The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-26 00:00:00

Organic Chemistry,

At the Royal Institution, yesterday afternoon,
Dr. Frankland commenced a course of twelve lec-
tures on organic chemistry, which relates to that
class of compounds usually produced by the action
of the vitrl principle in plants and animals. The
elementary constituents of organic substances are
limited to four, viz., hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and
nitrogen, and of these four elementary bodies, com-
bined together in different proportions, there are
formed the innumerable class of compounds called
organic. In some of these, as in water, only two
of the elements are combined--hydrogen and
oxygen ; in others, as in wax and paraffin, oxygen,
hydrogen, and carbon are combined together ; while
in such substances as the white of egg, which more
closely approach the products of animal life, nitro-
gen is added to the three other elements. Extremely
simple as the constituent composition of organic
substances is, when they are resolved into their
ultimate elements, yet the different proportions in
which they specifically combine, or the definite pro-
portions in which the atoms chemically unite, are so
numerous that the nomenclature of organic che-
mistry has become almost a mass of confusion. Dr.
Franklanddid:not proceed far into the consideration
of the radicles which constitute secondary elemen-
tary bodies, but he contented himself in the intro-
ductory lecture with showing, by movable
diagrams, the combination of some of the atoms of
hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon, and with exhibiting
a-few of the remafkable changes produced in a com-
pound body by the addition or abstraction of an
atom. of one of the elements of which it is composed.
Thus the gaseous compound of oxygen and carbon
produced by the perfect combustion of charcoal is
carbonic acid, which extinguishes flame ; but the
abstraction of one atom of oxygen converts the
compound into an inflammable gas that burns with
a beautiful blue flame. The altered condition of
hydrogen was also shown in compounds that possess
different atoms of that element ; and in noticing the
organic hydrogens—methyl, ethyl, and anyl—Dr.
Frankland exhibited several brilliant experiments,
showing that hydrogen, which, when mixed with
carbon in the proportion to form the inflammable
gas of coal mines, requires a high temperature for
its inflammation, becomes in some combinations
with carbon so highly inflammable that it bursts
into flame the instant it comes in contact with the
atmosphere. The sparks from the steel mill, which
instrument was used in coal mines before the inven-
tion of the i)avy lamp, will: not ignite the carbu-
retted hydrogen that abounds in those mines ; but
it was shown that the sparks would readily set fire
to hydrogen when united with carbon in other pro-
portions. Numerous other interesting experiments
were exhibited to illustrate the changes produced by
combinations in various proportions of the same
simple elements. Among the subjects to be noticed
in the next lecture will be the production of the
artificial flavour of fruits by the same means.

In discount circles to-day the favourable tone of
the produce markets has continued to make progress.
The brokers, who have a large supply of capital at
their command, appear now disposed to accept low
rates, and first-class bills have been negotiated at
34 s per cent.

HER MAJESTY APISCICULTURIST.—Some months
since General Seymour, ranger of Windsor-park,
sent for Mr. Frank Buckland, by her Majesty's command,
to ask him to superintend the laying down of ova in the
royal demesne. Mr. Buckland has accordingly had a num-
ber of boxes containing eggs of several thousands of the
great lake trout, etc., placed in the waters in Windsor-park,
under the care of Mr. Menzies, and he hopes ere long to
breed salmon in these waters, whence they will be turned
into the Thames.