The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-17 00:00:00

IVILDMIN WHITEHOUSE, Esq., read a paper on " Ex-
perimenial Observations upon an Electric Cable," giving
it as his opinion that, for commercial purposes, for a sub-
marine telegraphic communication between England and
America, a cable similar to those at present in use would
be quite sufficient fn. the purposes required.
Professor W. THOMSON, in remarking on the paper
just read, expressed some doubts at the results arrived
at by Mr. Whitehouse, assigning as a reason that, while
experimenting upon a short cable, results materially
different, in his opinion, would be obtained when a
lengthened cable was experimented upon.
The following-papers were then read by—
Professor PlAzzr SMITH, on " Solar Refraction."
Professor NicnoL—" Remarks on the Chronology of
the Formations in the Moon, with a notice concerning
the great Breadalbaue Reflector iu the Glasgow Obser-
vatory."
Professor STOKES, F.R.S.,
a Double Object Glass."
Professor W. THOMPSON, "On the Use of Observa-
tions of Terrestrial Temperature for the Investigation
of Absolute Dates i❑ Geology."
Dr. ADAMSON, " On the Fixing of Photograts."
ANTOINE CLAUDET, F q., F.R.S., "On the Poly-
stereopticon ; a new Instrument to exhibit Stereoscopic

" On the Achromatism of

Pictures."
Dr. GREEN, " On a Machine for Polishing the Specula
of Reflecting Telescopes."
A. J. ELLis, Esq., 8.A., " On a more general Theory
of Analytical Geometry, including the Cartesian as a
particular class."

SECTION B.—CHEMICAL SCIENCE.
Dr. LYON PLAYFAIR in the chair.
Baron LIEBIG read a paper " On a new form of Cyanic
Acid." In the course of some experiments on the ful-
minate of mercury, he oberved that that compound,
when kept boiling in water, changed its colours, and
lost its fulminating properties. On examining the change
which had taken place he discovered a new acid, which
had exactly the composition of cyanuric acid. Salts were
produced remarkable for their beauty, and for the dis•
tinctness of their crystalline form.
Professor PENNY read a paper on the phosphorescence
and composition of plate sulphate of potash.
Dr. DAIIBENEY laid on the table some fine weights,
for chemical purposes, made from the new metal formed
from clay, viz., alumnium.
A paper was read by Dr. ROSCOE, which had been pre-
pared by W. Bunsen of Heidelber, and himself, on pho-
to-chemical researches, with particular reference to the
laws of the chemical action of light. Dr. Roscoe stated
that two years had been spent in making experiments.
The results were complicated and abstruse. They will
shortly be published in a scientific journal.
Professor RAMSAY, of Glasgow, F.R.S., read a paper
on a process for obtaining lithograph by photographic
process. The process is as follows common litho-
graph stone is obtained, upon which is poured a solu-
tion of bitumen in sulphuric ether. The ether evapo-
rates, and leaves upon the stone a thin delicate coating
of bitumen. The stone then exhibits a blackish surface

like a plate for etching. A negative picture is then taken
upon glass or wax paper. This is applied in the ordi-
nary manner to the lithographic stone, prepared with a
coating of bitumen, and placed in the light of the sun.
It gives a communication faintly displayed on the bitu-
men ; the negative is removed, and the stone is placed
in a bath of ether. The ether dissolves the whole of the
bitumen not acted upon by the light, and then a picture
is produced in the undissolved, bitumen. The stone may
then be given to the printer. Professor Ramsay received
the thanks of the section.l
Mr. BARNET read a pAper on photographic researches.