduatc in medicine of the Edinburgh school but had no heredi-trxp fondncss for tlic practics of the pro€ession iii which so many of his ancestors had distinguished tlicmselves. On the contrary at the period of his graduation his niiiid mas made up to follow chciuistry. His brotlicr J aincs Cranrford who lind previously talccn the Edinburgh medical degree-and who continned in prsctice till 1832 mhcn he JIM cut off by typlius-mcl Duiicaii IVLO at the time of his death was a Fellow of Triiiitp College Cambridge were both distiuguishcd for their taleiits and acquire-mcnts. Of Williaixi it may be ayerrecl that such was his gcnius tlislt he mould probably 1iave bcconie distinguished in aiiy depart-incnt of scieiice he might have choscn to pursue.('IIis low of' science," says llis distiiiguislicd relatire Dr. Alison "nianifestccl itself at pn early pcriod. He lid bc~ilpresent zt ail introductory lecture by Dr. Hope which was illustraicd by striking espe1-i-nicnts. Several of tlicsc expcriiuciits hz contrived to repeat by means of a rude apparatus mhich he constructed for the pnrpose. From that time he had dmap before him the object of ambition which he ultimately attaiued." Soon Pfter his graduation Pr G~cgo~y \:.cut tothe Contilielit REPORT OF TIlE PRCSIDENT ASD COI‘SCXL. 173 and thcre in tlie laboratories of foreign chemists pezfecterl his acquaintance mith the practical details of his f‘wourite science after which 11s returned to Edinburgh arid commenced public iife as an Extra-acahnical Lecturer on Chemistry.Whilst so occupiccl -as he was wont to relate-his chcmical career was well nigh sudclenly terminated by tlie accidental explosion of a large qiiiliitity of cldoyide of nitrogen in a basin. The late professor was remark-able foor his coolness and sclf-possession uiicler cii’cumstances drhidi moulcl liave been to say the least of it trying to many. 811 GX occasion duriiig his lectare a tube of peroxide of chlorinc bnrst in his liaiid and 8 fragment of glass elitering his eye cawed th aqueous humonr to escc2:3e-ne~-cPtlicl~~c~~ he proczccled with his lecture and fiiiislieil it. When Profewer Graham succeeded Dr. Edwnrd Turner in Uiiiversity College Loiidoi Di*.Gregory was apyoitited to succeed the present Master of the ?J.int in the Audcrsoninn Uni-ycrsity Glasgorr. Soon after his rmoval to that place a tempting opening in Dublin induced him to go to Ireland and comniciicc lecturing in on one of her rnctiopolitan medical schools. In 1839 he vas appointed Profcssor of 3ledicinc and Clreniistry in ICiug’s Collcge Abcrdecu and tlius became the occupant of (z chair which mcm than one of his distinguished nucestors hni ~.Irccdy filled.” In 1844 hc was clccted by the patrons to s?xccccd Dr. €1op e in the X~lix~burgli University in w1iicli collcge lie continueJ Professor of Chemistry up to the time of his death. In his system of chemical teac1iii:g Dr. Gregory assumed ths impossihility of doing justice to the sulijects-IIcat Light Elc-tricity and Magnetism-and though froin liis education tatcs arid philoso$iical capaciiy fully qualified to teach and illustrate cazh of these he considered tlie study of the irni)ouderal~les in a COLIP..~ of chemistry-propw m encronchmcnt on the time already too shorb in a university scssion.fm discusshg the chciniatry of th~ ponclerable elements. So fully hcmcvcr mcs lie dive to tlrc importance to the elieinica.1 stitdcnt of a mox than general know-ledge of these qpits thtit lie lmd devised and would liar1 his health permitted have given a separate and complete COUI’.;~of lectures upon each. “Wc had formed phiis,” says his biographer already quoted which Iiact liis licalth permitted would !:a\ c resulted in a cowse of chemical iiistrnction not surpassed in est;.iit and iinporisiice in any siiigle school in Europ.” In his manner of teaching Dr.Gregory mas simple precise 174 ANXIVERSARY BIEI!,i‘Ih’G 0%’T€XE CIXENICAL SOCIETY. and accurate. By means of a memory singularly retentive he could at any moment cover tlie boards of liis lecture-room with the most complicated organic formnlae. Having early in life attached liimself as a working chemist to the organic department of the science it was not surprising that as LZ lecturer he shodd principally delight in the delivery of the organic portizn of his course. His organic lectures were his favourites aid so efficiently was he prepared by past experimental experience and by daily reading for the enunciation of cven the latest discoveries that when lecturing on Organic Chemistry he did not employ even the scanty notes which it was his hnbit to make USC of when lecturing on inorganic subjects.As a teacher he was simple and errrnest exhibiting at all times that calm dignity and gentlemanly bearing which gave weight to liis prelections and impressed his students with coiifidence and respect. “As a scientific man,” Dr. Balfour has rightly remarked iii a bio- graphical sketch of his former colleague read to the Botanical Socie+y of Edinburgh ‘‘ Dr. TVilliam Gregory xorkecl more for utility as a teacher than for fame as a discovercr.” Amongst his published paFers may be noticed Investigation of Fat from a Putrid Aniilnal Subject ; Preparation of Hippuric Acid ; Preparation of Creatine ; On the Presence of Nickel and Cobalt in Commercial Oxiclc of Manganese ; Purification of Chloroform ;Application of Ace..tate of Lead in Sugar-refinery ; On the Ammoniacal Compounds of Cobalt ; On a Peculiar Benzoate of Potash ; On Pyroxanthine ; On the Decomposition Products of Uric Acid; On the Sponta- neous Decomposition of Allosan ;On a New Magnesian Phosphate. Besides these and many more investigations of tlie same kind Dr. Gregory contributcd to practical science improved processes for the preparation of hydrochloric acid muriate of morphia and oxide of silver. The complete knowledge which he possessed of all that had been done in chemistry up to the contents of the very last Journal ; his familiar acqunintancc with the modern languages ; and his talent for collecting and condensing what was really of scientific importance made him invaluable as a writer.He more-over wrote with ease and coulcl even under the pressure of other business write off pagcs of manuscript composition for which fern corrections were afterwards required. His class text-book was his r‘ Outlines ”-a work which has gone through several editions and mhich whilst it contains an extraordinary aniouxit of informa- REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND COUKCIL 1’75 tion in a compratively- small space is rernarkdde for the sirn- plicity of its arrangement and the clearness with wlkich its state-ments are expressed. From an ctlrly pcriod of life he attaclied himself to Liebig; their scientific relations were soon strengthened by personal friendship aiid their affectionatc intercoursc con-tiniiecl unabated till the last.Dr. Gregory assisted Liebig in several of his courses of experiments and some of his most important publications he at the request of his friend translated and cdited in this country. ‘‘It mas,” says Dr. Alison Ctunfortunatc for Dr. Gregory that though a man of large make and capable during youth of much exertion botli bodily ad mental he hnd neither opportunity nor disposition to take so much muscular exercise as would probably have suited his physical constitution. 111 consequence also of an attack of fcvcr in 1826 he became liable during the remainder of his life to smerc pain aid swelling in one of his legs on any niiusnd exertion.” Owing to the state of his health latterly he found it absolutely ncccssary to confine himself to siicli scientific investigations as required neither stzznding nor walking froni place to place.This sprcics of research the microscope afforded him the means of pursuing and in it lie engaged with all ilie enthusiasm of his ardent nature. Aided by his accomplished friend Dr Greville Professor Gr cgory enriched the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh with a bmutifully illustrated and laborious memoir oil thc Diatomncez. He vras in constant correspondence with microscopists iii evcry part of the world. As a friend Dr Gregory was sincerity itself. His unselfish nature was opposed to the nequisitioii of any personal advantage which mould inconveniencc anothcr and many a circumstance attributed by others to indolence on his part was really caused by tlie gciierosity of his nature.Few applied to him for relief and went empty away. Of course his generosity mas in certain cases abused. After a painful illness of considerable duration he died of it somemhat complicated disorder leaving behind him to practical scieiicc his discovzries ; to its literature his writings ; and to his frieuds-and thy are many -the mmorj of a man whose profes- sionrkl accomplishments mwe rendered more valuable by the modest graces of his private character. DRS. THE TREASURER IN ACCOUKT WITH TlIF CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. CRS. 1858. g Y. ti. April 1. To Cash in hand .............................Ly General Printing ...................... 15 19 1 June 22. ,,Rent from Ethnological Society to March Editor of Jonid's Sdary ..........&50 185i.. .............................. 3 , Honorariuiu ....-10 2uly 21. ,)Half-yearly Dividend on $1 50 Three per cent. 60 0 0 Consols ............................. ,9 Printing Journal ...................... IGG 1 0 1839. , Librarian's Salary ..................... 15 0 G Jan. 22. ..Removal Fund ........................ .. Proceedings of Royal Foci+ ............ 20 0 0 Feb. 4. Dividend on 21550 Three per cent. Consols ),Magazines ........................... 2 19 0 March 25. ,,Sundry Receipts froui 1st April lS53 to .. Subscriptioil to Cdvenclidi Ss'o,*iety........ 110 25th March 1859 as below :-, T.Hur AttendanceSCle~iIillglohIarch,lSX 35 0 0 Life Compositions................$390 * >9 9 , to 3larc11 IS59 20 0 0 Admission Fees ................. 72 , , Petty Expenscs (as pc*r Gook). ..... 4 19 9& ,,Subscriptions due previous to 1555 :-.. Gate Porter .......................... 110 Resident Members .............. 39 , Tea Expenses.. ....................... 11 13 !j Non-resident do. .............. 24 .. Stanips Stationery a:id Podages ........ 4 16 5 77 ,,Subscriptions for 1856 :-Collector's Coiriniissioii ................ 3; ;; Resident Members .............. G4 , Clerk.. .............................. Non-resident do. .............. 67 ,? 77 , Iron Safe ............................ 2 7 1') ,)Subscriptions for 1859 :-ii >9 9 , Furniture ............................57 16 c; Resident Members .............. 188 Son-resident do. .............. 60 704 0 0 4 32 8. d. 4;o 7 o! Feb. 4. , Pnrc?iascof8100,3 percent. Consols 9; 2 6 Xarch 11. ,7 ,> 9 1 ) 36 7 (; 191 10 0 i -i3y '13rlance :-25 At Coiitts aid Co. .............. 502 13 7 Yf 7) 7) Cash ...................... 16 11 9 510 5 4 I I ;L-1181 2 +I;[ b :IS1 2 '1; ASSETS. 3 s. tl. Esclusive of Library Museum and Furniture. Examined and fGund correct E. 31'. BRAYLEY 1 Balancein Cadi ....................... 519 5 4 I'NILLPJ. CHABOT M.A. -~MUJ,S. Invested in 3 per Cent. Consols .......... 350 0 6 C;K:OEGE C. FOSTER. J SSG'J 5 4 Cocdon 29th Xarch 1559.