Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society

&

PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY,

HELD AT PHILADELPHIA,

PROMOTING USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.

VOL. II.

JANUARY, 1841, TO JUNE, 1843.

-"**/ 9^® *+*+**~~

PHILADELPHIA :

1R44,

Reprinted with the permission of the
American Philosophical Society

KRAUS REPRINT CORPORATION
1967

I'RINII l> IN I HI I 'Nil I 1 1 STATES I 'I \MI-RK A

NOTICE.

Devises and Legacies to the Society should be made in its corporate
title — "The American Philosophical Society, held at Philadelphia,
for Promoting Useful Knowledge."

Donations intended for the Society, should be addressed to " The
American Philosophical Society ; care of the Librarian, Philadel-
phia." If left with any of the following named persons, who have
kindly offered their services on behalf of the Society, they will bo
promptly forwarded :

Lonoon. William Vaughan, Esq., Fenchurch Street.

Paris. Hector Bossange, Esq., Bookseller, Q,uai Voltaire.

Hamburg. John Cuthbert, Esq., Consul of the United States.

Leghorn. John B. Sartori, Esq., Merchant.

PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Vol. II. JANUARY, 1841. No. 15.

Stated Meeting, January 1.

Present, twenty members.

Dr. Patterson, Vice President, in the Chair.

The judges of the annual election, held this day, reported
that the following officers had been chosen for the present
year: —

President.
Peter S. Du Ponceau, LL.D.

Vice Presidents.
Nathaniel Chapman, M.D.,
Joseph Hopkinson, LL.D.,
Robert M. Patterson, M.D.

Secretaries.
Franklin Bache, M.D.,
John K. Kane,

Alexander Dallas Bache, LL.D.,
Robley Dunglison, M.D.

Counsellors for Three Years.
Robert Hare, M.D...
William Hembel,
Charles D. Meigs, M.D.,
Henry Vethake, LL.D.

Counsellor for One Year,
(In the place of William H. Keating, deceased.)

Joseph Henry, LL.D.

Curators.
John P. Wetherill,
Isaac Hays, M.D.,
Franklin Peale.

Treasurer.
John Vaughan.

A

A letter was received from the Minister of the Interior of
Holland, in behalf of the Royal Library of the Hague, acknow-
ledging the receipt of the Transactions of the Society.

The following donations were received: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Reports of a Committee formed in Calcutta for investigating the Re-
sources of India, with reference to Coal and Iron. Calcutta,
1838. — From the Asiatic Society of Bengal.

Asiatic Researches of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Vol. XIX.
Part II. 4to. Calcutta, 1839. — From tin same.

Annual Report of H. R. Schoolcraft, Acting Superintendent of Indian
Affairs for Michigan, to !'. II. Crawford, Esq., Commissioner of
Indian Affairs. Detroit, 1840. — From the Author.

A Catalogue of the Plants found in the Vicinity of Milwaukie, Wis-
consin Territory. By J. A. Lapham. Milwaukie, 1838. — From
tin A nt /tor.

The South Western Journal. Nos. 1 to 15 inclusive \, .. ."> want-
ing). Natchez, 1-:17, 1838 From Mr. C. G. Forshey.

Traite Elementaire d'Astronomie Physique, par J. I'>. Biot; avec des
Additions d'Astronomie Nautique, par M. de Rossel. '■* Vols.
8vo. Paris, L810, 1811. — From Mr. Vaughan.

A Treatise on the Administration of the finances of France, trans*
lated from the French of M. Necker. By Thomas Mortimer.
3 Vols. Bvo. London, 1785. — From the same.

Nouveau Dictionnaire Universe! ds Synonymes de la Langue Fran-
caise, par F. Guizot. 2 Vols. Bvo. Paris, L822. — From tin some.

L'Art de parler el d'ecrire correctement la Langue Francaise; ou
Grammaire Philosophique el Litteraire, par I'Abbe Levizac 2

V( 3. Bvo. Paris. — From tin some.

II toire d'Haiti depuis la decouverte jusque 1824, 6poque des der-
iii' r- \ il itions entre la France et le Gouvernemenl rlaitien,

I > - 1 1 Chat Paris, L825. — From tin same.

Precis rlistorique di V ociations entre la France el St. I> mingue,
suivi d< justificatives et d'une notice Biographique sur le

« ;« in r.il Boyer, par M. Waller. Paris, 1820. — From the souk.

Delicise Cobresianee: Catalogue of Mr. Library of .Natural

Id tory. -' Vols. Bvo. Uigu L782. -From tin same.

i OB hi i: < \ B1 n i: P.
\ Lithographic Drawing of the Statue of Sir Isaac Newton, bj Rou-
lulliae. — From tin Rev. C. Turner. F.R.S.

The Committee, consisting of Mr. Lea, Dr. Wood, and Dr.
Coates, to whom was referred, on the 18th of December last,
the continuation of Mr. Nuttall's communication, entitled "On
the Corymbiferae, collected on a tour across the continent of
North America," reported in favour of its publication in the
Transactions, which was ordered accordingly. The Commit-
tee of Publication was authorized to print it continuously with
Mr. Nuttall's former paper on the same subject.

Dr. Emerson reverted to the oral communication made at the
last meeting in regard to the evolution of electricity from steam.

He was pleased to find the results of more recent investigations, and
especially of the experiments of the gentleman who introduced the sub-
ject before the Society, sustaining the view he had taken in his lectures on
Meteorology, delivered before the Franklin Institute in the year 1834.
In these lectures he had expressed his opinion that the electricity de-
veloped in thunder storms, was to be regarded rather as an accom-
paniment than a cause of the storm. The vapour condensed was de-
rived from the spot where the storm prevailed, and the electricity was
set free during the condensation of the vapour, in a manner similar
to the evolution of latent heat. Dr. Emerson read a portion of the
lecture delivered before the Franklin Institute at the time alluded to,
as more fully explanatory of his views relative to the evolution of
electricity during the condensation of vapour.

Professor H. D. Rogers communicated some observations
upon the geological structure of Berkshire, Mass., and the neigh-
bouring parts of New York, which had been made by his
brother, Professor W. B. Rogers, and himself, in the month of
August last; and indicated the theory by which they concurred
in explaining the phenomena which characterize that region.

Professor Rogers adverted to the fact, already noticed by geolo-
gists, that all the strata between the Hoosac mountain and the Hudson
river, hold an inverted order, the newer being found beneath the older
rocks. He exhibited drawings of these strata, establishing the exist-
ence of numerous closely folded anticlinal and synclinal axes; and
deduced the conclusion by a train of reasoning, that the inverted dip
of the rocks at the surface is the result of a folding or wrinkling of
the beds at short intervals, and not of one general turning over of the
whole series as suggested by geologists.

Subterranean igneous action was referred to, as having effected this
compressing and folding of the rock ; and its energy was shown to have

been greatest along the Berkshire valley and the ridges east. A so-
lution was thus given of the difficult problem of the crystalline or pri-
mary character of the Berkshire marble,and the adjoining micaceous
and talcose schists, whose secondary origin was contended for. In
pinion of Professor Rogers, the Berkshire marble was clearly
1 to be merely the blue limestone of the Hudson valley, ex-
rely metamorphosed by heat and the associated micaceous, tal-
cose, and other schists, referred to the slaty beds of the lowest forma-
tion of the Apalachian secondary system. He considered it highly
probable also, that the semi-vitrified quartz rock of the western part
of the Hoosac mountain is nothing else than the highly altered white
sandstone at the base of the same series.

-Mr. Kane read portions of a correspondence between Mr.
Justice and the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylva-
nia, in relation to the astronomical instruments recently im-
ported for the High School of this city, and to the propriety
of an appropriation by the State for the maintenance of a pub-
lic observatory. On motion of Mr. Kane, the correspondence
was referred to the Committee on the Observatory.

Mr. Peale, chief coiner of the Mint, submitted to the inspec-
tion of the members, a complete series of the coins of the
United States for 1841.

Dr. Dunglison, from the Secretaries, reported that they had
fixed the future annual subscription price of the extra copies of
S iciety's Proceedings, at One Dollar.

Stated Meeting, January 1 ~>.

Present, twenty-four members.

Mr. Du Ponce \r. President, in the Chair.

1 letters were read, from Mr. Eyries, of Paris, acknowledging

the honour done him by his election to membership, and from

M. Flou 5 retary of the Academy of s ■■ Institute

ol France, acknowledging the receipl of the Proceedings of the

e and Jul) . 1840.

The following donations were received: —

FOB in r. i.i it ii \n v.
ii Journal il History, containing Papers and Com-

munications read before the Boston Society of Natural History,
and published by their direction. Vol. III. Nos. 1, 2, and 3. 8vo.
Boston, 1840. — From the Society.

Essay on Meteorological Observations, by J. N. Nicollet, Esq. Print-
ed by order of the War Department. 8vo. Washington, 1839. —
From Col. Abert.

Friedrich Schiller's Geschichte des dreyssig-jahrigen Kriegs. Fort-
gesetzt von Karl Ludwig von Woltmann. 4 Vols. 12mo. Lcips.
1802, 1809.— From Mr. Du Ponceau.

Geschichte des sieben-jahrigen Krieges in Deutschland, von 1756 bis
1763, durch J. W. Von Archenholtz, vormals Hauptmann in
Konigl. Preuss. Diensten. 12mo. Berlin, 1791. — From the
same.

Report on the Manufacture of Iron; addressed to the Governor of
Maryland, by J. H. Alexander, Topographical Engineer of the
State. 8vo. 1840.— Prom the Author.

An Address before the Philomathean Society of the University of
Pennsylvania, Nov. 3, 1840, by Geo. W. Bethune. — From Rev.
Dr. Bethune.

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, edited by Isaac Hays,
M.D., Surgeon to Wills Hospital, Physician to the Philadelphia
Orphan Asylum, &c, &c. No. I. New Series. Jan. 1841. —
From the Editor.

The American Medical Library and Intelligencer, a concentrated re-
cord of Medical Science and Literature, by Robley Dunglison,
M.D. &c. &c. Nos. 16 and 17, for Nov. 15, and Dec. 1,
1840. — From the Editor.

Carte de la Louisiane et du cours du Mississipi, dressee sur un grand
nombre de Memoires, cntre autres sur ceux de M. le Maire, par
Guillaumc de l'lsle, de L'Academie Royale des Sciences. — From
Mr. Du Ponceau.

Fnc Simile of a part of an Indian and French MS. of 100 pages,
found at the King's Indian Trading Posts on the Labrador Coast
of America. — From the same.

Dr. Dunglison, on behalf of the Historical and Literary Com-
mittee, presented their minutes, and reported their action upon
various items of business, heretofore referred to them by the
Society. In accordance with the recommendation of the Com-
miltee, a request from Mr. Nicollet, to be permitted to with-

(i

draw for amendment his paper, entitled, "Notions sur la
L:mgue des Sioux," was acceded to by the Society.

In pursuance of a recommendation from the same committee,
it was ordered that the Rev. Mr. Hecke welder's memoir "On
the Names of Certain Trees, ice, in the Lennape Language,"
be published in the Society's Transactions.

Mr. Walker read a continuation of his paper, entitled "Re-
searches concerning the Periodical Meteors of August and No-
vember;" which was referred to the committee having charge
of the former part of the paper.

Mr. Lea presented a paper, entitled " New Fresh Water and
Land Shells;'' which was read, and referred to a committee.

Professor A. D. Bache presented a paper, entitled "Observa-
tions on the Storm of December 15th, 1839, by William Red-
field. A.M.;" which was read, and referred to a committee.

Mr. Walker presented a letter from Professor Peirce, of
Cambridge, Mass., containing remarks on Mr. Erman's discus-
sion of the orbits of the periodical meteors, and an investiga-
tion of their perturbations; which was read, and referred to a
committee.

Professor Bache read an extract from a letter of Major Sa-
bine, stating thai the changes of magnetic declination, and of
horizontal force, would be observed on the term days, with
transportable magnetometers furnished by the British Associa-
tion, by Mr. Schomberg, at Demarara, in Guiana; this being
the firsl magnetic station yet established in South America.

Professor Bache also stated, thai he had received from Mr.
Bond, abstracts of the term day observations of changes of mag-
netic declination at Cambridge, Mass., for the months of June,
July, August and September: also, that be bad received from
Lieut. Gilliss, of the U.S. Navy, observations of declination
made at Washington, from the 5th to the 9th of January, in-
clusive, from 9 to 10 A. M. of Gottingen time at shorl inter-
ior comparison with similar observations at Philadelphia
and Toronto. These observations he proposes, when com-
l with those at the Philadelphia Magnetic Observatory, to
communicate to the Society.

Dr. Horner requested that a correction should be made in
his communication, "On the Denial System of the Mastodon,"

now in the Society's press, and in the abstract which was pub-
lished in the Proceedings of December 4, 1S40 (Vol. I. p. 30S).
Dr. Horner said, that on a re-examination of the paper of Dr.
Godman, in the 3d volume of the Transactions, he was satisfied
that the example there figured and described, was in fact the
upper jaw of the Tetracauledon.

Professor Bache communicated a letter, from Mr. Riimker,
director of the Observatory at Hamburg, giving the positions
of a new comet discovered in the constellation Draco, by Mr.
Bremiker of Berlin, as observed at Berlin, October 17 and IS,
and at Hamburg, October 31, and November 1. — The observa-
tions given in the letter are later by two days than those
given in the last number yet received here, of Schumacher's
Astronomische Nachrichten.

Mr. Walker mentioned the decease of Mr. Ebenezer Porter
Mason, at Richmond, Va., on the 26th ult, in the 22d year of
his age. Mr. Walker referred briefly, but in terms of high
praise, to the astronomical labours of Mr. Mason, and espe-
cially to those connected with nebulas, and double stars, the
results of which are recorded in the Society's Transactions.

In the spring of 1840, Mr. Mason commenced a series of observa-
tions on double stars, with the 10 feet Dollond's refi actor, at Yale
College, and thus laid the foundation of that fatal disease, consump
tion, to which he fell an early victim. From his own measurement,
together with those previously published, he computed on Herschell's
method, an orbit for the remarkable pair of stars y Virginis, having a
period of about 171 years; which orbit gives their position conforma-
bly, within a small fraction of a degree, to the most recent measure-
ments of Struve and Kaisar, at the Pulkova, and Leyden observato-
ries, received since Mr. Mason's decease. The first ellipses computed
for this binary system by the younger Herschel, about the year 1830,
of 550 and 660 years, differ from recent observations nearly 20°.
The ephemeris of Mr. Miidler, of the Berlin observatory, computed in
1838, from his ellipse with a period of 158 years, differs 8° from
their present position.

Under a belief that exercise might restore his health, Mr. Mason
accepted an appointment as astronomical observer in Professor Ren-
wick's department of the northeastern boundary exploration of last
summer. But his disease was already fixed; and it terminated, at
the early age of 21, a life devoted for the last five years to the cultiva-

tion of practical astronomy, with a zeal and success hitherto without
a parallel in this country.

Dr. Patterson, on behalf of the Committee on the Observatory,
called the attention of the Society to two plans and elevations
of the proposed building, which had been prepared by Mr.
Strickland.

Alter some conversation on the subject of the omission, by
some of the members elect, to sign the laws, agreeably to a pro-
vision contained in the first chapter of them, it was on motion
of Dr. Chapman,

Resolved, that the Secretaries be instructed to report, whe-
ther any, and what measures are necessary, to secure con-
formity on the part of members elect, residing within ten
miles of the Hall, to the provision which requires them to sign
the laws in the course of the year immediately succeeding their
election.

Dr. Bache, on behalf of the Secretaries, announced that they
had appointed Mr. Kane, one of their number, to be Reporter
of the Society's Proceedings for the year L841.

Mr. John Vaughan was re-elected Librarian.

The following standing committees were appointed for the

Of Finance.— Mr. C. C. Biddle, Mr. Ord, Dr. Patterson.

Of Publication.— Mr. Lea, Dr. Hays, Mr. Fisher.

On the Hull.— Mr. Strickland. Mi. Kane Mr. Vaughan.

On Hi'' Library. — Mr. Ord, Dr. Hays, Mr. Campbell.

Agreeably in a provision of the laws, the List of surviving
members of the Societj was read. It appeared that the num-
ber of members al this time i- 327 ; of whom 227 reside in the
Qniti 3 - and LOO in I mntries.

ollowing gentlemen were then elected members of the
iety: —

The Chevalier Bernardo *-b lranta, of Naples,

David I k\ in, of Madison, Wisconsin Territory.

I - tor A no i. mi Carl Peteb Callisi k, of Copenhagen.

Willi *m l< \.y> le, of Philadelphia.
l'n vi \mi \ Dorr, of Philadelphia.

JOHH \. sn I'll ENS, of Nkw N oik.

Tobi \s ^ ion br, of Philadelphia.

PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Vol. II. FEBRUARY, 1841. No. 16.

Staled Meeting, February 5.

Present, forty-two members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were read from the Rev. Dr. Dorr, and from Wil-
liam Rawle, Esq., acknowledging the honour done them by
their election to membership, — from the Secretary of the Phi-
losophical Society of Cambridge, England, dated 19 Nov. 1840,
acknowledging the receipt of the Transactions, Vol. III. and Vol.
VII. Part 1, — from the Secretary of the Geological Society of
London, dated 5 Nov. and 19 Nov., 1840, acknowledging the
receipt of the Society's Proceedings, Vol. I. Nos. 11 and 12,
and of the Transactions, Vol. VII. Part 1.

The following donations were received: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Eloges Historiques d'Antoine-Laurent de Jussieu, de R. L. Desfon-
taines, de J. Jul. de Labillardiere, et de F. Cuvier; par M. Flou-
rens, Secretaire perpetuel &c. — From the Author.

Discourse on the Objects and Importance of the National Institution
for the Promotion of Science, established at Washington, 1840, de-
livered at the first anniversary; by Joel R. Poinsett, Secretary
of War, and Senior Director of the Institution. — From the Insti-
tution.

American Quarterly Register, conducted by B. B. Edwards and W.
Cogswell, February, 1841. Vol. XIII, No. 3.— From Mr. Cogs-
well.

10

Bibliotheca Americana, being a choice Collection of Books, relating to

N S iih America and the West Indies, including Voy-

:o the Southern Hemisphere, Maps, Engravings and Medals.

B . Paris, 1840.— From Mr. D. B. Warden.

The American Medical Library and Intelligencer, &<*., by Robley

vlison, M.I).. &c., Dec 15, 1840. — From Dr. DungUson.
Sketch's Historical and Descriptive of Louisiana, by Major Amos

- dard, Member of the U. S. M. P. S., &c Bvo. Philadel-
phia, 1812. — From Mr. I) u Ponceau.

Sundry Pamphlets in relation to Louisiana. 8vo. — From the same.
Proceedings of the Royal Astronomical Society. Vol. V. No. 9.

\ .. [3, [840. — From the Society.
Tal uti Kongl. Vetenskaps-academien vid oppnandi I af dess Allman-

na Sammantrade den 31 Mars, 1838, af Prseses Herr C. J. Ek-

stromer, &c. — From the Socii ty.
Aors-Benittclse om Botaniska Arbetenoch Upptackter for Aor 1837,

&c., af Joh. Em. Wikstrom. Svo. Stockholm, 1S39. — From

the st
Kongl. Vetenskaps-Academiens Handlingar for Aor, 1^38. 8vo.

Stockholm, 1 839. — From the same.
Aors-Il' ratti Ise om Technologiens framsteg till Kongl. Vetenskaps-

Academien afgiven den 31 Mars, 1838, af G. E. Pasch. — From

the same.
Tal om Juridisk Statist ik och grunderne for Lagstiftningen, haollet

uti Kongl. Vetenskaps-Academien vid Prsesidii nedlaggande den

- ^pril, 1840, af Grefve M. Rosenblad, &c. 8vo. Stockholm,
l - 10. — From the same.

'•lens Lazarettel i Stockholm haollel i Kongl.
\ ■ ti ii~ aps- V.cadi mien vid Prsesidii nedlaggande d. 7 Apr. l B38,
af Dr. C. J. EkstrSmer, &c 8vo. Stockholm, 1840. — From
i In same.

Prof< ssor Bache, from the Committee, consisting of Prof.
B lie, Mr. Walker, and Mr. ( Iresson, on the paper of Mr. Red-
field presented at the lasl meeting, entitled "Observations on
the Storm of December i 5, 1839," read a letter from that gen-
tleman, and reported in favour of publishing the paper in the
Transactions. The publication was ordered accordingly.

The Committee, consisting of Mr. Nicklin, Dr. Griffith and

Dr. Hays, to whom waa referred a paper entitled "Description

neteen New Specie • of( olimacea, b) Isaac Lea," report-

11

in favour of its publication in the Transactions; which was or-
dered accordingly.

Descriptions of these New Species were published in the Proceed-
ings of February, 1840.

The same committee, to whom was also referred a paper
entitled "Continuation of Mr. Lea's paper on New Fresh Wa-
ter and Land Shells," reported in favour of its publication in the
Transactions of the Society; and it was ordered accordingly.

In this paper Mr. Lea describes fifty-seven new species of the ge-
nus Melania. He notices the existence of numerous species distri-
buted over a wide geographical range, from the Columbia River to
the St. Lawrence; there being now about 117 species included in the
Fauna of the United States.

This genus having become so extended, Mr. Lea felt the necessity
of making minor groupes, and has therefore proposed nine sections.
1 The Smooth. 2 The Plicate. 3 The Carinate. 4 The Sulcate.
5 The Striate. 6 The Tuberculate. 7 The Granulate. 8 The
Cancellate. 9 The Spinose.

Section 1. — Smooth Melanin.

Melania Hildrethiana. Testa fusiformi, subcrassa, leevi, cornea; spiral
brevi, mucronata; suturis valde impressis; anfractibus quinis, convexis; aper-
tura magna, ovata, inferne angulata, vel alba vel purpurea. Hab. Ohio River,
near Marietta. — Dr. Hildreth.

Melania castanca. Test& clavaeformi, subtenui, laevi, tenebroso-castanea ;
spira elevate, prope apicem carinata ; suturis parvis ; anfractibus octonis, con-
vexiusculis; apertura parvA, elliptica, purpm-ea. Hab. Maury County, Tenn.
Mr. Dutton.

Melania laevigata. Testa obtuso-conica, subtenui, laevi, nitida, luteola; spira
breviuscula, prope apicem carinata; suturis linearibus; anfractibus septenis,
subconvexis ; apertura sub-grandi, elliptica; inferne angulata, albida. Hab.
Alabama River, at Claiborne. — Judge Tait.

Melania Kirtlandiana. Testa acuto-conica, sub-crassa, laevi, nitida, cornea;
spira elevata, prope apicem carinata ; suturis impressis ; anfractibus novenis,
subconvexis; apertura parva, elliptica, albida. Hab. Richmond, Indiana;
Duck Creek, near Cincinnati; and Miami, Ohio. — T. G. Lea. Little Miami,
Dr. Warder.

Melania Taitiana. Testa conoidea, subtenui, laevi, nitida, cornea ; spira de-
cisa, ad apicem carinata.; suturis impressis; anfractibus subconvexis; apertura
parva, elliptica, inferne subangulata, albida. Hab. Alabama River, at Clai-
borne.— Judge Tait.

Melania duh ia. Testa conoidea, subtenui, laevi, cornea; spira subelevata ;
suturis linearibus ; anfractibus septenis, subconvexis ; apertura elliptica,
parva, inferne subangulata, albida. Hab. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

12

■tin ebenum. Testa obtuso-conoidea, crassa. la?vi, nigra; spira obtusa ;
suturis parvis ; anfractibus subconvexis ; apertura subgrandi, ovata, inferne
subanguiata, intus purpurata. Hab. Robinson County, Tenn. — Dr. Carrey,
niarufa. Testa turrita, subtcnui, laevi, nitidft, tenebroso-rufa ; spira.
elevata : suturis impressis; anfractibus convexis, superioribus carinatis ; aper-
tura parva, elliptica, inferne subanguiata, intus purpurata. Hub. Mamma's
Creek, Tenn.— Mr. S. M. Edgar.

.'I aniafusiformis. Testa fusiformi, subtenui, lutea, mucronata, lacvi; spira
brevi; suturis linearibus; anfractibus senis, ultimo magno et inllato, apertura
ovato-producta, albida. Hab. Tenn — Dr. Troost.

trmis. Testa clavrrformi, subtenui, castaneo-fusca, lffivi, ni-
tida ; spira acuta ; suturis subimpressis ; anfractibus octonis, convexis; aper-
tura producta, pnllidopurpurea. Hab. Ocoee District, Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

'.--. Testa clavffiformi, subtenui, cornea, Levi; spira acuta;
suturis impressis, anfractibus octonis convexis; apertura parva. ovata, albida.
Hab. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Melanin suhsoUda. Testa subfusiformi, subsolida, cornea, la;vi ; spira acuta;
suturis impressis ; anfractibus subconvexis; apertura subproducta, intus pur
purca. Hub. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Testa conoidea, subcrassa, tenebroso-cornea . la-vi ; .-pint
obtusa, apud apiccm lineis notata ; suturis impressis; anfractibus sub-con-
vexis; apertura parva, ovata, cacrulea. Hab. Ocoee District, Tenn. — Dr.
Troost.

Melania aubcylindracea. Testa subcylindracca, subcrassa, cornea, lffivi;
spirt obtuso-elevat&; suturis impressis; anfractibus convexis; apertura parva,
ovata. albida. Hab. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Mt on sordida Testa conoide;!, subcrassa, tencbroso-cornca, krvi ; suturis

impressis. anfractibus subconvexis; apertura subgrandi, subrotunda, cceru-

l.a. Hub. Tenn.— Dr. Troost.

Melania regvlaris. Testa conoidea, subcrassa, tenebroso-cornea, levi ; Bpirt

ta; suturis subimpressis ; anfractibus planulalis ; apertura par\a, albida.

Hab. Oconee District, Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

ma fuliginosa. Testa Fusiformi, subinfJata, subcrassa, tenebroso I
levi; Bpira, obtusa ; suturis impressis; anfractibus senis, Bubconvexis; aper-
tura magna; ad basim angulata ct canaliculate. Hub. Big Bigby Creek,
Maury Co. Tenn. — Mr. Datum.

■mi Jfickliniana. Testa subclcrata, Bolida, valde tenebrosa, levi ; rata-
afraclibus senis, subconvexis; apertura magna, subrotunda,
intus purpui H Hath County, Ya.--/'. H.Nicklin.

niaviridis. T( ;< ubfutifbrmi, subcrassa, viridi, lavi. Bpira brevi,

ris linearibus; anfractibus quinis subconvexis ; apertura

indi, alba. Hab. Vicinity of Cincinnati.— T. G

Mi ania occidentalis. Testa rabgloboaa, Bubcraasa, viridi Levi; spira brevi,

iiiii<rnii.ii i ; suturis linearibus; anfractibus quaternis subconvexis; aperturt

b1 purpurea vel alba. Hub. Vicinity of Cincinnati, Ohio.

/ G /

Meb T( t&obtu in.., ( ri, cornea; spira brevi;

suturi ibplanulatis; apertura subgrandi, elliptica, intus

purpur< i Hal i N iro

Melat levi, tenebroso iatl spirt

13

brevi; suturis impressis; anfractibus quaternis, subconvexis; apertura magna,
subrotunda, intus ccerulea. Hab. Tennessee. — Dr. Troost.

Mtlania altilis. Testa subglobosa, crassii, lasvi, pallido-cornea ; spira brevi ;
suturis parvis ; anfractibus quaternis, superne subangulatis ; apertura magna,
subrotunda, alba. Hab. Susquehanna River, Md.

Melania strigosa. Testa, turrito acuta, tenui, pallido-lutea, lasvi, superne
striata ; spira exserta; suturis impressis ; anfractibus novenis, planulatis ; aper-
tura parva, elliptica, ad basim angulata, intus ccerulea. Hab. Tennessee. —
Dr. Troost.

Melania virgata. Testa subrotunda, subtenui, lutea, bifasciata, laevi, nitida,
spira brevi; suturis linearibus; anfractibus convexis ; apertura magna, ellip-
tica, albida. Hab. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Melania tenebrosa. Testa conoidea, subcrassa, subnigra, laevi ; spira subele-
vata; suturis impressis ; anfractibus planulatis; apertura subgrandi, elliptica,
ad basim angulata. intus ccerulea. Hab. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Section 2. — Plicate Melamje.

Melania teres. Testa acuto-turrita, tenui, cornea, plicata; spira exserta; su-
turis impressis ; anfractibus novenis, convexis ; apertura parva, elliptica, intus
albida. Hab. Tenn.— Dr. Troost.

Melania obtusa. Testa fusiformi, subcrassa, plicata, cornea ; spin! obtusa;
suturis impressis ; anfractibus quaternis, ultimo semi-plicato ; apertura magna,
albida. Hab. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Melania Lecontiana. Testa conoidea, crassa, plicata, cornea ; spirli obtuso-
elevata ; suturis parvis ; anfractibus senis, planulatis ; apertura magna, ellip-
tica ccerulea. Hab. Georgia. — Major he Conte.

Melania corrugata. Testa conoidea, subtenui, diaphana, plicata, transverse
striata, cornea ; spira subelevata ; suturis valde impressis ; anfractibus sep-
tenis, convexis, superne cancellatis; apertura subgrandi, elliptica, infra angu-
lata, albida. Hab. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Melania monozonalis. Testa fusiformi, subcrassa, plicata, fasciata, pallida;
spira obtusa; suturis linearibus; anfractibus quinis, sub-convexis; apertura
magna, elliptica, infra angulata, alba. Hab. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Melania tertbralis. Testa acuto-turrita, sub-tenui, plicata, nitida, rufo fusea ;
spira valde elevata; suturis valde impressis; anfractibus novenis, convexis,
superne carinatis; apertura parva, elliptica, albida. Hab. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Melania columella. Testa conoidea, subtenui obscuro-plicata, cornea; spira.
subelevata, prope apicem striata ; suturis impressis ; anfractibus senis, subcon-
vexis; apertura parva, elliptica, inferne angulata, albida. Hab. Tennessee. —
Dr. Troost.

Melania blanda. Testa conoidea, subtenui, plicata, nitida, cornea; spira
subelevata, prope apicem striata; suturis impressis; anfractibus septenis, sub-
planulatis ; apertura parva, elliptica, inferne angulata, albida. Hab. Tenn. —
Dr. Troost.

Melania crebri-costata. Testa conoidea, subcrassa, crebri-plicata, cornea;
spira elevata ; suturis linearibus ; anfractibus septenis, planulatis ; apertura
parva, elliptica, inferne angulata, ccerulea. Hab. Robinson County, Tenn.
Dr. Currey.

Melania Curreyana. Testa conoidea. subcrassa, plicata, cornea ; spira sub-

14

clevata ; suturis irregulariter impressis; anfractibus septenis, subconvexis;
apertura parva, infurne angulata, intus purpurata. Hal. Barren River, Ky.
Dr. Currey.

■tin Edgariana. Testa conoidea, subtenui. plicata, striata, lnteo-fusca ;
spira clevata ; suturis irregulariter impressis; anfractibus octonis, subplanu-
apertura parva. elliptica. inferne angulata, ccrrulca. Hub. Cany Fork,
Tenn — Mr. S M. Edgar.

■ ■irrito-aruta. sub tenui, plicata, cornea, superne
; spira acuta, clevata; suturis impressis; anfractibus novenis, subpla-
nulatis ; apertura. parva, elliptica, albida Huh. Tennessee — Dr. Trobst.

M miii rostulutu. Testa conoidea, subtenui, lutea, plicata, superne cari-
nata; spira subproducta ; suturis impressis; anfractibus novenis, subconvexis;
apertura parva, subovata, intus cccrulea. Hub. Barren River, Kentucky —
Dr. < urn //

ma nitida. Testa BUbobtusa, subcrassa tenebroso, fusca, plicata; spira
obtus a ; suturis impressis ; anfractibus septenis, subconvexis; apertura parva,
elliptica, ad basim angulata, intus Bubrufa. Hub. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Melarda plieatula. Testa conoidea, subelevata, tenui, tenebroso-cornea, pli-
cata ; spira subelevata; suturis impressis, anfractibus octonis, subconvexis,
superne striatis ; apertura parva, elliptica, ad basiin subangulata, intus albida.
Hub. Tenn — Dr. Troost.

Melanin concinna. Testa turrrito-acuta, subtenui, fusel, plicata; spira e\-
serta ; suturis impressis ; anfractibus novenis, carinatis, planulatis ; apertura,
parva, elliptica, ad basiin angulata, intus albida. Hub. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Section 3. — Carinate Melanin.

Mrlnnia Bubylonica. Testa turrita, suberassa, carinata ; spira subelevata,
prope apicem striata; suturis impressis; anfractibus septenis, superne. an;ni-
latia ; apertura subgrandi^ elliptic;!, alba. Hub. Yellow Springs, Green Co.,
Ohio.— / G Lea,

M, lama exarata. Testa conica, subcrassa, nigra carinal I ; suturis exaratia ;
anfractilius planulatis, carinatis; apertura parva;, ad basim angul ita e1 canicu-
lata, intua tenebrosa, Hob. Tenn — Dr. Troost

Melama Potosiensis. Testa conoidea, subtenui, carinata, fuses,; spirit ob-
tuso-elevata ; suturis valde impressis ; anfractibus octonis, com exia . apt rtura
magna, ovata. purpurata. Hob. Potosi, Missouri. — Dr. Troost.

Melariia acuto-earinata. Testa, conoidea, Bub-crassa, carinata, nitida, tene-

broso-fuM i . spira obtuso-elevata ; Buturis impressis; anfractibus senis ; aper-

ib-grandi, elliptica, inferne angulata, intua purpurata. Hah. Tenn —

Dr. ( ui 1 1 i/

ma Warderiana, Testa claveformi, Bubcrassa, tenebroaa; spit
nica, carinata; suturis linearibua; anfractibus octonis, convexia; apertura

aubgrandi, intua carnea, Hah Cedar Creek, a branch of Clinch River,
l; . I \ J. A. Warder, M D.

Section 4 Si i . \ 1 1 Mxlahijk.

M'lmiiii tulcosQ 1 longitudinalitor aalcata, lnteola ;

auturis impressis ; anfractibus planulatis ; aporturfl part dbida. Hub.

Tenn /' /

15

Section 5. — Striate Melanin.

Melania striata. Testa conoidea, subtenui, tenebroso-fusci, striata, plicata,
superne carinata ; spira subelevata; suturis impressis; anfractibus octonis,
convexis; apertura parva, elliptica, intus subrufa. Hub. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Melania pilula. Testa subglobosa, crassa, striata, tenebroso-fusca ; suturis
sub-impressis; anfractibus convexis apertura, ovata, magna, infra subangulata,
intus purpurata. Hab. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Melania circincta. Testa turrita, subtenui, pallido-lutea, fasciata, supeine
striata ; spira exserta ; suturis parvis ; anfractibus novenis, subconvexis, in
medio carinatis ; apertura subparva, elliptica, ad basim angulata, intus alba.
Hab. Tenn.— Dr. Troost.

Section G — Tiberculate Melanin.

Melania venusta. Testa fusiformi, subtenui, luteola, superne subtubercu-
lata; spira subobtusa ; suturis rugoso-impressis ; anfractibus senis, convexis;
apertura productii, ad basim angulata et canaliculata, intus albida. Hab.
Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Melania Florentiana. Testa elliptica, ponderosa, pallida tuberculata ; spira,
obtusa ; suturis impressis; anfractibus senis, subconvexis ; apertura producta,
albida. Hab. Tennessee River, Florence, Alabama. — Mr. Dvtton.

Melania Duttoniana. Testa fusiformi, subcrassa, luteola, fasciata, tubercu-
lata ; spira elevata, ad apicem acuta ; suturis enormiter linearibus ; anfracti-
bus septenis, superne depressis; apertura producta, ad basim angulata, et
canaliculata, intus albida. Hab. Waters of Tennessee. — Dr. Troost. Duck
River, Maury Co. Tenn. — Mr. Dutton.

Section 7. — Granulate Melanije.

Melania Hoi stonia. Testa conoidea, subcrassa, nigra, granosa; spira sub-
elevata; suturis impressis; anfractibus superne planulatis; apertura ovata,
purpurea. Hab. Tennessee. — Dr. Troost. Holston River, Tenn. — Mr. S. M.
Edgar.

Section 8. — Cancellate Melanin.

Melania caliginosa. Testa conoidea, subcrassa, cancellata, transverse striata,
tenebroso-fusca ; spir^. elevata; suturis irregulariter impressis; anfractibus oc-
tonis, sub-convexis; apertura parva, elliptica, intus purpurata. Hab. Tenn. —
Dr. Troost.

Melania nodulosa. Tests, conoidea, crassa, cancellata, tenebroso-fusca; su-
turis irregulariter impressis; anfractibus sub-convexis; apertura subgrandi,
elliptica, infra subangulata, intus ccerulea. Hab. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Dr. Patterson read a communication, entitled "Psychologi-
cal Observations on the Siamese Twins, Cheng and Eng, made
in 1S36, by Professor George Tucker, of the University of
Virginia;" which was referred to a committee.

Professor Bache presented to the notice of the Society ob-
servations of magnetic declination received from Mr. Bond,
which had been made by that gentleman during six days, com-

16

mencing on the 4th of January, in concert with the Magnetic
Observatories at Philadelphia, Washington and Toronto.

Mr. Du Ponceau remarked, that the Indian MS. found on
the coast of Labrador, of a part of which he presented a fac
simile at the last meeting, is in a dialect of the Algonquin or
Chippeway language. He thought it desirable that the Philo-
sophical and Literary Society of Quebec should publish the
whole, with the French translation, in their Transactions.

Mr. Du Ponceau directed the attention of the Society, espe-
cially of those devoted to the study of Natural Science, to the
Eulogiums of the younger Jussieu, Desfontaines, Labillardiere,
and the younger Cuvier, by M. Flourens, presented to the
Society this evening.

Mr, Du Ponceau entered at some length into the organization and
internal arrangements of the French Institute, and of some other
learned Societies of Paris, established since the beginning of the pre-
sent century, called free societies, (societcs libres,) such as the
Asiatic, Geographical, Antiquarian, Statistical, &C, with most of
which this Society is in correspondence.

Professor Bache deposited in the Society's archives, as a doc-
ument connected with its history, the original engagement of
the Society, in the year 17S7, under its official seal and the sig-
natures of the Vice Presidents and Secretaries, to repay to Dr.
Franklin the then Presid< nt such sums of money as he should
advance, in addition to his several donations, for completing
the Hall of the Society, agreeably to an offer which he had
made.

The Library Committee, to whom was referred a letter
from M. de Candolle, proposing to exchange the work now
publishing .it Geneva by the Society of Natural History, &c,
forth) ctions of this Society, reported in favour of the

proposed exch nd the Committee was thereupon in-

structed to carry it into effect.

Dr. Hays, from the Committee of Publication, reported thai
. i I'. nt of Vol. VII. nt the Society's Transactions, is now
ready for distribution.

Mi-. Kane, Reporter, presented copies of the Proceedings of
the Society, Vol. II- No. 1 5, for January, 1841.

17

Stated Meeting, February 19.

Present, thirty-two members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were read —

From the Secretary of the London Society of Antiquaries,
dated 20 Nov., 1840, acknowledging the receipt of Vol. VII.
Part 1, of the Transactions, and of Nos. 11 and 12 of the Pro-
ceedings of this Society.

From His Excellency, the French Minister, M. de Bacourt,
dated Washington, 29 Jan., 1841, presenting to the Society a
copy of the new edition of the Dictionary of the French Aca-
demy.

From Mr. William B. Wood, of Philadelphia, dated 17 Feb.,
1841, presenting to the Society a volume of the Canton Regis-
ter, edited by his son, Mr. Wm. W. Wood, the first newspaper
printed in the Empire of China in the English language.

From Mr. David B. Warden, dated Paris, 22 Dec, 1840, in
relation to certain works ordered by him for the Society.

The following additions to the Library were announced: —

BY DONATION.

Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London. Second series.

Vol. II. Part 5. 4to. — From the Society.
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, for the

year 1840. Part 2. 4to. — From the Society.
Proceedings of the Royal Society. Nos. 41 to 44 inclusive, 1839-

1840. 8vo. — From the same.
Proceedings of the Horticultural Society of London. Nos. 7 and 8.

From the Society.
List of the Horticultural Society of London, corrected to 12 August,

1840. — From the same.
Proceedings of the Numismatic Society of London. 1838-39. —

From the Society.
Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise. Sixieme Edition. 2 Vols.

4to. Paris, 1835. — From H. E. Ad. de Bacourt, Minister

Plenipotentiary of France.
Congressional Documents. 26th Congress, 2d Session. Doc. No. 2.

8vo. Dec, 1840.— From Hon. G. W. Toland.

B

18

The American Medical Library and Intelligencer. Vol. 4, No. 10.

Jan., 1841. By Robiey Dunglison M.D. <kc. &c. — From the

Editor.
Institut Roval de France. Rapport des Seances Publiques Annuelles

des ('in' j Academies. Mai, Juin, Juilliet, 1840. 7 Nos. 4to. —

From Mr. Warden,
History of the Federal Government, for Fifty Years, from March

17-9, t.. Marcfil839. By Alden Bradford, LL.D. &c. 8vo.

Boston, 1840. — From the Author.
Historical View of the Literature of the South of Europe, by J. C.

L. Simonde de Sismondi, &c, Translated from the Original, with

Notes, by Thomas Roscoe, Esq. 2 Vols. 8vo. New York,

1827. — From Mr. Vaughan.
The Canton Register, Canton, Nov. 8, 1827, to Dec. 13, 1S28 in-
clusive. Fol. — From Mr. William Ji. Wood.

BY PURCHASE AND EXCHANGE.

The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, conducted by Professor
Jameson. Oct., 1840 to Jan., 1841, inclusive. 8vo.

The London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of
Science, by Sir David Brewster, Richard Taylor, and Richard
Phillips. 3d Series, No. 101. Feb., 1840. 8vo.

The Magazine of Natural History, and Journal of Zoology. &c. &c
conducted by J. C. Loudon. No. 1, May. 1828. No. 6, March,
1829. No. 13, May, 1830. No. 17, Jan., 1831. No. 25,
April, 1832. No. 26, May, 1832. No. 27, June, 1882. No.
80, Nov., 1832. No. 42, Oct., 1834. 8vo.

The Nautical Almanac and Astronomical Ephemeris, for 1843. 8vo.

Journal Asiatique, ou Recueil de Memoires, &c 8me Ser. Tome
10. No. f)3, Juillet, 1840. No. 54, Aout 1840. Bvo.

Journal General do la Litteraturc de Prance. L3me ami. ('ah. 7, 8.
Juillet, Aout. 8vo.

Armales de Chimie el de Physique. Mar., \\r.. Mai, Juin, .hull.,
.t, Sept., 1840. 8vo.

Comptes rendua bebdomadaires des Beances de ['Academic des
Sec lr Si in., 1840, Nos. 2 to 26 inclusive, and
2roe Sero., Nos. l to 17 inclusive. Lto.

The Committee, consisting of Mr. Nulty, Dr. Patterson, and
Prof'- — : VTethake, to whom Mr. Walker's paper, entitled,
u Researches concerning the Periodical Meteors of August and

19

November," had been referred, reported in favour of its publi-
cation in the Transactions; which was thereupon ordered.

The paper contains — 1st, Tabular statements of the relative veloci-
ties derived from corresponding observations of the same meteor at
different stations, chiefly from Quetelet's Catalogue. 2d. A cata-
logue of remarkable appearances of shooting stars, also from Quete-
let, with additions. 3d. Bessel's position of the earth, in the ecliptic
at the date of the principal November showers. 4th. The conver-
gent points hitherto observed for the relative paths of the meteors of
August, and — 5th. Of those of November. The term periodical is
restricted to the meteors, which, at a particular season of the year,
tend towards the convergent point for that season. Sporadic is ap-
plied to the unconformable meteors seen on the same occasions. Ex-
traordinary showers of the second table are placed in the former
class, and are considered as differing from periodical meteors only
in numbers. The convergent point, as far as noticed for the periodi-
cal meteors, is not far from the antipode of the earth's tangential
direction. The average relative velocities in table first, with the
known convergent points, for August and November, and other
parts of the year, as far as observed, afford on the cosmical theory,
the most plausible estimate of the elliptic elements of the orbit of
periodical meteors. The well-known formulae for computing these
elements are stated; and the differential formulae are investigated
for computing the probable errors of such elements, arising from
errors of the relative velocities and directions derived from the fore-
going tables. The most plausible elements of the periodical me-
teors, are thus found to have their perihelia inferior to that of Mer-
cury, and hence are only seen by us when near their apheiia ;
the orbits being necessarily very eccentric, or flattened, and their
inclinations very great. Since many millions of these bodies are
annually encountered by the earth, including chiefly those which
move in orbits having small parameters, analogy leads to the infer-
ence, that the planetary spaces inferior to Venus, abound in these bo-
dies, of which only a small proportion ever reach the earth's mean
distance, or become visible to us. This suggestion of a far greater
aggregation of these bodies near the sun, is supported by the analogy
of the resisting medium encountered by Encke's comet, which is only
sensible at a distance from the sun below that of Venus. Bessel's ob-
jections to the theory of the resisting medium, that it is indicated by
no other phenomenon in nature, may be in some degree obviated by
this analogy; since a very thin, light body, might be sensibly resisted

20

bv a great multitude of these small meteors or asteroids, though their
effect is insensible on Mercury and the other primaries, owing to their
superior mass and density, and as Encke remarks, also insensible on
Halley's and Biela's comets, whose perihelion distances, respectively,
correspond nearly with those of Venus and the earth. It is only ne-
cessary to suppose that in some planes these bodies exhibit a greater
tendency to the formation of clusters, or possibly of flattened rings,
in order to account for anniversary periods of remarkable showers;
since the earth revisiting the same plane at the same season of the
year, and at the same distance from the sun, may or may not en-
counter one of these clusters or parts of a flattened ring. But these
clusters continuing to move in the same plane, the earth must, if it
meet them at all, do so at anniversary periods. On the supposition
of a flattened ring, the node having the same radius vector as the
earth, these displays might occur for several anniversaries, and then
cease for an indefinite period, owing to the motion of the apsides
of the ring; till the anomaly which has a radius vector equal to the
earth's mean distance, again coincides with one of the nodes of the
ring. Hence the connexion between the periods of the second table,
as far as regards our knowledge of them is accidental, since they de-
pend not on the orbital period of these bodies round the sun, but on
the circumstance of the earth's encountering one of these clusters,
or planes abounding in them, which is regulated by a law of distribu-
tion of these bodies in planetary space, that must always remain
unknown, for wanl of data for its determination.
The author conjectures thai the meteors termed sporadic by Que-
. which have no common convergent point, may have their peri-
helia superior to those of the periodical meteors, and their aphelia far
superior t" that of the earth. In such a case, their orbital velocity
would be as thai of the earth, or greater; and as they move

in all varieties of direction, the earth's tangential motion does nol
e them to tend, relatively towards a convergenl point, in nearly
ii, as it dues with meteors moving verj Blowly in
their orbits, whatever may be their true directions in spai .

A brii f history of the opinions anil tin orii - of writ< rs on this bud-
n : ami an oversighl pointed oul in Professor Ermau's paper,
quoted by the author in an oral communication of Augusl 21st, 1840.
This relates t<> Prof. Brman's minimum relative velocity of the me.
t. ..i ., which, instead of being 0.83, of thai of the earth, maj be inde-
finitely small, and therefore, in his formula? | tatronomische Nachrich-
ten, No. : a motion of the convergent point indefi-

21

nitely great. The author also remarks, that the quantities neglected
in Prof. Er man's formulae for this motion, may produce an important
effect on the result, and even change its direction from a retrograde
motion, as found by Prof. Erman, to a direct motion as observed by
Mr. Fitch, at New Haven, and as indicated by Prof. Forshey's ob-
served positions of this point at two different dates on the night of
10th August last. A slight anachronism is also mentioned in Mr.
Walker's oral communication, Mr. Herrick having called the atten-
tion of observers to the August period, after the display of 1837, in-
stead of before; Mr. H. having made no observations that year him-
self, but having reported the convergent as observed about 30 degrees
from the pole in the Camelopard, by Mr. ShaefTer, of New York.

The same committee, to whom had been referred a commu-
nication from Professor Pierce, of Cambridge, Mass., contain-
ing remarks on Mr. Erman's discussion of the orbits of the
periodical meteors, and an investigation of their perturbations,
reported in favour of publishing the communication in the
Transactions; and its publication was thereupon ordered.

The paper has reference to the earth's attractive force in increasing
the relative velocity of a meteor approaching near its surface. The
formulae employed are those of the Mec. Cel., Vol. IV., Book 9,
Chap. 2 ; the meteor being at the time within the earth's sphere of
activity, the radius of which is 0.0053 in units of the earth's mean
distance, the actual radius vector being 0.0057, for the date in
question, August 10th, 1839. The notation is that of Prof. Erman,
Jr., in Schumacher's Astr. Nachr., No. 385. If v'2 denote the me-
teor's relative velocity in its elliptic orbit round the sun, according to
the cosmical theory adopted by Professor Erman, then according to
Professor Pierce, the square of the actual relative velocity increased
by the earth's attraction is, r,'2 = v'~ -f 0.13932, in units of the
earth's true tangential velocity. Professor Erman, having com-
prised within certain limits the possible true and relative velocities of
the meteors, from the sun's central force; these, together with the in-
creased relative velocity, are thus pointed out. The author, however,
states, that Prof. Erman's minimum limit of the relative velocity is
adopted on insufficient ground, owing to the rejection of one of the
two roots of an equation of the second degree, where both roots are
possible. A similar remark is applied to Prof. Erman's limits for the
inclinations and other elements of the meteor's orbits. The author
then gives the reasons which tend to show that the actual rela-

22

five velocity is below Prof. Erman's minimum limit. Thus, in the
instance of the meteors of August 10th, the average discrepancy of
anv single meteor's relative direction, from the common convergent
point, is, according to Prof. Erman, more than 10°, and must have a
maximum of not less than 25°. The Professor remarks, that this dis-
crepancy may arise

1. From difference of their elliptic orbit round the sun.

2. From their mutual action.

3. From the earth's attraction.

The first and second causes, on Prof. Erman's hypothesis of an
elliptic ring, could not produce a discrepancy of more than 2° or 3°.
In order that one of 10° should result from the third cause, it would
be necessary that the relative velocity should he less than one third
of that of the earth, in which case the orbits of the meteors would be
inclined less than 14°, to the ecliptic. The author concludes, that a
ring so near the earth, must be subject to very great perturbations,
and if there is one, he thinks that no observations which we can make
will enable us to calculate its motions with any degree of accuracy.

Dr. Ludlow and Dr. Mitchell presented a report from the
committee, to whom had been referred Professor Tucker's
paper, entitled " Psychological Observations on the Siamese
twins, Cheng and Eng, made in 1S36."

Soon after the arrival of the Siamese twins into the United States,
now above eleven years ago, it appeared to me, says Prof. Tucker,
that they afforded an opportunity of making some psychological ob-
servations which had never before been presented, unless perchance
by some like freak of nature.

Here were two individuals who were precisely similar in all the
circumstances likely to influence either their bodies or minds. They
had always breathed the same air, eaten of the same (bod at the

game time, Blepl and waked together, and taken the same exercises

both in kind and quantity, and at the same moment. Whatever had

affected the senses of the one, had affected those of the other. Their
sources of knowledge, whether from observation or reasoning, and
their lessons both of experience and education, were precisely the

They had also been sick rind well tOg< lh< t. and ma\ be sup-

: to have had in all respects, the same pleasures and pams, bodily
and mental.

Placed in circumstances SO similar, or rather identical, these twins

•ho inquiry whether there was a correspondent resemblance

23

in their faculties, passions and propensities; or if there was a diversity
what was its nature and extent; and the result of the investigation
seemed likely to shed no little light on the several theories, which
have been put forth to explain the diversities of genius and mental
character.

It is known that some maintain with Helvetius, that these diver-
sities among men whose organs have the ordinary degree of sound-
ness, are the result of the particular circumstances in which the diffe-
rent individuals chance to be placed, while others insist that the cause
of such diversities is to be attributed mainly to a difference of orga-
nization. Of this opinion was Dr. Gall, who further maintained that
the mental faculties and propensities of each individual were indi-
cated by small protuberances at the surface of the brain, and that
these might be discovered by means of correspondent protuberances
on the skull. There is a third class comprehending a much larger
number both of vulgar and philosophic minds, who think that our in-
tellectual character depends partly on nature and partly on cultiva-
tion, and who would apply to mental excellence of every kind, what
Horace says of poetical genius :

ego nee studium sine divite veneL,

Nee rude quid prosit video ingenium, alterius sic
Altera poscit opem res et conjurat amice.

Now, if it should be found, on a careful comparison of the two
brothers, that notwithstanding they had been placed in precisely simi-
lar circumstances, there was a marked difference in their faculties
and tastes, they would seem to afford a satisfactory refutation of the
doctrine of Helvetius. Should, however, no difference be discovered
in their mental powers and propensities, then indeed, we should not
be able to decide whether this close resemblance was to be attributed
to the identity of circumstances in which they had been placed, or to
that similarity of organization which is often seen in twins, and which
nothing since their birth could, in this case, have disturbed.

To compare the minds of two persons whom we had so much rea-
son to expect would think and feel alike, it occurred to me that the
most eligible plan would be to propound the same questions at the
same time to both, to take the answers of each, without the privity of
the other, and that their answers thus obtained would enable us to
decide whether there was any material difference in their tastes, facul-
ties, and susceptibilities.

2 1

The first opportunity* which presented itself to me, of making the
comparison, was in the city of New York, in the summer of 1836, I
think, when I proposed the examination to them, through their con-
ductor, Mr. Hale; and be having obligingly seconded my purpose,
also, after being satisfied about my motives, consented to sub-
mit to it.

The examination took place in the afternoon, in one of the rooms
of the Clinton Hotel, and was thus conducted: a number of questions
previously prepared, were propounded by Mr. Hale to Eng, and by
me to Cheng. Their answers to each question, communicated to us
in a whisper, were written down by us before we proceeded to ano-
ther question. Some of the prepared questions, by the advice of Mr.
Hale, were not asked, and one or two of their answers, in which they
had indulged in personalities that might offend, were at their instance
suppressed; with these exceptions, the questions and answers sub-
joined are to the letter as they were given.

Question 1. What part of America puts you most in mind of
Siam?

Cheng. New Orleans.

Eng. Louisiana.

2. Where did you stay longest in England?
Both. In ( ila

3. Whom did you see first in London?
Cheng. I did not know him.

-. Charles something, but I can't recollect the whole name.

4. Have you been sick in this country? How long ill?
Cla ••:'■ \ . twice, once fourteen da

Eng. V' s, in New York, with a head-ache, and in Ohio with
fever and

By way of comparing their associating faculties, several words
then menl them, and they were asked what these words

t( i their minds. Thus,
.">. What does the word London sugg<

Cheng. What a (lark | They went about in the day by

torch-light.f
/ iPs.

• I i iniii' before, in the neighbouring village of

Cb&rlotteiville, but thej were too impatient to proceed on their journey t"

all..'.'. mination thru.

t Tl eached London in November, when ita fogs aro

■1190.

25

6. What, Liverpool, Boston?*

Cheng. Boston much the handsomest city.
Eng. Liverpool is much the dirtiest.

7. What, manufactures?

Cheng. The manufactures in Leeds.

Eng. They suggest the idea of the ingenuity of man.

8. What, war?

Cheng. The battle of New Orleans.

Eng. Very bad article to deal with : I think folks could get along
better without it.

9. What, money?

Cheng. A mighty good thing.

Eng. Very good I think — quite opposite to war.

10. Whom of all our great men do you most admire?
Cheng. General Washington, John C. Calhoun. j"
Eng. John C. Calhoun.

11. How large does the sun appear to you?
Cheng. As big as this room.

Eng. Not bigger than a decent sized centre table.

12. Are you willing to settle in America?
Cheng. I think not.

Eng. No.

13. What do you regard as the most useful invention !
Cheng. A ship.

Eng. Ship building.

14. What kind of animal food do you like best?
Cheng. Ducks, geese and roast beef.

Eng. Big goose.

15. What kind of vegetable food?
Cheng. No particular preference.

Eng. No choice — not being partial to any.

16. What kind of fruit?
Cheng. Peaches, pears, melons.
Eng. Musk melons.

17. What kind of perfume?
Both. Rose.

* These cities were intended to be the subjects of separate questions, but
being by mistake conjoined in questioning one brother, they were put in the
same way to the other.

t Their political predilections were then decidedly with the whigs, as the
suppressed answers showed.
C

26

18. What colour do you like besl

Cheng. That depends upon what the thing is.
/. g. Thai - upon win ther for coach, person, handkerchief,

or coat.

19. What colour do you like best in flowers !

There was a large vase in the room filled with (lowers in great
variety, and they both pointed to those that were of a saffron colour. '

20. What season of the year do you prefer"!
Cheng. The spring.

Eng. The foil of the year.

21. What kind of music do you like best?
Both. The piano — the hunter's chorus.

22. What objects do you consider the handsomest, as possessing
the greatest beauty !

Cheng. I could not answer that: I see so many.

Eng. Handsome women.

It will be perceived that none of the preceding questions were
framed, with the view of comparing the powers of ratiocination of
the twins. But, besides that the preparation of such questions would
have required more time and care than I could then command, it
u;is easj 'o se.' that our course of inquiry, however interesting to
me, was becoming tiresome to them; nor am I sure that the very
comparison I proposed to make did ool give some shock to the feel-
ings of pleasure with which they regard their consentaneousness on
almosl all subjects-, whether of opinion or taj

This general accordance in sentiment, which might have been in-
ferred, was confirmed by Mr. Hale. It appeared from his answers to
my inquiries, that they differed in opinion but seldom, and only on
such occasions a- those in which an individual may in a short time
differ from himself, or exjMjrience a change of purpose; and the case
hi- instanced was the time when the\ should leave a place — one
thinking i' better to quit on one day, ami the other on another. Hut
the did' rence never led to disputation. With these rare exceptions,
there was an entire concurrence in their wishes, not merely from the
siuiilarit\ of their tastes ami desires, hut also from the unwillingness
fell b) each to contrav< ne th< or purposes of the other: as a

• \ the dren of the Siamese priesthood mutt always be yellow, and the

•im, . >r pri( ' ite the most honourable class, it is probable t lint

tins preference for yellow ra >\ be as< rib< >1 to associations growing out "t" the

ms, of their country, especially as red seems t" !>'• the colour which is

preferred by all civilized nations, whatt ver may 1"' their natural complexion

27

proof of this, he stated that they sometimes amused themselves with
chess, but on these occasions they did not, as other persons, play
one against the other, but both of them played on both sides. As no
human beings have their sympathies so frequently appealed to, or in
such constant exercise, they must be peculiarly strong in both. These
brothers thus furnish the most perfect example of disinterested friend-
ship that has ever existed, and they exhibit a phenomenon of moral
beauty that is singularly pleasing.

Mr. Hale further stated, that Cheng was the most quick tempered
of the two, to which they both assented. He is also a trifle the tall-
er and the stronger, and may have the most energy of purpose. If
so, the habitual exercise of his will in directing their actions, may in-
sensibly give to him a greater desire of command, and to his brother
a greater willingness to submit to it. But this exertion of authority
would not be likely to pass beyond a certain point, as it would meet
with a ready counteraction in the sympathetic feelings referred to.
As each is to each almost another self, neither can take much plea-
sure in that which does not please the other, and while this extraor-
dinary degree of fellow-feeling is not incompatible with the exertion
of as much authority on the part of one brother, as the other may
willingly submit to, it is inconsistent with a surrender of that other's
decided wishes and desires.

Rut, on the other hand, the greater energy of will and«of purpose,
which has been supposed, may not exist, or if it does, it may be ba-
lanced by the greater powers of reflection possessed by Eng. Though
the questions here propounded are too few to warrant any confident
conclusions, we cannot but perceive that nearly half of his answers
exhibit somewhat more of thought, or of precision than the answers
of his brother. If this be a just inference, it affords persuasive evi-
dence against the theory of Helvetius. How far these twins may
support or refute the principles of phrenology, I did not inquire; not
only because an examination of their heads, before their mental cha-
racters were accurately compared, would be premature, but also be-
cause it would be more satisfactory if made by those whose minds are
more undecided about the merits of Gall's system than mine can pre-
tend to be.

In conclusion, the author remarks, that his memoir was written not
so much on account of the success of the experiment it details, as by
way of suggesting its repetition to some other inquirer, under more
favourable circumstances Such a one would have the advantage of
the greater strength which the peculiarities of these twins may be sup-

28

posed to have received from time and indulgence: be might propound
to them a greater number of questions, prepared with more care: he
might compare not merely a part of their mental faculties and pro-
pensities, but all of them; and lastly, he might ascertain whether the
further development and growth of their passions have cast a shade
over the interesting moral picture they once presented, of a singleness
of purposes and desires in two individuals of the sain- ■ 9 \.

The Committee, in their report, express the hope that the
author of the paper or some other scientific individual may be
induced to continue these interesting psychological inquiries.

Mr. Lea read a continuation of his paper on fresh water and
land shells, which was referred to a committee.

Dr. Mitchell stated, that Dr. Hare and himself were engaged
in the examination of the electrical effects of the escape of li-
quid carbonic acid. It is known, that on being liberated from
pressure, this liquid is partially converted into gas, with the
consequent production of so much coldness as to convert the
remainder into a solid. On directing the jet from the receiver
upon a metal disc, seated on the cap of a gold leaf electrometer,
the leaves diverged, and on holding, by means of a glass handle,
another metal plate to the jet, Dr. Hare perceived electrical
sparks passing from the disc to his band.

Dr. Mitchell concluded by observing, that the phenomena
that might be presented on a further investigation would be
reported at the next sitting of the Society.

Mr. Lea, as chairman of the Committee of Publication, laid
before the Society a copy of Part 2, Vol. VII., of the Trans-
actions,

PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Vol. II. MARCH & APRIL, 1841. No. 17.

Stated Meeting, March 5.

Present, twenty-eight members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

A letter was received from Mr. William B. Wood, dated 1st
March, 1841, accompanying a further donation of newspapers
published in the English language, at Canton.
The following donations were announced: —

TO THE LIBRARY.

Flora Batava, ou Figures et Descriptions de Plantes Belgrques, &c.

Liorn, 120. 4to. — From H. M. the King of the Netherlands.
Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, N. S. Nos. 91 to 96, July

to Dec, 1836, inclusive. 8vo. — From the Society.
The American Journal of Science and the Arts, conducted by Profes-
sor Silliman and Benjamin Silliman, Jr. Vol. XL. No. 1.

Jan. 1841. 8vo. — From the Editors.
Journal of the Franklin Institute. 3d Series. Vol. I. Nos. 1 & 2.

Jan. and Feb., 1841. 8vo. — From the Institute.
Lithographic Plates, illustrative of the Geology of New York. — From

Mr. Vanuxem.
M'Elroy's Philadelphia Directory, and Williams's New York Annual

Register, for 1840. — From Mr. Du Ponceau.
Catalogue of the Pennsylvania State Library, &c. 1839. 8vo. —

From the Hon. J. B. Anthony.
The Canton Register, from Jan. 1830, to Aug. 1833. Vol— From

Mr. William B. Wood.

30

The Chinese Courier, from July, 1831 to Sept., 1833. 3 Vols. Fol.

From the .fame.
The Chinese Repository, from May, 1832 to April, 1834. 2 Vols.

8vo. — From Mr. Vavghan.
Trait€ £lementaire et Complet d'Ornithologie, <kc, par F. M. Dau-

din. Paris, 1800. 2 Vols. 4to. — From the same.
Lecons de Geologie, donnees au College de France, par J. C. Dela-

metherie. Paris, 1816. 3 Vols. 8vo. — From the same.

FOR THE CABINET.

A donation was made to the Cabinet by Dr. Dunglison, of a speci-
men of the Chinese printing blocks, which had been presented to him
by W. B. Driver, M.D., of Macao.

The Committe, consisting of Mr. Nicklin, Dr. Griffith, and
Dr. Hays, to whom was referred a paper, read by Mr. Lea on
the 21st Dec, 1838, entitled "On the Melania Cincinnatiensis,"
reported in favour of its publication in the Transactions; which
was thereupon ordered.

The same Committee, to whom was referred the continuation
by Mr. Lea, of his paper "On Fresh Water and Land Shells,"
read at the last meeting, reported in favour of its publication in
the Transactions; which was thereupon ordered.

In this paper Mr. Lea describes fifty-seven new species;

nearly the whole of them from this country : —

Unio Sapotalensis. Test i elliptic i, subinflata, intrquilaterali, postice sub-
biangulata; valvulis crassis; natibus vix proinincntibus: epidermide lutea,
dense radiata; dentibus cardinalibus subgrandibus ; lateralibus magnis subrec-
tisque ; margarita BUbaurea et valde iridescente. Il<il>. Sapotal Hivcr, near
Tlocril.ilp mi. Mex. — Dr. Burrough.

I iiin Tecomatensis. Testa elliptica, inflata, inmquilaterali, postice subbian-
gulata ; valvulis crassis; natibus snbprominentibus ; epidermide aubnigrA, ni-
tnli, dentibus cardinalibus magnis; lateralibus magnis subourvisque j inarga-
rita vi 1 purpurea vel salmonis colore tincta et iridescente, Huh. Tecomate
River, near Tlocatalpam, Mex. — Dr. Burrough.

Rajahensu Testa triangulari, inflata, inssquilaterali, postice angula-

i Ivulis crassis; natibus valde prominentibus; epidermide tenebroso»fuac4j

dentibus cardinalibus magnis ; lateralibus aublongia curvisque . margarita1 alba

de iridescente //"/'• The Elajah's tanks, Calcutta, — Dr. Jay.

I urn Bigbyensit. Testa ■ubtriangulari, oompreaaa,, inequilaterali, postice

■ngulat&j valvulis aubi ttibua prominentibus; epidermide lutea,, valde

■ i . dentibus cardinalibui magnis, erecti dibua magnis aubrec-

tisque; margariU vel alM vel salmonia colore tincU //"/' Big Bigby Creek,

Maury C. Tenn /' R Dutton

31

Unio crocatus. Test! elliptica, inflate, incequilaterali, postice angulata ; vai-
vulis tenuibus; natibus prominentibus; epidermide crocea, radiata, nitida;
dentibus cardinalibus parvis; lateralibus longis curvisque ; margarita salmonis
colore tincta et iridescente. Hab. Savannah River, Geo. — T. R. Dutton.

Unio callosus. Testa elliptica, compressa, inasquilaterali, postice angulata ;
valvulis crassis; natibus prominentibus; epiderraide luteo-fusca, nitida; den-
tibus cardinalibus parvis; lateralibus longis curvisque ; margarita alba et iri-
descente. Hab. Ohio Canal, 12 miles below Columbus. — Dr. Jay.

Unio Duttonianus. Testa valde transversa, cylindracea, valde insequilaterali,
postice angulata; valvulis subcrassis; natibus vix prominentibus; epiderraide
tenebroso-fusca, obsolete radiata; dentibus cardinalibus minimis; lateralibus
longissimus rectisque; margarita. alba et iridescente. Hab. Ogechee Canal,
Savannah, Geo. — T. R. Dutton.

Unio Georgianus. Testa elliptica, subcompressa, inaequilaterali, postice sub-
angulata ; valvulis subtenuibus ; natibus subprominentibus ; epidermide luteo-
fusca; dentibus cardinalibus parvis ; lateralibus brevibus rectisque ; margarita.
alba. Hab. Stump Creek, Geo.— T. R. Dutton.

Jlnodonta Montezuma. Testa obovata, subinflata, valde inaequilaterali ; val-
vulis tenuibus; natibus prominentibus; epidermide lutea vindique, rugosa;
margarita alba et iridescente. Hab. Central America — Dr. Jay.

Jlnodonta globosa. Testi rotunda, valde inflata, inasquilaterali ; valvulis te-
nuibus; natibus prominentibus, undulatis ; epidermide viridi, obsolete radiata;
margarita ca?ruleo-albaet iridescente. Hab. Concha Lake, near Tlocatalpam,
Mex. — Dr. Burrough.

Helix Tennessecnsis. Testa supra plano-convexa, subtus convexa, lutea, ob-
liquo-striata, umbilicata; spira brevi; suturis subimpressis ; anfractibus quinis
subconvexis ; apertura lunata ; labro intus incrassato. Hab. Cumberland
Mountains, Tenn. — S. M. Edgar.

Carocolla Edgariana. Testa supra subplana, subtus convexa, rufo-fusca,
irregulariter striata, imperforate ; spira brevi ; suturis vix impressis ; anfrac-
tibus quinis planulatis; apertura angustissima; columella dentem unicum long-
um et laminatum habentc ; labro incrassato, iu medio incisso. Hab. Cum-
berland Mountains, Tenn. — S. M. Edgar.

Bulimus Jayanus. Testa ovato conica, crassa, supra albida, subtus castanea,
perforata ; anfractibus senis, subconvexis ; apertura elliptica ; labro reflexo,
albo margine lineato ; columella alba, laevi. Hab. Java?

Achatina turbinata. Testa turbinate, albida obliquo-fasciata ct maculata ;
striis minutis decussanlibus, subcarinata ; suturis impressis; anfractibus senis,
convesis, infra sutures impressis ; apertura parva, ovata ; columella incurva.
Hub. Liberia. — Dr. Blanding.

Achatina striata. Testa subcylindracea, cornea, tenui, longitudinaliter ele-
gantissimeque striata; suturis impressis; anfractibus octonis, subconvexis;
apertura. parva, elliptica; columella incurvata. Hab. Liberia. — Dr. Bland-
ing.

Succinca gracilis. Testi longo-ovata, obliqua, exserta, subdiaphana, striata,
pallido lutea; spira elevata; suturis impressis; anfractibus subconvexis; aper-
tura longo-ovata. Hab. — Java?

Succinea Wa.rdia.no,. Testa obliquo-ovata, subnitida, diaplian.'i, obsolete stri-

32

ata, lute& ; ■pirA. breviuscula; suturis subiinpressis ; anfractibus ternis, con-
vexis; apertura subrotunda. Hab. Ohio. — Dr. Ward.

Succinea Tutteniana. Testa, obliquo-ovata, subnitida, subdiaphani. obsolete
striata, cornea ; spira brevi ; suturis impressis; anfractibus ternis, convexis ;
apertura elliptica. Hab. Newport, R. I. — Col. Tvtten, U. & Army.

Succinia .Xuttalliana. Testa longo-ovata, obliqua, subnitida, diaphana, stri-
ata, pallido lutea ; spiri subelevata; suturis impressis ; anfractibus ternis, sub-
cnnvexis ; apertura longo-ovata. Hab. Oregon. — Prof. .Xultall.

Succinea aurea. Testa obliquo-ovata, nitida, diaphana, leevi, aurea; spira
subelevata ; suturis impressis; anfractibus ternis, convcxis ; apertura ovata.
Hab. Springfield, Ohio.— T. G.

Succinea Candiana. Testa obliquo-ovata, subnitida, obsolete varicosa, dia-
phana, aurea; spira brevi; suturis subimprcssis ; anfractibus ternis, infiatis,
apertura lato-ovata. Hab. Martinique. — Lieut. Candi.

Succinea ful^ins. Testa obliquo-ovata, fulgens, diaphana, striata, aurea;
spira subelevata; suturis impressis; anfractibus ternis, convexis; apertura
lato-ovata. Hab. Cuba. — M. Poey.

Succinea Orcgonensis. Te»la obliqul, tenui, rugoso-striata, rufa. subdiapha-
na; spira exserta ; suturis valde impressis; anfractibus ternis, inflatis ; aper-
tura magna, lato-ovata. Hub. Oregon. — Prof. .Xuttull.

Succinea inflata. Testa subrotunda, inflata, tenui, lactea ; spira brevi; sutu-
ris subimpressis ; anfractibus ternis, rotundatis; apertura lato-ovata Hab.
South Carolina. — Prof. Row

Planorbis regularis. Testa subglobosa, superne subplana, subtus angusto-
umbilicata, pellucida, pallido-lutea, obsolete striata ; anfractibus ternis, su-
perne carinatis; labro acuto, marginato, intus incrassato; apertura ovata.
Hab. U. S)

Planorbis lUirhancnsis. Testa sublenticular^ superne subconvexa, ad peri-
phtEriam carinatu, subtus angusto-umbilicata, vel cornea vel subfusca, lani ;
anfractibus ternis, ad periphariam carinatis ; labro acuto ; apertura rotunda.
I Cincinnati, Ohio. — R. Buchanan.

Planorbis belhu. Testa orbiculari, 8uperne plano-concava, subtus late
umbilicata, virido-lutea, crebissime et elegantissime striata; anfractibus qua-
ternis, superne carinatis, subtus aubcarinatia ; labro acuto; apertura. parvft,
subrotunda, intus rufo-fuM. i. Hab. Tcnn. — l>r. I

Pkysa Hildrethiana itica, subcompressa, dongata, subpellucida ;

spira obtuso-clevat i . anfractibus quinis; labro marginato; apertura longa,
comprcssa. //./'■ A I.: te in lllin >is —Dr. Htldrcth.

Phyta I/.' irota, subpellucida ; spirt subeli

■niat'i iuil.it i . aperturi lata* Hob.
Sulphur and the Sweet Spring P. //. ffieklin.

: 1 <ib-

tusa ; BUturis subimpreBais ; anfractibus quinis, subconvexis ; labro marginato,
intus nlracta. Hab. trills,

/' /
l.i/nuiiit Ptiiladt aitida, diaphanl,

■ his \ aide un|>r. ssis . anfractibus
iptici Hub Schuylkill, near Phils
delphia.

33

Lymnea Griffithiana. Testa, ovato-conica, tenui, substriatA, nitida, subdia-
phana, luteo-cornea, perforata; spira breviuscula; suturis impressis; anfrac-
tibus quinis, convexis; apertura elliptica. Hab. Charlotte Lake, Columbia
Co. New York.— Dr. Griffith.

Lymnea JYuttalliana. Testa ovato-conica, subtenui, striata, subdiaphana,
pallido-fusca, imperforata; spira breviuscula, apice rufa ; suturis impressis;
anfractibus senis, convexis; apertura ovata, inflata, intus fasciata. Hab.
Oregon. — Prof. Xuttall.

Lymnea Bulitnoid.es. Testa ovato-conica, subtenui, la?vi, nitida, diaphana,
fusco-lutea, minute perforata; spira breviuscula ; suturis parvis; anfractibus
quinis subconvexis; apertura ovata. Hub. Oregon. — Prof. JS'uttall.

Lymnea exigua. Testa subfusiformi, tenui, striata, subdiaphana, pallido-
lutea, perforata ; spira breviuscula; suturis impressis; anfractibus quinis, sub-
convexis ; apertura elliptica. Hab. Tenn. — Dr. Troost.

Lymnea planulata. Testa ovato-conica, tenui, laevi, subdiaphana, fusca,
perforata; spira breviuscula; suturis impressis; anfractibus quinis, convexis;
apertura parva, ovata. Hab. White Sulphur Springs, Va. — P. H. Nicklin.

Lymnea fusiformis. Testa fusiformi, subcrassa, crebre-striata, pallido-lutea,
imperforata; spira breviuscula; suturis leviter impressis; anfractibus senis,
planulatis; apertura angusto-elliptica. Hab. Niagara River, Levvistown, N. Y.
Tobias Wagner.

Lymnea rustic a. Testa subfusiformi, tenui, imperforata ; spira sub-elevata;
suturis impressis; anfractibus quinis, subconvexis; apertura angusto-elliptica.
Hab. Poland, Ohio. — Dr. Kirtland.

Lymnea plica. Testa turrita, subtenui, lutea, striata, imperforata; spira sub-
elevata ; suturis impressis; anfractibus quinis, convexis; apertura parva, el-
liptica. Hab. Tennessee. — Dr. Troost.

Lymnea coarctata. Testa fusiformi, tenuissima, obsolete" striata, diaphana,
cornea, imperforata; spira brevi, mucronata ; suturis leviter impressis; an-
fractibus quaternis, subplanulatis; apertura grandi, ovata. Hab. Newport,
R. L—Col. Totten, U. S. Army.

Lymnea casta. Testa subfusiformi, subcrassa, crebre-striata, lutea, perfo-
rata; spira subelevata, acuminata; suturis impressis; anfractibus senis, con-
vexis; apertura grandi, ovata. Hab. Poland, Ohio. — Dr. Kirtland.

Lymnea parra. Testa subturrita, tenui, leevi, diaphana, cornea, subperfo-
rata; spira elevata ; suturis impressis; anfractibus quinis, convexis; apertura
elliptica. Hab. Cincinnati, Ohio. — T. G. Lea.

Lymnea curta. Testa subturrita, subtenui, nitida, subdiaphana, lutea, per-
forata; spira elevata; suturis impressis; anfractibus senis, convexis; apertura
parva, elliptica. Hab. Cincinnati, Ohio. — T. G. Lea.

Lymnea strigosa. Testa longo-ovata, subobliqua, diaphana, striata, cornea,
tenui, imperforata ; spira brevi ; suturis impressis; anfractibus quinis, subcon-
vexis ; apertura ovata. Hab. Near Cincinnati, Ohio. — T. G.Lea.

Lymnea Kirtlundiana. Testa turrita, tenui, irregulariter striata, pallido-
cornea, imperforata, elevata; spira attenuate; suturis impressis; anfractibus
senis, subconvexis; apertura angusto-elliptici'i. Hab. Poland, Ohio. — Dr.
Kirtland.

Lymnea rubella. Testa ovato-conicA, tenui, lajvi, nitida, diaphana, rubella,

imperforate; spira breviuscula; suturis parvis; anfractibus quinis, subcon-
vexis ; apertura subgrandi, ovata. Hab. Oahu. — Prof. .Xuttall.

Palwlina regularis. Testa subglobosa; subcrassa, vindo-cornea, leevi, im-
perforate: spira brevissiina; suturis impressis ; anfractibus quinis, convexis;
apertura magna, ovata. intus carulea. Hab. Ohio? — T.G.I.'d.

Paludina obtusa. Testa subcylindracea, subtenui, tenebroso-viridi, la>vi,
minute perforata; spira brevi, ad apicem valde obtusa ; suturis impressis; an-
fractibus quaternis, convexis; apertura parva. subrotunda. Hub. Ohio. — Dr.
Kirlland.

Paludina Troostiana. Testa ventricoso-conoidea, tenui, pellucida, luteo-
cornea, la?vi, perforata ; spira brevi ; suturis valde impressis ; anfractibus qua-
ternis convexis ; apertura magna, rotundata, alba. Hab. Tenn. — Dr.Troost.

.Inrulosa Troostiana. Testa ovato-conica, crassa, minute rugosa, tenebroso-
fusca ; spira subclevata ; suturis subimpressis ; anfractibus planulatis; aper-
tura rotunda, intus cxrulea; columella crassa, vel alba vol carnea. Hab.
Tenn. — Prof. T roost.

.Inrulosa gibbosa. Testa subglobosa, gibbosa, crassa, subnigra, crebrd stri-
ata ; spira brevi; suturis impressis; anfractibus subplanulatis ; apertura sub-
quadrangulari, vel carnea vel albida. Hub. Tenn. — Prof Troost.

.hindosa dentata. Testa subglobosa, crassa, subnigra ; spira brevi, obtusa;
suturis impressis; anfractibus convexis; apertura magna, subrotunda; colu-
mella crassa, dentatt. Hub. Vicinity of Richmond, Va. — J. A. Warder, M.l>.

.Iiintlusu rurinulu. Testa ovato-conoidea, carinata, tenebroso-olivacea ; spira.
breviuscula; suturis parvis; anfractibus senis; apertura parva, rotunda, intus
albida, suloat 1 . columella subcrassa, purpurea. Hab. Roanoke River, La-
— J. .1 Warder, M.I)

tuso-conoidea, crassa, vi 1 fasciata vol cornea
vel carinaUt vel hi'vi ; suturis line aribus ; anfractibus senis, planulatis; aper-
tura magna, Bubrotunda ; columella crassa, vel alba vel purpurea. Haft,
ette. — I. .1 Warder, M D,

Amnicola orbiculata. Testa orbicular i, Bub tenui, luteola, larvi, umbilicata ;
spira brevi; Buturis valde impressis; anfractibus quinis, inflatis; apertura
tunda. Hab. Springfield, Ohio, and Schuylkill? near l'hiladel-
phia — / G

Amnicola parva I itenui, luteola, lovi, umbilicata ;

spira brevi; suturis imp fractibus qualernis, infi

inda. /////'. Springfield, Ohio.— / G

/ I fusiformi, subtenui, Bubnigra, lovi; spira conica; bu<

tuns vix ii infractibus situs, subplanulatis; apertura irregulariter

pyriformi, intus purpun II I M. Edgar.

Mr. Lea mentions, thai regarding the sexual difference in
the family Naidea as no longer a matter of doubt, his attention
had been given to the length of gestation and the periods <>f
parturition. W ith this \ ;< w tables were made of a serii a of

igh nearly three consecutive years

by Mr. T. G. Lea, al Cincinnati. These prove thai many spe-

ne genus differ in their periods. In the course of

35

the examinations, it was remarked, that in the U. multiplica-
tus, Lea, and the U. rubiginosus, Lea, both lobes of the
branchiae were occasionally charged with ova on both sides.

Dr. Bache announced the decease of the Hon. Thomas L.
Winthrop, of Mass., a member of the Society, which occurred
at Boston on the 21st of February, 1841.

Dr. Patterson communicated a letter from Mr. Walker, dated
20th Feb., 1841, relating to the formulas developed and used
by him in his paper, entitled "Researches concerning the Pe-
riodical Meteors of August and November;" which was order-
ed to be deposited in the archives of the Society, with the pa-
per to which it relates.

Professor Bache stated, that he had received a letter from
Dr. Locke, of Cincinnati, relating to the Magnetic Observations
made by the author, and published in the Society's Transac-
tions and Proceedings; the matter of which he communicated
to the Society, in accordance with the supposed wish of Dr.
Locke.

The Secretaries, as a Committee to cause the Records and
Documents of the Society to be arranged and bound, presented
their Report, accompanied by a letter from J. Francis Fisher,
Esq., who had been one of the Secretaries at the time when
this duty was assigned to them, and upon whom the perform-
ance of it was devolved by them.

The Records and Documents presented with the report, are com-
prised in 19 large quarto, and 2 folio volumes, and are arranged in
order of subjects, as follows:

I. Nominations of Members.

II. Letters of Acknowledgment from Members Elect.

III. Miscellaneous Correspondence.

IV. V. VI. Letters announcing Donations to the Library ; and

VII. To the Cabinet.

VIII. Letters acknowledging Donations.

IX. Reports of Committees and Board of Officers.

X. Reports of Committees on Communications.

XI. MS. Communications on Mathematics and Astronomy.

XII. MS. Communications on Natural History, Fossil Remains, Mi-
neralogy, and Geology.

36

XIII. MS. Communications on Natural Philosophy, Chemistry and
Meteorology.

XIV. MS. Communications on Medicine, Anatomy and Physiology.

XV. MS. Communications on Mechanics, Machinery and Engineer-
ing.

XVI. MS. Communications on Trade, Commerce and Manufactures,
Agriculture and Husbandry, and Economics.

XVII. MS. Communications on Philology, Literature, Antiquities,
Geography ami Education.

XVIII. The MS. draughts of the Judicial Opinions of Chief Justice
Marshall, in the Circuit Court of the U. S., presented to the So-
ciety some years ago, by Mr. Brockenbrough of Richmond, Va.
form this Volume.

Three other volumes contain: I. The Minutes of the Am. Phil. So-
ciety, previous to its union with the Am. Soc. for Promoting Useful
Knowledge, from Jan. to Dec, 1768. II. and III. The Minutes of
the Society under its present organization, from Jan., 1774, to June,
1787, inclusive, heretofore wanting; which Mr. Fisher has happily
supplied by collating numerous memoranda, and occasional records
found bv him among the ancient papers of the Society.

In conformity to a provision of the Laws, the following
stated appropriations were made for the current year: —
For the Hall, 8200.
For the purchase of Journals, S200.
For binding, MOO.
For current expenses, $550.

Stated Mei (ing, March 1 9.
Present, thirty-one members.
Mr. I)i Ponceau, President, in the (hair.
Letters were read from the Secretary of the Royal Asiatic

Society, dated Dl 5, 1 E 10, and from the Secretary of the

lloi 1 1 en It ura 1 Society of London, dated Dec. i . 1840, acknow-
ledging the receipt of Pari I. of Vol. VII., of the Transactions
ietj .

3?

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

A Continuation to the Alphabetical Index of the Matter contained in

the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London,

from Vol. LXXI. to Vol. CXX., 1781 to 1830. 2 Vols. 8vo—

From the Society.
Address of the Marquis of Northampton, President, &c. &c, read at

the Anniversary Meeting of the Royal Society, on Saturday, Nov.

30, 1840. 8vo. — From the same.
Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society of London. Vol. XI.

1840. 4to. — From the Society.
Proceedings of the Royal Astronomical Society of London. No. 10.

Dec. 1840. 8vo. — From the same.
On the Minute Structure and Movements of Voluntary Muscle, by

William Bowman, Esq., Demonstrator of Anatomy in King's

College, London, &c. 1840. 4to. — From the Author.
Experimental Researches on the Strength of Pillars of Cast Iron and

other Materials, by Eaton Hodgkinson, Esq. London. 1840.

4to. — From the Author.
Niles's Weekly Register, Sept. 1836 to Sept. 1837. 2 Vols. 4to.—

From the Editor.
Niles's National Register, Sept. 1837 to Sept. 1840. 6 Vols. 4to.—

From the Editor, Jeremiah Hughes, Esq.
The History of Harvard University, by Josiah Quincy, LL.D., Pre-
sident of the University, Cambridge. 1840. 2 Vols. 8vo. —

From the Author.
God, the Lord of All; a Missionary Tract in the Chinese Language.

8vo. — From the Rev. B. H. and A. Bingham.
O Auxiliador da Industria Nacional, &c. &c, anno 1840. Rio de

Janeiro, 1840. 6 Nos. 8vo. Jan. to June.— From Mr. J. S.

Rebello.
Tijdschrift voor Natuurlijke Geschiedenis en Physiologie; uitgegeven

door J. Van der Hoeven, M.D., &c, en W. H. de Vriese, M.D.,

&c. Amsterdam, 1840. 8vo. — From the Editors.
The Eclectic Journal of Medicine, edited by John Bell, M.D., &c. &c.

Vol. IV. Nov. 1839 to Oct. 1840. Philadelphia. 8vo.—

From the Editor.
The Select Medical Library, edited by John Bell, M.D., &c. &c.

5 Vols. Philadelphia, 1839, 1840. 8vo.— From the same.
Biographical Account of John Hadley, Vice-President of the Royal

38

Society, &o, and of his Brothers, George and Henry Hadley.
London. Qvo. — From Dr. Robert Hare.

Annual Report of the Geologist of .Maryland, 1840. 8vo. — From
the Author, Dr. J. T. Ducatel.

The Theory of Money and Banks investigated ; by George Tucker,
Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Virginia, &c.
&c. Boston, 1839. 12mo. — From the Author.

Epistle to Joseph John Gurney, on the Society of Friends; by Benja-
min Hornor Coates, M.D. Philadelphia, 1841. — From the Au-
thor.

Rambles in Europe in 1839, with Sketches of Prominent Surgeons,
6:c. &c &e. ; by William Gibson, M.D., Professor of Surgery
in the University of Pennsylvania, &c. Philadelphia, 1841.
12mo. — From the Author.

Professor Bache presented to the notice of the Society, the
curves representing the Magnetic Observations made at Wash-
ington City, on the 6th of January last, and the five days suc-
ceeding, a drawing of which he had received from Lieut. Gil-
liss, the director of the Magnetic Observatory at that station.

Dr. Patterson presented to the Society a resolution recently
adopted by the Controllers of the Public Schools, agreeing to
deposite a transit instrument imported by them, for five years,
from the 1st instant, in the Society's Observatory, on certain
conditions. The resolution was referred to the Committee on
the Observatory.

Dr. Mitchell referred to the experiments, in which he is still
engaged with Dr. Hare, on the electricity produced during va-
porization. He mentioned that the solid, formed when car-
bonic acid which has been liquefied by pressure escapes from
the containing vessel, is found to have positive, and the re-
ceiver negative electricity. \\c proposes to communicate other
results of these experiments at a future meeting of the Society.

39

Stated Meeting, April 2.

Present, twenty-three members.

Judge Hopkinson, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Letters were read —

From M. Guizot, dated Paris, Dec. 14, 1840; from Mr. John
L. Stephens, dated New York, March 13, 1841; and from M.
Pierre de Angelis, dated Buenos Ayres, Jan. 8, 1S41, acknow-
ledging the honour done them by their election as members of
the Society: —

From the Secretary of the Geological Society of London,
dated Jan. 7, 1841; from the Secretary of the Royal Asiatic
Society, dated Jan. 2, 1841; from the Secretary of the Royal
Geographical Society of London, dated Nov. 21, 1S40; and
from the Secretary of the Royal College of Surgeons, in Lon-
don, dated Feb. 5, 1841, severally acknowledging the receipt
of donations from this Society.

The following donations were received: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Astronomical Observations made at the Royal Observatory, Edin-
burgh, for the Year 1837. By Thomas Henderson, F.R.S.,
&c. Edinb. 1840. 4to. — From the Royal Society of Lon-
don.

Annuaire Magnetique et Meteorologique du Corps des Ingenieurs des
Mines de Russie, &c &c. Annee, 1838. St. Petersburg, 1840.
4to. — From the Imperial Academy of St. Petersburg,

Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. N. S. No. 18. 1840.
8vo. — From the Society.

Proceedings of the Royal Astronomical Society. Vol. V. Nos. 10
and 11. Dec. 1840, Jan. 1841. 8vo — From the Society.

Journal of the Franklin Institute. Third Series. Vol. I. No. 3.
March, 1841. 8vo. — From the Institute.

The American Quarterly Register, conducted by B. B. Edwards and
W. Cogswell. Vol. XIII. No. 3. Feb. 1841. 8vo.— From
the Editors.

Twenty-third Annual Report of the Controllers of the Public Schools

w

of the Citj and County of Philadelphia! L84L 8vo. — From

Mr. <:. »/. Wharton.
The American Medical Librarj and Intelligencer. Bj Roble) Dun*

glison, M.D., &c. &c. Vol. IV. Nog. 21 & 22, Feb., 1841.
/ i Editor.

\ Di i »ui eon the Character, Properties, and Importance to Man, of

the Natural Familj of Plants, called Grammes or True G • i •

Bj Wm. Darlington, M.D. West Chester, 1841. *•>...— From

tin Author.

Minutes of the General Assembl) of tlie Presbj terian Church in the
I nited States of A.merii a. I oi 1886, 1887, 1688, L840. Phi*
lad< Iphia. Bvo.- From Mr. I\<ui<-.

A Dictionary, Hindoostanee and English. B) Capt. Joseph Taylor,
revised by W. Hunter, M.D. Calcutta, 1808. 2 Vol • Ito.—
From Mr. G. Henthaw Belcher.

Coleccion deObras j Documentos relativos a la Historia Antigua j
Moderns de lai Provincias del Ki<» de la Plata. Par Pedro da
Angelis. Tomo Sexto. Bueno A.in . 1887. Fol. — From the

1 utlmr.

The N< u Testament, with Ri to Parallel Passages, &c. otc.

V » fork, L882. — From Mr. Vaughan,

fOH THE CABIN] I

A largt Specimen of the Red Pipe Stono, from the countrj of the
Sioux Indians. — From Mr* J. V. Vicollet,

Dr. Patterson read a paper, entitled "On the Expansion of the
Function a: i A,bj Pike Powers, ol the University ol Virgi-
nia ." w hich w .is i 'i' rred to a < !oi ittee.

Mi. Walkei read a paper, entitled u liatr mica! Obaerva

tiona made at Hudson Observatory, lat. n I i 10 V., and
long, 5 'S v i v \\ .. h\ Eliaa Loomis, Prof, Math, and Nat
Phil, in Western Reserve College;" which waa referred to ■
( 'iiimii in

Dr. Patterson described the arrangement oi •• Thermometer,
winch in- had caused i<> be attached to a steam boilei .ii the
l nited States' Mint, for the purpose <>i indicating the pressure
ol the steam bj reft rence to the temperature oi the water.

The bulb ol the thermometoi was di ed in a bath of mercury,

lined in i bi nl iron tub I 1 igh the head of the boilei

41

below the water line; the stem of the thermometer being curved at
its lower extremity to correspond with the tube. The scale was gra-
duated as an indicator of pressure in accordance with the results of
the experiments made by the Franklin Institute of Pennsylvania. A
comparison of its indications with those of a very well made and
carefully graduated safety valve, attached to the same boiler, had
proved entirely satisfactory.

Dr. John Locke, of Cincinnati, a member of the National In-
stitution, visiting the Society, was invited to make a communi-
cation explanatory of the " Safety Guard" of Mr. Cadwal-
lader Evans, of Pittsburg, of which he presented a working
model to the notice of the Society.

After some observations on the causes of accidents to high pressure
boilers with flues, most of which were referred either to over pres-
sure of saturated steam, or to over heating the flues when the water
is low ; and a brief historical sketch of the introduction of fusible al-
loys in aid of the safety valves and gauge cocks; Dr. Locke called
the attention of the Society to the model of Mr. Evans's invention.

In this, the fusible alloy is placed in the bottom of an iron tube,
which is inserted into the boiler and attached to it steam-tight by a
flange at the top, or outer extremity, while the end containing the fu-
sible metal is placed in contact with the upper part of the flue, so as
to receive the greatest heat of the part first exposed by low water. A
key, like the key of a common lock, pivoted in the alloy, continues
fixed while the alloy remains solid, but is free to turn as soon as it
fuses. The stem of the key, passing through a collar, terminates on
the outside in a cylindrical head or pulley. To this a chain is fixed,
which, after being wound round the cylindrical head, passes over a
simple pulley at the end of the lever of the safety valve, and there sus-
pends the weight.

While the alloy remains solid, the action of this weight is the same
as if it were attached to the lever itself, as in the common arrange-
ment of the safety valve. When the temperature of the " guard"
reaches the point for which the alloy was composed; in consequence
either of the excessive temperature of the steam that surrounds it, or
of the water sinking below the top of the flue on which it rests; the
alloy melts: the weight acting on the chain turns the loosened key,
the chain is unwound, and th<- weight, descending upon a platform
placed to receive it, relieves the safety valve of its load.

The " safety guard" has the recommendation of great, simplicity,

12

and of placing it out of the power of the engineer to transcend the
assigned limit of pressure on the boiler. When it goes into action, it
stops the engine for the time, but permits the motion to be renewed
as soon as the cause of danger is removed either by the escape of
steam or the cooling of the flue. The alloy having again become
solid, the chain is passed round the cylinder anew, and the engine
proceeds as before.

Dr. Locke illustrated these remarks by successful experiments with
the working model. lie added, that the apparatus, with different mo-
difications which he described, has been applied to more than twenty
boats on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, during a length of time suffi-
cient to test its practical usefulness, and that it is rapidly gaining
popularity with the proprietors of steam-boats, and with the public.

Professor Bache, at the instance of Dr. Locke, gave a brief
history of the different applications of fusible metal to steam-
boilers.

He stated that the experiments of the Franklin Institute had proved
the necessity of preventing the steam from pressing directly on the
fusible metal, in consequence of the liability of the metal to separate
into portions of different fusibility when submitted to such pressure.
He mentioned that Mr. Evans had adopted the same mode of apply*
ing fusible metal as the Committee of the Institute, and at about the
same time. Professor Bache then described the less perfect appara-
tus first devised by Mr. Evans, and alluded to one of his own which
be had himself published subsequently. He referred to ihe pecu-
liarities of the arrangement exhibited by Dr. Locke, and expressed
his satisfaction at the prospect of the safety guard being introduced
into general use, under the auspices of a practical mechanic like Mr.
Evans.

Mr. Walker mentioned some strictures which he had re-
ceived from a correspondent, upon a paper, by Miss Morris

"On the Hessian Fly," HOW in the preBS of the Society, ami oi'

which an abstract was published iii its Proceedings for Decem-
ber last

Dr. Cni l is argued, that the history of the larva of the Hessian

Fly could by no means be considered settled; and that the sub-
ject was properly open for present and future examination.

This be endeavoured to support 1>\ pointing out inconsistent
tli-- descriptions ofthe best w -iters; remarking, that Mr. .lames Worth,

43

and Baron Von Menninger had seen larvae similar to that described
by Miss Morris; the latter of which were thought by Curator Kollar
to produce the Cecidomyia Destructor of Say, although in Germany,
in which that species was not hitherto known to exist; and some of
the former of which were found by Mr. Worth, to produce pupae
under the sheath of the leaf, as the Cecidomyia does. Other illustra-
tions were drawn by Dr. Coates, from nearly related species ; and it
was urged that the law by which insects possess a power of accom-
modation to circumstances, in depositing their eggs in unusual and
diversified places, to the great modification of the larva, had never
been shown to be inapplicable to this case.

Part of the objections of Mr. Walker's correspondent, were referred
by Dr. Coates to an error in the minutes, and which had been trans-
ferred to the published Proceedings of the Society; by which Miss
Morris was incorrectly represented as mentioning in her paper the
parasitic insect which stings the Hessian Fly. In the opinion of Mr.
Westwood, as stated by Dr. C, this parasite, generally known as a
Ceraphron, should be referred to the genus Pteromalas.

Mr. Lea, on behalf of the Committee of Publication, laid
upon the table Part 3, Vol. VII. of the Transactions of the So-
ciety, which completes the volume.

In accordance with a recommendation contained in a Report
from the Secretaries, they were discharged from the further
consideration of the subject referred to them by the Society's
resolution of 15th January last.

Stated Meeting, April 16.

Present, forty-seven members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Major Graham, of the United States' Army, and Professor
Alexander, of Princeton, N. J., members elect, were intro-
duced, signed the Laws, and took their seats.

Letters were read —

From Mr. Francisco Martinez de la Rosa, dated Paris, 15th
Feb. 1841, making acknowledgments for the honour of his elec-
tion to membership: —

44

From the Secretary of the Royal Society of Sciences, Agri-
culture and Arts, of Lille, dated 2d Feb. 1841, proposing a
correspondence and interchange of publications with this So-
ciety ; which was, on motion, referred to a committee: —

From the President of Harvard University, dated 9th April,
1S41, acknowledging the receipt of the Transactions, N. S.
Vol. VII. Part 2.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Nos. 100, 101. Calcutta,

1840. 8vo. — From the Society.
Transactions of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India.

Vol. VII. Calcutta, 1840. 4to. — From the Society.
Constitution and Laws of the New York Historical Society. New

York, 1839. 8vo. — From the Society.
Proceedings of the National Institution for the Promotion of Science.

Washington, 1841. 8vo. — From the Institution.
History of Harvard University from its Foundation in 1638, to the

Period of the American Revolution. By Benjamin Peirce, &c &c.

Cambridge, 1833. 8vo. — From the Prcsidmt and Fellows*
Fifty-fourth Annual Report of the Regents of the University of New

k. Albany, 1841. 8vo. — From tht Regents.
Catalogue, &c., of Bowdoin College and the Medical School of Maine.

Brunswick, 1841. 8vo. — From Professor I). A. Goodwin.
The American Medical Library and Intelligencer. Edited by Robley

Dunglison, M.D., &c &c. Vol. IV. No. 23. — From the Editor,
cal Letters on the First Charter of Massachusetts* By Abel

Cushing, &c. &c Boston, 1839. 16mo. — From the Author.
The American Journal of Medical Sciences, conducted by Isaac

Hays, M.h. &c. &c April. 1841 From the Editor.

The American Journal of Science and Arts, conducted by Benjamin

Silliman and 15. Silliman, Jr. N. S. No. 2. April, 1841.—

From tin Editors.
A Sermon preached by Rev. Jared L. Elliott, before the Officers of

the l • S. I Exploring Expedition, on the < Occasion of the Death of

Lieut. J. A. Underwood and Midshipman Wilkes Henry. Ho-
nolulu, Oahu, 1840.— From Mr. Titian R. Peale.
The Northern Light. Vol.1. No. i. Albany, NT. if. 1841.—

From Dr. '/'. Romeyn Beck.

45

Dr. Bache announced the death of Dr. Samuel Colhoun, a
member of the Society, who died on the 7th of April, 1841,
aged fifty-four.

Mr. Walker read a paper, entitled " A Continuation of As-
tronomical Observations made at Hudson Observatory, by
Elias Loomis, Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philoso-
phy at Western Reserve College;" which was referred to a
committee.

Mr. Walker read a letter from Mr. Simeon Borden, dated
Boston, 6th April, 1841, giving the results of the Trigonome-
trical Survey of the State of Massachusetts, lately completed
by him, and those obtained by Mr. Paine's Chronometrical
Survey of the same State; which was referred to a committee.

Professor S. Alexander, of Princeton, made an oral commu-
nication on the subject of the Meteor of March 15th.

He prefaced his communication by a notice of the arguments, as
stated by M. Arago, which tend to show that aerolites cannot be of
terrestrial origin ; a conclusion which Prof. A. regarded as irresisti-
ble: and, in view of it remarked, that he regarded the aerolites them-
selves as presenting a subject of special interest, inasmuch as what-
ever might be their origin, they telegraphed to us the fact, that mat-
ter such as that with which we were familiar, existed apart from the
earth ; it having been demonstrated by an analysis of the fragments
which have, from time to time, dropped from the bodies in question,
that they were composed of materials similar to those which exist
upon our planet.

Prof. Alexander described the meteor which he had observed at
Princeton.

It was, as he stated, of a white or bluish white colour, except that
one half, — the following half of it, as regarded the direction of its
apparent motion, — was bordered with red. He observed, moreover,
that the atmosphere was so hazy at the time, that even Venus was
seen but indistinctly. From a comparison of the relative positions
of this planet and the meteor, at the time of the sudden disappearance
of the latter, he concluded that its azimuth at that time was 86°, and
its altitude 29°. He estimated its apparent diameter to have been
somewhat less than half that of the Moon, or about 12' or 13'. He
had seen a newspaper account of observations made of the same me-

F

46

teor at New Haven, in which it was stated, that the observed azimuth,
at the time of its disappearance, was 68°, and its altitude 11°.

From these elements, it resulted, that the meteor, when it disap-
peared, must have been 223.35 English miles distant from New
Haven; and 131.73 from Princeton. The perpendicular altitude de-
duced from the New Haven observation, was 48.71 miles; from that
at Princeton, 65.79 miles. The diameter of the meteor, from the ob-
servation at the latter place, was 0.4598 of a mile.

Prof. Alexander remarked, in conclusion, that these results, in so
far as they admitted of a comparison, did not accord very well; and
that accounts of other observations were desirable.

Professor Henry mentioned, that he had recently repeated
some experiments of Becquerel and Biot on phosphorescence,
the results of which demonstrate the existence of an emanation
from incandescent bodies, particularly when in an electrical
state, of a character not heretofore known. He promised (o
give a more full account of these at a future meeting of the
Society.

The following gentlemen were elected members of the So-
ciety.

Major Edward Sabine, V. P. R. S.
I" \ \i R. ,1 \i kson. of Philadelphia.

Professor Roswell Parke, of the University of Pennsyl-
\ ania.

Dr. Robert Christison, F. R. S. of Edinburgh.
Professor Edward Hitchcock, of Amherst College, Mass.
William Peter, H. B. M. Consul, at Philadelphia.

\. 1*. DE I \ \ DOLLE, of Gl ihv.i.

PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Vol. II. MAY & JUNE, 1841. No. 18.

Stated Meeting, May 7.

Present, twenty-seven members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Mr. Isaac R. Jackson, and Professor Roswell Park, mem-
bers elect, were introduced, and signed the Laws.

Letters were received, and read : —

From the Perpetual Secretary of the Royal Academy of
Inscriptions, &c, Institute of France, dated 16th Nov. 1840,
and 15th Feb. 1841, acknowledging the receipt of Vol. VII.
Part 1, of the Transactions, and of No. 13, of the Proceedings
of the Society.

From M. Felix Lajard, Provisional Secretary of the Royal
Academy of Sciences, Institute of France, dated 8th Dec. 1840,
accompanying Vol. XIV. Part 2, of its Memoirs, and commu-
nicating information relative to the course of the Academy's
publications, its public sittings, the prizes it distributes, &c.
The Provisional Secretary announces the purpose of the Aca-
demy to transmit its weekly reports, proces verbaux, &c,
with renewed regularity to the Society, and invites a closer
correspondence, and more frequent interchanges between the
two Institutions.*

From Count J. Graberg de Hemso, to the Librarian, dated
Florence, 26th Nov. 1840, and 4th Jan. 1841, and to one of the

* The programme of prizes, &c., referred to in M. Lajard's letter as accom-
panying it, and to which the Society was requested to give publicity, did not
arrive.

F

48

Secretaries, dated 16th Jan. 1841, relating to numerous dona-
tions heretofore transmitted by him to the Library.
The following donations were announced : —

TO THE LIBRARY.

Des Moyens de soustraire 1'E.xploitation des Mines de Houille aux

chances d'Explosion, &c. &c Brussels, 1840. 8vo. — From the

Royal Academy of Brussels.
Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy. Vol. XIX. Part I.

Dublin, 1841. 4to. — From the Academy.
Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Vol. XIV. Part

I. Edinburgh 1839. 4to. — From the Society.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Nos. 13, 14, 15,

1838, 1839. 8vo.— From the same.
Astronomical, and Magnetical, and Meteorological Observations, made

at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, in the year 1839, &c.

&c. London, 1840. 4to. — From the Royal Society.
List of the Council, Scientific Committees, and Fellows of the Royal

Society, Nov. 30, 1840. 4to. — From the same.
Proceedings of the Royal Society. No. 45. Nov. 1840. 8vo. —

From the same.
The Laws of the Historical Society of Science, and List of its Offi-
cers and Members. London, 1840. 8vo. — From the game,
Institut Royal de France: Seance Publique Annuclle de F Academic

des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres, du Sept. 25, 1840. Paris,

1840. 4to. — From the Institute.

Memoires de FInstitut Royal de France, Academie des Inscriptions
et Belles Lettres. Tome XIV. Paris, 1840. 4to. — From the
same.

Societ'- (^Encouragement pour FIndustrie Nationale, Calendrier pour

1841, Liste des Membres, &c Paris. — From the Society.
Recueil des Actes de la Seance Publique do FAcademie [mperiale des

St. P • rabourg, tenue le 29 Dec. 1838. St. Peters-
burg] 1880. 4to. — From the. Academy.

nee Publique do FAcademie [mperiale,
&c. &c, du 20 Dec L889. St. Petersburg, 1840. Wo.— From
tin tame.
Memoires de FAcademie [mperiale, &c &c VIme. Ser. — Sciences
P(.liii<). Hist. Philolog. Tom. tVme, 4me et ">ni«' Livrns. —
Sciences Mathem. Phys. el NTatur. Tome IVme, prtm. Partie.

49

Mathem. et Phys. Tom. Hd, 3me et 4me Livrns. — Sciences
Mathem. Phys. et Natur. Tom. Vme. 2d Partie. Natur. Tom.
Illme, Ire, 2de, 3me et 4me Livrns. St. Petersburg, 1839,
1840. 8 Livrns. 4to. — From the same.

Vocabulario Universale della Lingua Italiana. Vol. VI. Fasc.
XXXVII. Vol. VII. Fasc. XL. XLI. Naples, 1839, 1840. Fol.
From the Chev. Morelli.

De la Verite; ou Meditations sur les moyens de parvenir a. la Verite,
&c. &c, par J. P. Brissot de Warville, (with MS. Notes by the
Author.) Neufchatel, 1782. 8vo. — From Mr. John Pening-
ton.

Nouveaux Documens relatifs a l'emploi alimentaire de la Gelatine en
1840, par M. d'Arcet, &c. &c. Paris, 1840. 8vo.— From Mr.
D. B. Warden.

Specchio Geografico, e Statistico, del l'lmpero di Marocco, del Cava-
liere Conte Jacopo Graberg di Hemso, &c. &c. Genoa, 1834.
8vo. — From the Author.

Nouvelles Recherches sur PInscription en lettres sacrees du Monu-
ment de Rosette. Florence, 1830. 8vo. — From the same.

Cenni Geografici e Statistici su l'Asia Centrale, e principalmente sul
paese dei Kirghizi e sul Khanato di Khiva, per Jacobo Graberg
da Hemso, &c. &c. Milan, 1840. 8vo. — From the same.

Descrizione delle orde e delle steppe dei Kirghizi-Kazaki, opera dal
Signor Alessio de Leuchine, oro notomizzata per Jacopo Graberg
da Hemso. Milan, 1840. 8vo. — From the same.

Dalla Necessita d'un Istituto Agrario che stabilmente provveda all'in-
cremento delPAgricoltura Toscana, &c. &c Memoria dal Mar-
chese Francesco Maria Riccardo del Vernaccia, &c. &c. Flo-
rence, 1839. 8vo. — From the same.

The same Memoir, translated into French, by Count J. Graberg da
Hemso. Paris, 1840. 8vo. — From the same.

Sul Sistema di Rotazione in Coltura, &. &c. Memoria dal Conte
Jacopo Graberg da Hemso. Florence, 1840. 8vo. — From the
same.

Thirteen Reviews, &c. for different periodical publications, by Count
J. Graberg da Hemso. 1829— 1839.— From the same.

Phrenology; a Lecture delivered before the Woodville Lyceum Asso-
ciation, by Mariano Cubi i Soler, Professor of Modern Languages,
&c &c. Boston, 1840. 8vo. — From the Author.

Report of a Survey and Exploration of the Coal and Ore Lands be-
longing to the Alleghany Coal Co. &c. &c. By Walter R. John-

50

son, A.M. &c. &c. Philadelphia, 1841. 8vo. — From the Au-
thor.
Review of the Dictionarium Anamitico-Latinum, &c. By John Pick-
ering, Esq. &o &c Boston, 1841. 8vo. — From the Author.
Eighth Annual Report of the Managers of the Pennsylvania Institu-
tion for the Instruction of the Blind. Philadelphia, 1841. 8vo. —

From the Managers.
A Memoir, &c. of the late Joseph Parrish, M.D. &C. ccc. By

George B. Wood, M.D. Philadelphia, 1840. 8vo.— From the

Author.
A Discourse on the Death of William Henry Harrison, &c. &c By

George W. Bethune, Minister of the Reformed Dutch Church,

Philadelphia, 1841. 8vo. — From the Author.
Biographical Notice of Benjamin Silliman, M.D. LL.D. &c. &c. By

Professor Kingsley. — From Mr. Vaugkan.
Statistics of the Class of 1837, Yale College. 1840. 8vo.— From

Mr. 11. Silliman, Jr.
Contributions towards a History of the Star-Showers of former Times.

By Edward C. Herrick, &c. &c 1841. 8vo. — From the same.
Catalogue of Books, &c. added to the Library of the N. Y. Historical

Society since Jan. 1839. New York, 1840. 8vo. — From the

Society.
Twenty-fourth Report to the London Provident Institution, or Bank

for Savings. 20th Nov. 1840. — From William Yaughan, Esq.
A Plan, showing the Progress of the Thames Tunnel. — From Petty

Vaughan, Esq.
Abstract of a Meteorological Journal for the year ending 30th Nov.

1840, kept by N. W. Hatch, in the city of Vicksburg, Lat. 32$°.

From the Author.
Register of Debates in Congress, by Gales & Seaton. Vols. I. II.

1824, 1825, 1826. 8vo.— From Mr. John Vaughan.

Lieut. John A. Dahlgren, U. S. N. deposited in the Library
of the Society —

The Statistical Reports on the Health of the British Navy, for the
Yean L880 to L836, inclusive; and The British Navy Estimates for
the Year 1840-11.

The Committee, consisting <>t Mr. W;dkcr, Dr. Patterson,
:ni(l Mr. Justice, i" whom w:is referred a paper, read <>n the 2d
and 16th of April last, entitled u Astronomical Observations at

51

Hudson Observatory, by Elias Loomis, Professor of Mathe-
matics and Natural Philosophy in Western Reserve College,"
reported in favour of its publication in the Transactions; which
was ordered accordingly.

The paper of Professor Loomis contains the Astronomical Obser-
vations made at the Hudson Observatory in 1840, and part of 1839,
being a sequel to those published in Vol. VII. Part I. Art. IV. of the
Transactions.

1st. The latitude of the observatory is determined to be 41° 14'
40", — being the mean from 9 lower culminations of Polaris, in 1840,
giving 41° 14' 42". 3, and 6 upper culminations in 1839, giving 41°
14' 38". 1. Its longitude is stated to be 5h 25m 45s West.

2d. The series of moon culminations, ending last year with No. 50,
is now extended to No. 125; and the method is pointed out, by which
observations of the moon's limb, which have been made on a side
wire, are reduced to the middle wire of the instrument.

3d. Seven occultations of fixed stars by the moon, are given.

4th. Observations are presented of the 2d Comet of 1840, disco-
vered by Galle, January 25, at Berlin. The proximate elements of
this Comet by Encke, were received by Professor Loomis, from Mr.
S. C. Walker, on the 14th of March; and the Professor having
prepared an ephemeris, found the Comet on the next clear evening,
the 18th, and made satisfactory observations of its place in the
heavens.

These observations, corrected for parallax and refraction, are
stated as follows :

1840.

Berlin Mean Time.

Comet's .

\. R.

Comet's Dec.

h

m

*

h

m

s

March 18

14

18

12.34

29

40

43.8

0

14

28

54 89

+ 22

49 51.8

19

14

8

4.04

30

7

45.1

14

9

27.52

+ 22

17 5.9

21

14

32

5.63

31

1

2.5

14

0

23 72

+ 21

14 49.0

25

14

12

52.44

32

40

7.8

14

34

24.72

+ 19

15 35.1

April 1

14

22

41.82

+ 16

7 29.7

2

14

23

15.53

35

39

25.0

13

57

59.69

4- 15

42 2.0

These, with 34 observations by Rvimker, at Hamburg, 26 by
Argelander, at Bonn, and 12 by Encke, at Berlin, received through

52

Mr. Walker, Mr. Loomis compares with the ephemeris of Mr. R.
Kvsnus, and thence deduces, for six intermediate dates, the normal
places of the Comet, for 8 o'clock P. M., mean time Berlin.

Corrections of

Date
1840.

Comet's places freed from aberration.

Ephemeris.

Probable er-

A. R.

Dec.

A. R.

Dec.

places.

d h

O l

Jan. 31 8

2d 5.3

+ 61 25

15.4

+ 147

— -.1

+ &.7

Feb. 12 8

- B 24. !•

51 2

50 T

- 12.7

— 1.1

2.5

13 19 36 0

40 11

— 17.3

+ • 7.8

1.7

March 3 8

21 1 17.4

32 39

19.0

— 28.0

+ 17.6

1.2

12 8

26 34 40.9

26 23

14.8

— 32.6

+ 22.4

1.5

24 -

32 9 57.6

19 52

15.7

— 40.2

+ 25.0

1.9

Prof. Loomis then gives the perturbations of the Comet, computed
after the method of Bessel for the Comet of 1807, for 3 intervals of
18 days each, from which their values are interpolated for the 6 dates,
and subtracted from the Comet's normal places, previously referred
to the ecliptic, and the mean equinox, Jan. 1st, 1840: thus

Perturbations.

Longitude len

Pi rturbations.

Date.

Long.

Lat.

Perturbations.

Jan. 31

0.0

0.0

15 0 50.0

+ 6o 37 49.6

Feb. 12

0.0

— 1.1

24 50 22.3

46 10 41.5

23

— 0.2

— 1.9

29 22 27.8

31 27 35.5

March 3

— 0.4

— 2.3

32 2 14.6

22 0 28 2

12

— 07

— 2 5

ill 5.2

1 1 26

21

— 1.1

— 2.7

36 45 4.7

6 27 27.7

From these, by means of 12 equations of condition resolved by
the method of least squares, Prod L lis derives the parabolic ele-
ments of the Comet, and then by varying the sixth element, (the ec-
centricity,) after Bess< I's example, obtains the elliptic el< ments, both
as follows, the motion being retrograde.

Perihel. passage, m t. Berlin,

March 12./. 981921

Elliptii 1

March 13d i i3768

I . ■ ■ rihel.

,, ascending node,
[nclinatioi

I 1 1 itlini oi Perihel. <lis.

Be mi azu m
Periodic, tune.

80 20 .1 1
1- 39.3
11 2.4
0.0870185

80 12

1 67
12 36.14
0.081

2341 a
L80.383

16 yrs.

53

The errors of the respective orbits, are as follows : those in longi-
tude being multiplied by the cosine of declinations.

Errors of Parabolic

Errors of Elliptic

Date.

Elements.

Elements.

Longitude.

Latitude.

Longitude.

Latitude.

Jan. 31

+ 4.4

+ 2.6

-f 6.6

+ 1.8

Feb. 12

— 1.4

— 1.9

+ 0.4

— 3.9

23

— 6.1

+ 1.5

— 2.6

+ 2.0

March 3

— 2.7

— 1.7

+ 0.1

+ 0.6

12

+ 0.1

— 0.7

+ 0.5

+ 1-1

24

+ 5.9

+ 1-1

+ 0.9

— 1.5

Sum of Squares of Errors,

Sum of Squares of Errors,

117.85

34.62

Mr. Loomis remarks, in conclusion, that there is no room for hesi-
tation in the choice between the two orbits, though the last element is
liable to considerable uncertainty.

Mr. Boye communicated to the Society the results of the
analysis of three different varieties of felspar from the primary
rocks of the State of Delaware, as performed by Professor
Booth and himself.

In the granitic veins that traverse the Serpentine, at Tucker's
quarry, six miles N. W. of Wilmington, the felspar occurs in large
masses, of which two different varieties may be distinguished ; one
having most of the characters of common potassa, felspar, or ortho-
clas, which is used for several technical purposes ; the other resem-
bling albite or soda-felspar, and exhibiting a peculiar, tendency to un-
dergo decomposition. As these two varieties of felspar may be sup-
posed to enter generally into the composition of the gneiss and other
primary rocks of this region, and thereby affect, not merely their
mineralogical character, but also their stability when employed in
construction, or for other purposes, it was considered a matter of in-
terest to know their exact composition. They were, therefore, sub-
jected by Prof. Booth and Mr. Boye, to a thorough analysis by fusion
with three times their weight of carbonate of soda, &c. &c. To de-
termine their alkalies, they were decomposed by exposure on a shal-
low platinum capsule, to the vapours of fluohydric acid, in a close
leaden vessel as described by Brunner. The fluosilicates were then
decomposed by concentrated sulphuric acid, and the alumina precipi-

54

tated by ammonia; and after the remaining sulphates had been con-
Verted into carbonates by acetate of lead, and the carbonates of soda
and potassa into chlorides, the joint weight of these two chlorides was
ascertained, and the chloride of potassium afterwards separated by
chloroplatinate of sodium and alcohol. The results thus obtained
were as follows :
Felspar, from the granitic vein at Tucker's quarry, six miles N.
W. of "Wilmington.
1st variety. (Orthoclas.)

Colour white; lustre vitreous, inclining to pearly; translucent.
Fracture distinctly rhomboidal, traversed by innumerous parallel
cracks or fissures, which impart to it a milky or opaque appearance.
Specific gravity in piece, 2.562, in powder, 2.585, at temperature
69° F.

Composition in 100 parts.

Silica ....

. 65.24

Alumina . . .

. 19.02

Peroxide of Iron

a trace

Magnesia . . .

0.13

Lime ....

. 0.33

Soda ....

. 3.06

Potassa . . .

. 11.94

Oxygen.
33.89

8.88

0.050 1
2.024 J

} 11.83

99.72

2d variety. (Albite.)

Colour white, transparent ; lustre pearly, inclined to vitreous. Frac-
ture more irregular ; the surface of the fracture striated, curved, or
exhibiting obtuse angles. Hardness slightly inferior to the former.
It fuses with great difficulty before the blow-pipe, but is slightly more
fusible than the preceding. Specific gravity in piece 2.612, at 71° F.

Composition in 100 parts.

Oxygen.

Silica ....

. . 65.46 .

. . 84.01

Alumina

. 20.74 .

. 9.685 \

Peroxide of Iron .

0.54 .

. 0.166 \

Magnesia

0.74 . .

. 0.286 )

Lime ....

0.71 .

. 0.227 [

Soda ....

8.98 . .

. 2.552 |

a .

1.80 . .

. 0.806 I

8.37

L8.22

99.97

Mr. Boy4 remarked, thai felspar being a double oxysall of two

55

neutral silicates, one of a base containing 2 atoms of metallic radical
with three atoms of oxygen (alumina and peroxide of iron), the other
a silicate of such alkaline or earthy bases, as contain one atom of ra-
dical combined with one atom of oxygen (potassa, soda, lime, mag-
nesia (?) ), the oxygen contained in the silica ought always to be three
times that contained in all the bases; while again the oxygen in the
alumina and peroxide of iron ought to be equal to three times that con-
tained in the other bases. He called attention to the fact, that this
latter is exactly the case in both of the above varieties, but that if the
oxygen contained in all the bases be multiplied by three, a small defi-
ciency of oxygen is made apparent in the silica of the first variety,
amounting to 1.6; (3x11.83 = 35.49;) but, that the deficiency of
oxygen in the second variety is so great, amounting to 5.6, (3x13.
22=39.66), that it cannot be accidental. Indeed, the proportion of
oxygen in the silica to that in the bases of this variety, may be near-
ly indicated as 2± to 1, (2^x13.22=33.05); thus leaving it uncer-
tain, in Mr. Boye's opinion, whether it be a different variety, or a
mixture of a felspar with an analogous subsilicate. The specimen
employed for analysis showed no signs of commencing decompo-
sition, though it would seem natural to connect the deficiency of silica
which it exhibited with liability to such a change. The analyses
also exhibit the fact, that the principal alkali in the first variety is
potassa, with a comparatively small proportion of soda, while the al-
kali in the latter is principally soda, with a small amount of potassa.
Mr. Boye proceeded to remark, that the rock which constitutes the
south-eastern portion of the primary formation of the state, differs in
many respects from the others, and has received the appellation of
the blue rock from its peculiar colour. The principal constituent of
this rock is a translucent felspar, of a bluish or smoky colour, which
sometimes in an irregular congregation constitutes the whole mass.
The rock affords, in many places, a very superior material for archi-
tectural purposes, and its principal constituent, the felspar, was there-
fore likewise subjected to analysis, with a view to compare it with the
two preceding. The result of this analysis was as follows :

Felspar of the blue rock, from Quarryville, 3 miles N. E. of
Wilmington.

Colour smoky gray, translucent; powder nearly white. Fracture
in mass irregular, coarse-grained ; that of distinct portions rhomboidal.
This variety of felspar exhibits, sometimes, a slight but indistinct play
of colours. Specific gravity in piece, 2.603, temp. 70° F.

G

56

Composition in 100 parts.

Oxygen.

Silica

. 66.51 . .

34.55

Alumina ....

17.67 . .

8.25 )

Peroxide of Iron . .

1.33 . .

0.41 $

Magnesia ....

0.30 . .

0.116^1

Lime

1.24 . .

0.347 |

Soda

3.03 . .

0.774 <
1.660 J

Potassa ....

9.81 . .

8.66

•J.-'.!-,

11.56

99.89

In comparing this result with the two former, Mr. Boye observed,
that this felspar approaches, in composition, more nearly to the first
of the others; but, that a small portion of the potassa is replaced by
lime, to which latter, and the oxide of iron, it probably owes its higher
specific gravity. To these two ingredients, as well as to the full pro-
portion of silica which it exhibits, (3x11. 56 = 34. fi*.) may be refer-
red the indestructibility and other superior qualities which are as-
cribed to this variety.

Mr. B. closed his remarks by mentioning the recently published
report of Professor Booth, on the geology of Delaware, as presenting
a detailed and interesting notice of these several rocks.

Mr. Lea submitted to the examination of the members, a
volume containing two hundred specimens of photogenic draw-
of the plants in the vicinity of Philadelphia, by his son,
Mi. Carey Lea.

Prof. A. D. Bache laid before the Society a diagram repre-
senting the direction and force of the wind, and the amount
and rate of fall of the rain, during the severe gust of April 2d.

The diagrams were copies of the register kept al the Philadelphia
Magi i al the Girard College, traced bj the self-

t< ring anemometer. The bi-hourly register of the barometer
showed, thai the pressure diminished from early in the morning to
the time of the observation nexl ] n< - •< •» 1 1 1 1 lz the gust, al the i
about .00 of an inch everj two hours. The wind during the day

• ■li'-rallv from the S., and light, veering in the afternoon,
sionallj nearly to S. by ^ • B< tween 6h '///. P. M. and •>/> 20m, il
bad changed from S. to \. W. bj W., and the pressure between »'>/i
L 4m and 6A 21m ii from 0 to 20 lbs. avoirdupois, upon the

square foot. Rain began to fall about 6h 16m, the wind having at
tli.it hup reached the W« in direction, with a force of less than

57

a lb. to the square foot. The fall of rain was not remarkable. The
extreme force of the gust was at its beginning, the pressure declining
in 15m from 20 to 15 lbs. and reaching 3| lbs. at 7^ 10m, when it
again increased. At the regular observation of the barometer, about
twenty minutes past 6 o'clock, the wind having then the direction of
N. W. by W. and a force of nearly 201bs., the barometer stood at
29.548 inches, (corrected,) the temperature of the air being 50°, and
the elastic force of vapour calculated from the evaporating point,
and temperature being 0.357 inches. The rise of the barometer be-
tween the 4 and 6 o'clock observations, had been but .06 of an inch,
and the pressure continued to increase during the night. The force
of this storm is almost exactly that assigned in the table attached to
the report of the Committee of Physics of the Royal Society of Lon-
don, to a "great storm." It is to be regretted that an observation
was not taken immediately preceding the storm, to know if there was
a sudden fall of the barometer at that period.

Prof. Bache also described to the Society a modification of
the part of Ostler's self-registering anemometer, which mea-
sures the force, -made by Mr. S. W. Hall, first assistant at the
Magnetic Observatory at the Girard College, and applied to
the instrument there.

It consists in substituting slightly curved bars or nearly flat springs
attached to the table or frame of the registering part of the instru-
ment, for the spiral springs applied in the original instrument behind
the plate which receives the impulse of the wind. One only of these
springs acts in measuring the force of light breezes, and the second
is brought into play in stronger winds. The sensibility of the instru-
ment is much increased in winds below five pounds to the square
inch, while the instrument retains the range of the original one. The
friction of the apparatus necessary to guide the spring, and the expo-
sure of the spring to the weather and to great fluctuations of tempera-
ture are avoided. The springs being in the recording room, their
action may be observed at any time, and repairs or changes required
may be readily made. The removal of a considerable weight from
near the top of the vane and greater compactness are further advan-
tages of this modification of the original plan. The springs actually
used are of hammered brass.

Mr. Lea, on behalf of the Publication Committee, reported
that all the papers which had been ordered to be published in
the Transactions were in type.

58

Mr. Kane, Reporter, laid upon the table a copy of the Pro-
ceedings of the Society, No. 17, for March and April, 1S41.

Stated Meeting, May 21.

Present, twenty-five members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Mr. Peter, a member elect, was introduced, and signed the
Laws.

Letters were read —

From William Peter, Esq., dated 10th May, 1841, making
acknowledgments for the honour of his election to member-
ship:—

From Josiah Quincy, President of Harvard University,
dated 6th May, 1841, acknowledging, on behalf of the corpo-
ration, the receipt of Vol. VII. Part 3, of the Transactions: —

From the Corresponding Secretary of the Georgia Histori-
cal Society, dated Savannah, 20th Jan. 1S41, communicating
the appointment of Dr. William B. Stevens as historian of the
State of Georgia, and asking access for him to any historical
documents in the library of the Society.

On motion of Mr. Kane, it was resolved, that Dr. William
B. Stevens, of the Georgia Historical Society, be allowed the
unrestricted use of the library of the Society; and the Com-
mittee on the Historical Sciences was instructed to inquire
whether there are any documents in the Society's collections
which may elucidate the early history of Georgia, and to com-
municate with Dr. Stevens in regard to them.

The following donations were announced: —

FOH I'll I : I. IKK \KV.

Flora Batava, of Afbeelding en Beschryving van NTederlandsche Ge-
:i. &c., i-'i aflevering. 4to. — FVom His flftyufy, the
Knit; of tin Netherlands.
Mum. in- Bur la Bibliotheque Royale, ficc P •■ 4to. — From

Mr. John Pi nington.

A Mun-n-e but la Bibliothdque Royale, fitc Tans, L888.
4to. — From i In samt ■

59

Institut Royal de France. Annuaire pour 1841. — From Mr. D. B.
Warden.

Societe Royale et Centrale a" Agriculture. Bulletin des Seances,
Compte-rendu mensuel. No. 18, Juin et Juillet, 1840. No. 19,
Aout et Septembre, 1840. 8vo. — From the same.

Recherches sur l'Histoire et l'Origine des Foulahs ou Fellahs, par M.
Gustave d'Eichthal. 1840. 8vo. — From the Author.

Premiere Note sur la necessite de repousser, ou d'ajourner le projet
de loi sur les Fortifications de Paris, &c, par Jullien de Paris,
&c. &c. Paris, 1841. 12mo. — From the Author.

Fortifications de Paris, &c. &c. Seconde Note de M. Jullien de
Paris, &c. Paris, 1841. 12mo. — From the same.

Report of the Commissioners under the Act of Congress of 20th July,
1840, for the purpose of Exploring and Determining the Boun-
dary Line between the States of Maine and New Hampshire, and
the British Provinces. Jan. 1841. Washington. 8vo. — From
the Commissioners.

Report to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from the
Poor Law Commissioners, on the Training of Pauper Children;
with Appendices. London, 1841. 8vo. — From Mr. Frederick
A. Packard.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
No. 1. March and April, 1841. 8vo. — From the Academy.

Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania. Third
Series. Vol. I. May, 1841. No. 5. 8vo. — From the Insti-
tute.

A Discourse delivered before the Georgia Historical Society, on Fri-
day, 12th Feb. 1841. By William Bacon Stevens, M.D. Sa-
vannah, 1841. 8vo. — From the Society.

A Biographical Memoir of Commodore Joshua Barney, &c. Edited
by Mary Barney. Boston, 1832. 8vo. — From Mr. Du Pon-
ceau.

Researches, Philosophical and Antiquarian, concerning the Aborigi-
nal History of America. By J. H. M'Culloh, Jun., M.D. Bal-
timore, 1829. 8vo. — From the same.

The Committee, consisting of Mr. Walker, Dr. Patterson,
Professor Alexander, Major Graham, and Captain Talcott, to
which was referred, on the 16th April last, the letter of Mr.
Simeon Borden, giving an account of his trigonometrical sur-
vey of Massachusetts, and a comparison of its results with

60

those effected by Mr. Paine's chronometrical survey of the
same state, reported in favour of its publication among the
Transactions of the Society, which was ordered accordingly.

Mr. Borden's paper gives an abstract of the principal results of the
Trigonometrical Survey of Massachusetts, begun in the year 1831,
and recently brought to a conclusion. It also gives a comparison of
these results with those obtained by Robert Treat Paine, Esq., from
observations with a Troughton's sextant and mercurial horizon, and
chronometers transported to different stations.

The base line chosen for the Massachusetts survey, was on the
Connecticut river, above Northampton; it was 7.388 miles long.
The apparatus with which it was measured, was devised by Mr. Bor-
den. It was fifty feet in length, and constructed on compensating
principles. The measurement was marked by sections of 1000 feet,
and was tested by a remeasurement in an opposite direction. The
sum of the discrepancies, without regard to signs, between 25 spaces
measured for 1000 feet each from N. to S., and the same spaces
measured from S. to N., was 3.5G7 inches ; making an average dis-
crepancy of 0.14268 of an inch; and the first measurement of the
entire base exceeded the second in length by 0.237 of an inch. The
standard of length first selected, was a scale of two feet, constructed
upon compensating principles, and of course unsuitable for subdi-
vision. Being afterwards compared at Washington, by Mr. Hassler,
Superintendent of the United States' Coast Survey, with his 82 inch
scale of Troughton's construction, and which is an exacl copy from
the well known Troughton scale of Sir George Shuekburgh, it was
found to be 0.0018 inches too short, at the temperature of 57 .5 Fah.
But a part of the triangles having been, previous to this comparison,
computed according to the Massachusetts scale, it was thought best
to complete the calculations in the same manner, and make correc-
tion afterwards, when tin' proper standard should be fixed upon. For
this standard, Mr. Borden chose Hassler's B2 inch Troughton at the
temperature 62 Fahr. A trial base was qoI measured, and was Dot
deemed indispensable, as the principal stations will ultimately !><• con«
i with those of the coasl Burvey, and referred to Mr. Eiassler's

The heigh! of the stations above the Bea-level was determined from
comparison with a principal station on Fay's Mountain, situate in
the town of Weatboro', aboul thirty miles nearly west of Boston; the
height <>f which was ascertained from levels carried forward, by
means of vertical triangles, from ii\<- points of tide water, viz: at

61

Marblehead, Nahant, Marshfield, Hyannis, a village in the town of
Barnstable on the south side of Cape Cod, and Bullock's Neck on
the east side of Seekonk or Providence river. The extreme results
differed less than one foot, though the stations embrace a distance
of seventy or eighty miles of sea-coast. The point chosen for the
mean height of the sea, was half way between high-water and low-
water, as observed on the same day ; care being taken to repeat the
observation on days when the sea had been for some time (appa-
rently at least) without agitation by high winds or storms.

After applying the reductions for the sea-level, and the standard
length and temperature, the following results were obtained for the
length of a degree of the meridian.

No.

Names of Stations.

Mr. Paine's
Latitude.

Middle
Latitude.

Dea;. of Me-
ridian in
English ft.

Station of Comparison, Harris Street
Church, Newburyport,

o ' "
42 48 32.1

o ' "

42 2 44.05
42 7 53.70
42 13 19.20
42 15 19.70
42 17 1.55

1

2

3
4
5

Nantucket South Tower,
Holmes' Hole Windmill,
New Bedford Mariners' Church,
Barnstable Court House,
Sandwich Church,

41 16 56.0
41 27 15.3
41 38 6.3
41 42 7.3
41 45 31.0

364313.17
389.25
348.25
420.25
357.10

Station of Comparison, Salem East |

India Marine Hall, . . . 42 31 18.9

41 54 7.45

41 59 17.10

42 4 42.60
42 8 24.95
42 6 43.10

6

7

8

9

10

Nantucket South Tower,
Holmes' Hole Wind Mill,
New Bedford Church,
Sandwich Church,
Barnstable Court House,

41 16 56.0
41 27 15.3
41 38 6.3
41 45 31.0
41 42 7.3

364253.76
340.59
279.42
274.76

447.68

Stationof Comparison, Highland Light,
Cape Cod, ....

42 2 22.2

41 39 39.10

11

Nantucket South Tower,

41 16 56.0

364385.00

Station of Comparison, St. Ann's
Church, Lowell,

42 38 47.6

42 8 26.95

12

New Bedford Mariners' Church,

41 38 6.30

364236.76

Station of Comparison, Gloucester
Church, . . . . 1 42 36 44.20

42 9 25.75

41 56 50.10

42 7 25.25

13
14
15

Barnstable Court House, . . 1 41 42 7.30
Nantucket South Tower, . .4116 56.00
New Bedford Mariners' Church, . 41 38 6.30

364925.68
594.00
738.33

Station of Comparison, Harris Street j

Church, Newburyport, ■ . ! 42 48 32.10

42 23 0.30

16

Plymouth Court House, . . 41 57 28.50

364604.50

62

Rejecting the four last results in consequence of their difference
from the mean, the others give the value of a degree of the meridian
in English feet at the several middle latitudes as follows :

FIRST RESULT. SECOND RESULT.

No.

Middle Latitude.

Length of Degree.

No.

Middle Latitude.

Length of Degree.

0 ' "

Feet.

o ' "

Feet.

1)

42 2 44.05

364313.17

3)

42 13 19.20

36434855

2)

42 7 53.70

389.25

4)

42 15 19.70

420.25

6)

41 54 7.45

253.76

5)

42 17 1.55

3.-.7.10

7)

41 59 17.10

34059

8)

42 4 42.G0

279.42

3) 45 40.45

3) 1125.60

12)

42 8 26.95

236.76

9)

42 8 24.95

274.76

42 15 13.48

36437550

10)

42 G 43.10

447.68

THIRD RESULT.

336 32 19.90 8) 2535.39 11) 41 39 39.10 364385.00

42 4 2.48 364317.00

In the absence of the necessary data, to reduce the values thus ob-
tained to the same middle latitude, Mr. Borden referred for the occa-
sion to the table in Rees's Cyclopaedia, under the article Degree,
which purports to give the value of meridional degrees of the terres-
trial spheroid for every degree of latitude, supposing an ellipticity of
^^th of the equatorial radius; and which indicates 57 feet as the
increase in the value of the consecutive degrees, from the 40th to
the 43d of latitude. Applying this increase, by arithmetical progres-
to each of the foregoing values of the meridional degree, he
inferred from them a value corresponding with the middle latitude
42 ; and with the values thus reduced, and giving to each value a
weight proportionate to the number of comparisons on which it was
based, he obtained 364334 feet for the length ofa degree whose mid-
dle latitude i 12 . The length of a degree perpendicular to theme-
ridian, at the latitude of the Boston State House, he found from the
convergence of the meridians to be 365511.88 feet, winch value also
he adopted. Its accuracy was tested by applying the results of trigo-
nometrical measurement to the differences of longitude ascertained
bj Mr. Paine's chronometrical observations! The following values
of degrees perpendicular to the meridian were attained in the same

manner:

63

Feet

1) From Boston State House and Northampton Church, 365177.60

2) „ „ and Plymouth Court House, 365653.00

3) „ „ and Amherst College Chapel, 365025.00

4) „ Springfield Court House and Plymouth Court House, 365888.43

5) „ „ and Highland Light, Cape Cod, 365984.43

6) „ Greenfield Church and Gloucester Church, 365420.76

7) „ Boston State House and Pittsfield Church, 364193.11

8) „ Plymouth Court House and „ 364796.00

9) „ Boston State House and Williamstown Church, 364519.42

Sum of the first 6 results 6) 3149.22

Mean of the first 6 results 365525.00

The three last of these results are rejected on account of their dis-
crepancy from the mean. The astronomical observations for deter-
mining the longitude at Pittsfield and Williamstown are supposed by
Mr. Borden to have been affected by mountain attraction; and he
adopts the value of the degree perpendicular to the meridian as de-
rived from the inclination of rhe meridians, in preference to the mean
result given by this last table, in consequence of the discrepancies
among its single results.

With the values of the meridional perpendicular degrees thus
found, Mr. Borden calculated the equatorial radius, polar semi-axis,
and ellipticity of the terrestrial spheroid, and the differences in value
of the meridional degrees of 41° 21' 30", 42° 21' 30", and 43° 21'
30". His results are as follows: —

Meridional degree for the latitude of the State House, 364356 feet.

Perpendicular degree for the same latitude, 365511 feet.

Equatorial radius, 20914728 feet = 3961.123 miles.

Polar semi-axis, 20854128 feet = 3949.646 miles.

Ellipticity, -ji-j- nearly of the equatorial radius.*

Length of meridional degrees, the latitude of whose middle point
corresponds to

0 t n Feet. Difference.

41 21 30 = 364300.96

+ 55.04 feet.

42 21 30 = 364356.00

+ 55.22 „

43 21 30 = 364411.22

* Combining the meridional degree measured in Peru in latitude 1° 30'
with the meridional degree measured in Massachusetts, they give an ellip-
ticity of l-313th nearly of the equatorial radius.
H

64

From the calculated differences in the value of these meridional
degrees, it was apparent to Mr. Borden, that the increase of 57 feet to
the degree, which he had adopted when preparing to deduce the value
of the meridional degree from a combination of his proximate results,
was not strictly accurate. But as the effect of the resulting error
would scarcely have been appreciable, he did not deem it necessary
to recalculate the work.

With the data already mentioned, Mr. Borden proceeded to deter-
mine the latitude of a Cardinal point, viz: the State House, Boston,
by comparison with several of the principal stations, as follows : —

Resulting latitude
No. Place compared with Boston State House. of Boston State House.

1) New Bedford Mariners' Church, 42° 21' 29".81

2) Harris Street Church in Ncwburyport, 29.70

3) Salem East India Marine Hall, 30.37

4) Saint Anns Church in Lowell, 30.78

5) Barnstable Court House, 31.04

6) Sandwich Church in Sandwich, 29.94

7) Highland Light House, Cape Cod, 28.78

8) Nantucket South Tower,

9) Holmes' Hole Windmill, 30.30

9) 269.67

Mean latitude of the State House 42° 21' 30 ".00

Mr. Paine's Astronomical Result 42° 21' 23 ".03

Discrepancy

Tlic results arrived at from those data by Mr. Borden, on the final
reduction of the triangles of his survey, using for the latitude of the
State House 42° 21' 30", and for its longitude, that which is given
by Mr. Paine, \h Win 16«.6 wesl of Greenwich, are compared
with the results of the chronometrical survey of Mr. Paine, in the
following tables; which exhibit also the Dumber of altitudes of the
bud and north and south stars taken by Mr. Paine in determining
the latitude of each station, and the number ofjourneys made b) him
with chronometers, and of the chronometers used by him on Buch
journ uning its longitude.

65

LATITUDES.

Paine,

No.

Place in which station

Name of Station.

Altitudes ob-

Paine's Lati-

north of

is situated.

served.

tudes.

Borden.
—7.30

1

Boston

State House

442

o ' "

42 21 22.70

2

Amherst

College Chapel

109

42 22 12.60

—3.01

3

Barnstable

New Court House

267

41 42 7.30

+123

4

Cambridge

1st. Cong. Church

201

42 22 21 30

— 7.al

5

Dedham

Do. do.

198

42 14 52.30

—5 00

6

Greenfield

Second do.

169

42 35 16 30

+ 1.50

7

Gloucester

1st. Independ't Ch.

113

42 36 44.20

—3.97

8

Holmes' Hole

Wind Mill West >
of Village J

174

41 27 15.30

+0.43

9

Lowell

St. Ann's Church

300

42 38 4760

+0.82

10

Monomoy Point

Light House

156

41 33 30.80

—4.20

11

Nantucket

South Tower'd Ch.

260

41 16 56.00

—0.62

12

New Bedford

Mariners' Church

322

41 38 6.30

—0.16

13

Newburyport

Harris st. Church

202

42 48 32.10

—0.05

14

Northampton

1st. Cong. Church

327

42 19 8.00

—1.44

15

Pittsfield

Do. do.

210

42 26 55.00

—0.61

16

Plymouth

Court House

169

41 57 28.50

+ 1.94

17

Providence, R.I.

University Hall

308

41 49 31.90

—3.58

18

Salem

E.Ind. Marine Hall

154

42 31 18.90

+0.48

19

Sandwich

1st. Cong. New \
Unita. Ch. J

139

41 45 31.00

—0.09

20

Springfield

Court House

168

42 6 1.20

—2.41

21

Taunton

Trinitarian Ch.

181

41 54 8.30

—2.98

22

Truro

Cape Cod Lights

228

42 2 22.20

+1.16

23

Williamstown

Cong. Ch. near >
College 5

110

42 42 50.60

+146

24

Worcester

Antiquarian Hall

351

42 16 12.60

—4.44

25

Squam

Light

38

42 39 46.08

+2.56

26

Cape Ann

N. Light, Thatch-)
er's Island J

39

42 38 18.00

—3.78

27

Eastern Point

Light

36

42 34 48.00

—1.61

26

Baker's Island

Light

64

42 32 11.40

—0.60

29

Cambridge*

Harvard Obser- ^
va. Transit $

N. of Bosto

n S. House, 52". 26

30

Dorchester*

Bond's Transit. Ins.

S.of

do. 2' 13" 41

31

South wick i:

Holcomb's House

S. of Sprin

jfieldC. H. 5' 13".91

* Nos. 29, 30, and 31, are according to Mr. Borden's survey, not having
been principal stations of Mr. Paine. Their connection with the survey is
important, from their being the site of a series of independent astronomical
observations by Mr. Bond and Mr. Holcomb, which, when reduced, will fur-
ther test the precision of the two methods employed by Messrs. Paine and
Borden.

66

LONGITUDES.

No. of

Paine,

No.

Place in which station

Jmuueya w.th Chro-

Chronometers

Paine"s Longi-

west of

is situated.

nometers.

used.

tudes.

Borden.

1

Boston

9

25

O ' "

71 4

+ 0.00

2

Amherst

18

59

72 31 35.85

+ 7.36

3

Barnstable

G

20

70 18 36.00

+ 2.19

4

Cambridge

7

23

71 7 38.10

+ 955

5

Dedham

6

14

71 in 49JM

—10.08

6

Greenfield

16

GO

72 36 31.95

+ 4.75

7

Gloucester

10

3G

70 4<i 19.05

+ 1.88

8

Holmes' Hole

14

34

70 36 3750

+ 0.22

9

Lowell

2

10

71 18 57.30

— 4 74

10

Monomoy Point

10

28

70 0 5.40

+ 9.16

11

Nantucket

18

.VI

7n 6 12.15

- 1.73

12

New Bedford

16

4G

70 55 49.35

+ 4.96

13

Siuryport

24

71

70 52 47.10

+ 5.80

14

Northampton

13

39

72 38 21.00

+ G.06

15

Pittsfield

10

33

73 16 5.10+28.98

it;

Plymouth

11

40

70 40 27.60 + 8.33

17

Providence, K.I.

14

42

71 24 48.00+13.59

18

Salem

13

38

70 53 56.70 + 3 67

1!)

Sandwich

16

51

70 30 27.1111+13.81

20

Springfield

12

36

72 35 47.25 + 2.31

21

Taunton

7

24

71 6 4.50+ 9.47

22

Truro

10

28

70 4 8.70+13.37
73 13 19.50+19.24

23

Williamstown

15

45

24

Worcester

71 4< 10J20+ 2.84
70 41 8.00— 4.31

2'.

Squam

2

14

26

Cape Ann

2

14

70 34 14.00— 4.05

27

•rn Point

By bearing from Gl

ouccster Pt.

70 40 12 7.".+ 1.90

28
29

Bakers Island
Cambridge*

o

14

70 -17 37.00|+ 8.59

W. of State House,

Boston

3 6.42

30

Dorchester*

W.of do.

11.24

31

Southwick*

W. of Springfield C

'ourt House,

12 59.86

* Sec note on preceding page.

The mode of determining the topography of a state, of which Mr.
Borden'-- paper gives the first account, is recommended by its econo-
my and expedition, as well as by the very adequate accuracy of its
results. The survey of Massachusetts, including 8280 square miles
of territory, and having an indented sea coast of aboul 800 miles,
ha been completed b) Messrs. Borden and Paine, m little more than
ten years, and at an expense of 61,322 dollars.

J)c. Hays read a note to the reporl of the Committee, con-
sisting ol Dr. Horner and himself, on the Mastodon bones in
the So< iet) 'a possession; which was ordered to be published in
the Transactions, with the reporl of the Committee.

I>i . Efaya announced the death of Dr. William 1'. Dewa

67

member of the Society, on the ISth instant, aged 74; and on
his motion, Dr. Hugh L, Hodge was appointed to prepare an
obituary notice of the deceased.

Mr. Kane announced the decease of Don Jose da Silva Lis-
boa, of Rio Janeiro, a member of the Society.

Mr. Du Ponceau announced the decease of Count Miot de
Melito, of France, a member of the Society, which occurred
on the 15th of January last.

Mr. Lea called the attention of the Society to a beautiful
living specimen of the Bulimus Ovatus, which he had received
through Mr. Stern Humphreys, from Brazil, and made some
remarks on its distinctive character and habits.

Mr. Walker read a letter from Professor Forshey, of
Natchez, giving an account of several interesting displays of
meteors.

Mr. Walker observed, that the display of the 20th of April, which
was noticed in Virginia in 1803, and which has been referred to
by MM. Arago, Quetelet, Herrick and others, was watched for by
Mr. Herrick in the three last years, without any remarkable result.
Corresponding observations were made in the present year at Cam-
bridge, New Haven, Philadelphia and Washington, on the 19th; the
20th and 21st being cloudy, from 11 o'clock till midnight; but the
number of meteors seen was not greater than usual. In the morning
of the 19th, however, a gentleman of Philadelphia, Mr. William F.
Kintzing, counted eight in the course of ten minutes, shortly after
midnight.

At about 8 o'clock on the same night, the 18th, at Vidalia, in Louis-
iana, Prof. Forshey noticed an unusual number of meteors in different
parts of the heavens, and on tracing their paths backwards, found
that they traversed the Constellation Virgo. Having commenced pre-
cise observations at half past 8, and continued them for three hours,
he saw in two hours and a quarter, forty-five minutes being lost in
recording, sixty meteors, of which, all but five, passed within 10°
from the common radiant point. These meteors were very unlike
those of the August shower ; being chiefly without trains, and of a
reddish colour, few of them of the first magnitude, and the greater
number of the third and inferior magnitudes. Their velocities were
remarkably equal and gentle ; their paths short ; and their light first
increasing, then waning, as if they were moving on a chord to the
circle of visibility. Professor Forshey determined their radiant

68

point to be in a line drawn from Spica to 6 Virginis, somewhat
nearer to Spiea, say in R. A. 198°, S. Decl. 8°. The convergent
point was, therefore, in long. 19°.6, and lat. N. 0°.3, while the ob-
server's motion was towards a point of the ecliptic in long. 299°.
This gives a deflection of the path of the meteors, relatively !o the
true path of the observer, of 80°. 6 ; and hence their true velocity
cannot have been much less than that of the observer, or about si \
geographical miles per second. This observation of the convergent
point of these meteors, Mr. Walker regards as strongly confirmatory
of the cosmical theory of shooting stars; inasmuch as it seems to de-
monstrate the existence in this group of a planetary velocity, like
that of the December group observed by Mr. Herrick in 1838, in a
direction normal to the observer's motion, and incapable of resulting
from it.

Professor Forshey also observed the meteor shower of the 12th of
November, 1833: he was then a cadet at West Point. While en-
gaged, long before dawn, in preparing his morning recitation, his at-
tention was caught by flashes of light at his window as if from light-
ning. The spectacle which met him on opening it, he describes as
one of singular and fearful sublimity, the whole sky streaming with
fire-balls, throwing a bright light upon the plain, and reflecting lurid-
ly against the mountains which enclose West Point. After a few
minutes, finding no intermission in the display, he roused his asso-
- to witness it; and the first sense of personal hazard yielding
to the remark, that none of the meteors (meteorit< s, as he then sup-
posed,) were actually descending into the plain, bul thai they became
invisible before reaching the level of the mountains, he crossed the
plain to awaken Professor Courtenay. While in company with this
gentleman, he witnessed ill'' magnificent meteor with a serpentine
train, described by Professor Olmsted and others, and which lias
been called Twining's meteor, after the Professor who calculated its
relative path and velocity. Both Professor Courtenay and himself
noticed the white nebula which it led on exploding, and the beautiful
silvery cloud that remained (or some ten minutes after. He list< oed

illy, during the meteoric display, (or the noises which are said
sometimes to attend such phenomena, but could hear Done; the ex-

ii of the Twining meteor, he is confident, was no1 accompanied
h\ an audible report.

Professor Forshey >\>« < n<>t believe thai the meteors of the 12th of

mber have the anniversary character. He has watched ii>r
them ever) year, excepl L 884 and 1886, ince their appearance in

69

1833. He saw the great auroral arch of 17th Nov. 1835, from a
point near the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi, and on the 14th
November, 1837, he witnessed at Jefferson College a brilliant crim-
son arch, a rare phenomenon in that latitude, 31° 36'. He noticed,
also, occasional brilliant meteors on the 13th and 14th of November,
1 837, but they did not appear to come from the well known radiant
point of 1833, in Leo. The times for observation in 1838 and 1839
were too cloudy to allow of satisfactory results. The subsequent an-
niversaries were clear, and well watched, but without any observation
of interest.

Professor Forshey mentions that he had seen the zodiacal light in
the west, from December to May, but that he first witnessed it in the
east, on the 4th of October of last year, when it continued in great
brilliancy from 3 A. M. till daylight.

Professor Bache communicated to the Society a statement
of the Observations made for the year past at the Magnetic
Observatory at the Girard College, and exhibited the original
records, the abstracts made from them, the calculated results,
and the curves by which they are represented. He reminded
the members that in consequence of the depressed state of the
Society's funds in May last, it had been judged inexpedient
to ask for the appropriation of any part of them to the object
of these observations ; and he mentioned the names of ten
members of the Society, and of three gentlemen, not members,
Messrs. Richard Price and J. D. Brown, of Philadelphia, and
Professor M'Lean, of Princeton, by whose liberality the Ob-
servatory had been supported during the year.

After some remarks from Mr. Walker, describing the re-
sults which have been arrived at by the labours of Gauss, We-
ber and others, in magnetism, and referring to the practical
value to navigation of the magnetic investigations now making,
Dr. Chapman pressed upon the Society the importance of con-
tinuing the magnetic and meteorological observations in the
combined series which is now in the course of execution: — and
on his motion, a committee was appointed to devise means for
continuing the observations at the Girard College Observatory
during the remaining two years of the series.

The Committee, consisting of Mr. Du Ponceau, Dr. Patter-
son, and Mr. Vaughan, to which was referred, on the 16th of

70

April, the letter from the President of the Royal Society of
Sciences, Agriculture and Arts, of Lille, reported in favour of
entering into correspondence with that Institution and inter-
changing with it the Transactions and other publications of this
Society ; and the Secretaries and Librarian were instructed ac-
cordingly.

Mr. Lea laid on the table several volumes of the Transac-
tions of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Dur-
ham, and Newcastle upon Tyne, England, for which he invited
the Society to exchange a copy of its publications. On motion,
the Librarian was instructed to make the proposed exchange.

Stated Meeting, June 18.

Present, twenty-seven members.

Dr. Patterson, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Mr. Gilliss, a member of the National Institution at Wash-
ington, was introduced as a visiter.

Letters were received —

From the Secretary of the Cambridge Historical Society,
England, dated 17th Nov. 1S3S, acknowledging the receipt of
Vol. VI. N. S. of the Transactions of this Society, and of the
Second Volume of the Transactions of the Historical and Lite-
rary Committee: —

From the Secretary of the American Academy of Aits and
Sciences, dated Boston, 25th May, 1841, acknowledging the
receipt of three Parts of the Transactions and one number of
the Proceedings: —

From Mr. J. Francis Fisher, dated 17th June, L841, pre-
senting to the Society some ran- Tracts, by Cotton Mather.

The following donations were announced: —

FOK THE LIBRARY.

Institut de France. Memoires de I'Academie Royale dea Sciences.
Tomes XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. Paris, L885— 1840. Ito.
From 'In Institute.

71

Memoires presentes par divers Savants a l'Academie Royale de
France, Institut de France. Tomes V. VI. Paris, 1835—1838.
4to. — From the same.

Institut de France. Memoires de l'Academie des Inscriptions et
Belles-lettres. Tomes XI. XII. XIII. Paris, 1835—1839. 4to.
From the same.

Rapports du Secretaire perpetuel de l'Academie Royale des Inscrip-
tions, &c. sur les travaux des Commissions pendant le 2me Sem.
1840. 4to. — From the same.

Notices et Extraits des Manuscrits de la Bibliotheque du Roi, &c.
publies par l'lnstitut, &c. Tome XIII. Paris, 1838. 4to.—
From the same.

Societe de Geographie. Recueil de Voyages, &c. Tome VI. Geo-
graphic d'Edrisi. Tome II. Paris, 1840. 4to. — From the So-
ciety.

Memoires de la Societe Royale des Antiquaires du Nord, 1836 —

1839. Copenhagen. 8vo. — From the Society.

Annaler for Nordisk Olkindighed adgione af det Kongelige Nordiske

Oldscrift selskab, 1838. Copenhagen. 8vo. — From the same.
Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries. Reports of the General

Anniversary Meetings in 1838 and 1839. Copenhagen, 1839.

8vo. — From the same.
Transactions of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manu-
factures and Commerce, during the Session of 1839-40. Vol.

LIII. Part 1. 8vo. — From the Society.
Proceedings of the Geological Society of London. Vol. III. Part 2.

Nos. 72 to 75. 1840-41 8vo. — From the Society.
List of Members, &c. March 1, 1841. — From the same.
Transactions of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. Vol. VI.

Part 3. Cambridge, 1838. 4to. — From the Society.
Journal Asiatique, ou Recueil, &c. publie par la Societe Asiatique.

Hie. Ser. Tome X. Nos. 55 to 60. Sept. 1840 to Feb. 1841.

8vo. — From the Society.
Memoires de la Societe Royale des Antiquaires de France. N.S.

Tome V. 1840. 8vo. — From the Society.
Proceedings of the Royal Astronomical Society. Vol. V. Nos. 12,

13. Feb. and Mar. 1841. 8vo. — From the Society.
Annales des Mines. 3eme. Ser. Tome XVII. 3eme. Livrn. de

1840. Paris. May, June, 1840. 8vo. — From the Engineers of
Mines, Paris.

I

V4

Resume des Travaux Statistiques de PAdministration des Mines en
1838. Paris, 1839. 8xo.— From Mr. Moncure Robinson.

Statistique des Ports maritimes de Commerce. Paris, 1839. Fol.
From the same.

Ponts et Chaussees. Situation des travaux au 31st Dec. 1838.
Pari-, 1839. Ito. — From the same.

Tableau General du Commerce de la France, &c. pendant les annees
L837, 1838. Paris, 1838-9. 2 Vols. Fol.— From the same.

Tableau General des mouvements du Cabotage pendant l'annee 1837.
Paris, 1838. Fol. — From the same.

The Four Books or Classics of the Chinese, in the original, with a
Commentary. 6 Vols. Gutzlaff's Magazine in Chinese. 1st
Ser. Vols. I. II. The Gospels, Acts and Epistles in Javanese.
4 Vols. The New Testament, in Arabic. The New Testament,
in Hindoosthanee. The Holy Bible, in Bengalee. The Gospel
of St. Luke, in Canarese, dialect of Bengal. The Life of the Sa-
viour, in Birmese. The Acts of the Apostles, in Siamese. The
Acts, in Hinduwce. Summary of the Scriptures, in Murathee, of
the Bombay Presidency. The Child's Book on the Soul, in the
same. An Account of various Animals, in the same. The New
Testament, in Goozuratee. The New Testament, in Tamul.
The New Testament, in the language of the Sandwich Islands.
The Holy Bible, in Malay. The New Testament in the same.
27 Vols. — From Mr. J. Jlenshaw Belcher.

The Ceylon Government Gazette, for the years 183'1, l-3">. 2 Vols.
Fol. — From the 80

The Papers of James Madison, published by authority of the Con-
gress i.f the U. S. under the Superintendence of Henry D. Gilpin.
Washington, 1840. 3 Vols. 8vo. — From the Hon. Hairy I).
Gilpin.

The Journals of Congress, 1774 to 1778. Philadelphia, 1777 — 1778.
L2 Vols. l2mo — From the same.

General Index of the Laws of the U. S. from l7v!» to 1827, com-
piled by Samael Burch. Washington, L828. 8vo. — From the

si i an .

ml of the Receipts and Expenditures of the I". s. for the year
L826. Washington, L827. Fol. — Prom the same.

The Public Works of the United States. Edited by William Strick-
land, Edward II. Gill and Henry R. Campbell. Parts I and 2.
London, 1841. Fol. — From Mr. William Strickland.

Reports, Specificatioj the Public Worksofthe Qnil

Edited by William Strickland, &c. London, 1841. 8vo. —

From the same.
Prospectus, Specimens, and Catalogues of the Publications of M. M.

Vandermaelen and Meisser. Brussels, 1841. 8vo. — From the

Editors.
London Provident Institution. Annual Report, February, 1841, and

Account of Receipts and Expenditures from 16th July, 1816 to

20th Nov. 1840. — From Mr. William Vaughan.
The American Medical Library and Intelligencer. Vol. IV. No.

24. By Robley Dunglison, M.D. &c. &c. — From the Editor.
Journal of the Franklin Institute. Vol. I. N. S. No. 6. June,

1841. — From the Institute.
A Commentary and Review of Montesquieu's Spirit of Laws, &c

&c. By Destutt Tracy. Philadelphia, 1811. 8vo.— From Mr.

Du Ponceau.
A Monograph of the Limniades of North America. No. 2, Jan.

1841. By S. Stehman Haldeman, &c. &c. — From the Author.
Eleven Tracts by the Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather. Boston, 1699 to

1725. 12mo. — From Mr. J. Francis Fisher.
Remarks on Currency and Banking, by Nathan Appleton. Boston,

1841. 8vo. — From Mr. Dexter Stone.
Some Observations on the Situation, &c. of the Indian Natives of this

Continent. Philadelphia, 1784. 12mo. — From Mr. John Jordan.
Fifteenth and Seventeenth Annual Reports of the American Sunday

School Union. Philadelphia, 1839, 1841. —From Mr. F. A.

Packard.
Letter to the Governor of Pennsylvania in relation to the Public

Schools of England. Harrisburg, 1841. 8vo. — From the same.
Twenty-fifth Annual Report of the Directors of the American Asy-
lum, &c. for the Deaf and Dumb. Hartford, 1841. 8vo. —

From Mr. Lewis Weld.
Address before the Directors of the Public Schools, by James J. Bar-
clay, President, &c. Philadelphia, 1841. 8vo. — From the Au-
thor.
Thirteenth Annual Report of the House of Refuge of Philadelphia.

1841. 8vo. — From the sa?ne.
Sixth, and Ninth to Fifteenth Annual Reports of the Boston Prison

Discipline Society. 1831 to 1840. 8vo. — From Mr. Louis

Dwight.
List of Donations to the Albany Institute, (Albany Daily Advertiser,

3d June, 1841.) — From the Institute.

Specimen of Printing Types, &c. east by Johnson & Smith. Phila-
delphia, 1841. 8vo. — From the Publishers.

Charts. 1. A Chart of Pensacola Harbour and Bar, Florida, by
Lieut. Col. James Kearney, U. S. Top. Engineers, from a Survey
in 18-22. 4 Sheets. 2. A Chart of Core Sound, North Caroli-
na, in 1837, by the same. 3. Four Charts, portions of the pre-
ceding Chart, on an enlarged scale. 4. A Chart of part of San-
dusky Bay, &c. in 1826, by Lieut. Campbell Graham, U. S. A.
copied on a reduced scale. 1838. — From Majo> Jimes D.
Graham.

FOR THE CABINET.

Dried Specimens of Western and Southern Plants. — From Dr.

Charles W. Short, of Louisville, Kentucky.
An Engraved Portrait of Dr. Philip Tidyman, by T. B. Welch. —

From the Engraver.

The Committee, consisting of Dr. Patterson, Professor
Bache, and Professor Vethake, to whom was referred a paper,
entitled "On the Expansion of F. {x + A)" by Pike Powers,
Esq. of the University of Virginia, reported in favour of its
publication in the Transactions; which was accordingly or-
dered.

The paper of Mr. Powers consists of a new investigation of Tay-
lor's Theorem. The only postulates assumed are, first, "that there
are no functions, which throughout their whole range of values,
change incessantly from increase to decrease, as x varies, and that
by quantities greater than the change in ar;" and, secondly, "that
there a re no functions, which, while they undergo a constant incr
or decrease through finite intervals of value, yet always receive an
infinite change for a finite change in s." On these data the demon-
■II of Mr. Powers i^ founded; but it is not of a nature to admit
of .hi abstract.

A communication was received, entitled " Description of a
New Form of a Transportable Original Barometer, and the
Method of constructing and using the same, by F. K. Hass-
Icr;" which w;is read and referred to a committee.

Mr. Lea presented a continuation of his paper on Fresh
Water and Land Shells; which was read and referred to a
committee.

75

Professor Bache mentioned that he had received, for the So-
ciety, from our fellow member, Mr. Riimker, Director of the
Observatory at Hamburg, under date of the 18th of March,
1841, a list of observations, made by him at Hamburg, of the
last comet of 1840. The observations are as follows: —

Mean Time at

Apparent Alt of

Apparent Declination

1840.

Hamt

urg.

Comet.

of Comet.

Oct. 31

8

22

0.08

19

0

39.467

60

55

28.69

Nov. 1

6

52

26.82

19

5

43.216

60

54

31.48

2

10

28

10.86

19

12

4.756

60

52

7.84

3

7

15

19.82

19

17

2.979

60

50

33.74

4

13

20

2.14

19

24

28.450

60

46

31.34

5

6

57

8.31

19

28

56.872

60

43

16.11

9

8

21

27.13

19

56

59.328

60

21

30.63

11

6

55

59.20

20

8

40.337

60

0

48.52

12

6

27

11.41

20

15

41.102

59

50

3.76

13

8

5

4.80

20

23

26.385

59

36

5.27

14

9

29

42.97

20

31

14.402

59

21

18.39

15

6

41

14.84

20

37

50.215

59

7

7.50

18

6

34

54.83

21

0

40.717

58

9

58.25

19

6

48

36.13

21

8

29.169

57

47

1672

20

6

25

23.65

21

16

6.285

57

23

14.93

24

6

44

42.53

21

47

13.882

55

26

0.50

25

6

25

2.60

21

54

47.306

54

52

15.69

13

41

46.60

21

57

7.628

54

42

19.72

26

7

9

17.20

22

2

38 673

54

15

27.30

29

7

33

59.12

22

25

6.281

52

15

46.65

Dec. 2

9

11

4.79

22

46

56.829

49

58

3.17

3

7

7

2.82

22

53

12.672

49

13

42 05

8

49

21.41

22

53

42.254

49

10

52 41

6

6

56

47.26

23

12

59 638

46

43

49.08

13

7

42

40 03

23

54

19.495

40

19

3.31

14

7

0

57.18

23

59

29.358

39

24

18 23

15

6

17

45.63

0

2

52.297

38

29

7 03

16

8

50

43.24

0

10

6.085

37

27

56.16

18

7

34

23.16

0

19

31.004

35

39

31.85

19

8

47

55.91

0

24

25 567

34

41

30.99

21

8

2

41.39

0

33

15.525

32

54

42 36

23

7

58

57.91

0

41

47.577

31

8

36.33

25

7

42

27.06

0

49

52 085

29

26

8.12

10

34

11.99

0

50

21.596

29

20

56.22

26

8

8

10.01

0

53

51.430

28

34

51.10

27

9

31

19.89

0

57

55.670

27

43

41.96

Nov. 19, at 7 46 50, mean time, the comet passed over a small star, in AR
21 8 51.280, Dec. 57 46 27.32 N.

Dr. Mitchell presented to the Society a short abstract of a
paper, read by Dr. S. Brown, of Edinburgh, before the Royal
Society of that city, on the subject of the apparent isomerism
of silicon and carbon, and of iron and rhodium.

The proof sheets of this paper were sent by Mr. Combe, of Edin-
burgh, to Dr. Hare, in consequence of whose absence from Philadel-

76

phia they passed into the hands of Dr. Mitchell. Dr. M. promised
to repeat some of the experiments of Dr. Brown, and to lay the re-
sults before the Society at a future meeting.

Professor Park noticed a new publication, recently an-
nounced, from the Geographical Institute at Brussels, by
Messrs. Vandermaelen and Meisser, under the title of "Epis-
temonomie, ou Tables Generates dTndications des Connais-
sances Humaines."

He observed, that its professed object is to give analytical refer-
ences to all works, whether books, pamphlets, or articles in periodi-
cals, on each respective subject of human knowledge. He expressed
his regret, that in the specimen list which was forwarded to this So-
ciety, comprising the works on rail roads, those published in our own
country appeared to be so generally neglected. He also remarked,
that though the plan of the authors required a classification of human
knowledge, they had united in one of twelve divisions, the subjects of
mental and moral philosophy, religion, law and government, history,
biography, languages and antiquities, although these cover nearly
one-half of universal literature. Prof. Park announced a more equa-
ble and natural classification as about to be published, in which all
human knowledge is primarily divided into the following four pro-
vinces: — 1. Psychonomy, or the Laws of .Mind, comprising the
Study of Languages, Metaphysics, Jurisprudence, and Religion:
2. Ethnology, or the Study of Nations and Society, comprising
Geography, History, Biography, and Poetry: .'?. Physiconomy t or
the Laws of the Material World, comprising Mathematics, Physics,
Natural History, and Medicine: and 1. Technology, or the Study
of the Physical Arts, including those of Construction, with Agricul-
ture, Manufactures and Commerce, War, and the Fine Art-, particu-
larly Painting, Sculpture and Music, and other subordinate subjects.

Mr. Lea, from the Publication Committee, presented B re-
port on the state of the Committee's accounts, upon the com-
pletion of the 7th volume, New Series, of the Society's Trans-
actions.

The Committee mention, thai the expense of publishing this volume
is about (1640, and that the balance remaining in their hand- appli-
cable to the publication <>f Vol. VIII., a pari of which is already in
1166.88, besides about (600 which will probably be col-
lected from subscribers for the preceding volumi .

77

The Committee, consisting of Dr. Chapman, Dr. Patterson,
and Mr. Richards, which was appointed at the last meeting to
devise means for completing the magnetic and meteorological
observations which have been in progress during the past year,
presented their report; and the recommendations of the Com-
mittee being under consideration, the Society adjourned to
Friday evening the 25th instant.

Adjourned Meeting, June 25.

Present, thirty-five members.

Judge Hopkinson, Vice President, in the Chair.

The Society resumed the consideration of the report which
was under discussion at the adjournment of the last meeting.

In this report the Committee review the history of the con-
certed observations first proposed by the Royal Society of
London in 1839, and refer to the action of this Society in con-
sequence of the circular from that learned body. They ex-
press the strongest confidence in the skill, assiduity, and suc-
cess, with which the operations of the magnetic observatory at
Girard College have been thus far conducted, and a belief that
their prosecution is called for by the honour of the Society.
They pledge themselves, that as the funds required for the
past year's expenditure have been furnished by individual con-
tributions of the members and their friends, so those for the
third year shall be supplied in like manner, if the Society will
defray the charges of the intervening period from its corporate
funds.

After a full discussion of the subject, resolutions were
adopted by the Society — 1. Directing the Committee on the
Observatory to ask permission from the City Councils of Phi-
ladelphia to constitute, from certain moneys heretofore paid
by the city, a fund for the promotion of astronomical and
magnetic researches, and the publication of the results thereof:
2. Authorizing the Committee to refund, if required, certain

78

contributions made by individuals to the Astronomical Fund;
and 3. Directing the trustees of that fund to supply the means
of completing the magnetic and meteorological observations on
certain terms and conditions.

NOTICE.

Members qualified to vote at the elections of the Society,
Societies in correspondence with it, and Subscribers for its
Transactions, are entitled to receive copies of the "Proceed-
ings" at the times of their publication. Others desiring to re-
ceive them, are respectfully informed that the subscription
price has been fixed at one dollar per annum, to be always re-
mitted to the Treasurer in advance.

Those copies which are intended for distribution in foreign
countries, will be transmitted in such manner as may be indi-
cated by the parties to whom they are addressed: those for
Philadelphia and other parts of the United States, by the me-
dium of the post office. The Reporter will, however, retain
them, if so directed, and will attend at the Hall on Friday
evenings to deliver them in person. He particularly solicits
that every irregularity occurring in the distribution may be
communicated to him promptly, as it may not otherwise be
practicable for him to supply missing numbers. The earlier
part of the first volume has been for some months out of print.

Hall of the American Philosophical Society,
Philadelphia, 2ijth June, 1841.

Krr \tim— In Nh. 17, at [Bfe 43, in il"' fifth I I"< " product," read "precede.'

PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Vol. II. JULY, AUG. SEPT. & OCT. 1841. No. 19.

Stated Meeting, July 16.

Present, thirty-one members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were received and read: —

From Dr. Robert Christison, of Edinburgh, dated June 4,
1841, and from Prof. Edward Hitchcock, of Amherst, dated
July 10, 1841, making acknowledgments for the honour of
their election as members: —

From V. Cousin, Minister of Public Instruction of France,
dated Paris, 23d October, 1840, announcing the transmission
to the Society of a copy of the Archives du Museum d'Histoire
Naturelle: —

From M. Paris, President of the Royal Society of Antiqua-
ries of France, dated Paris, 15th Jan. 1841, transmitting Vol.
XV. of the Memoirs of that Society : —

From W. A. Graham, Secretary of the Society of Arts, &c.
Adelphi, London, dated 14th June, 1841, acknowledging the
receipt of Vol. VII. Part 2, of the Transactions, and Nos. 14,
15 & 16, of the Proceedings of the Society: —

From Frederick de Peyster, Corresponding Secretary of the
New York Historical Society, dated 6th July, 1841, transmit-
ting the first Volume of its Collections, N. S.: —

From Mr. George Folsom, dated 7th July, 1841, relating to
certain publications of this Society, which are deficient in the
library of the New York Historical Society: —

From Mr. W. W. Griffin, dated Elizabeth City, N. C. 11th

K

80

July, 1841, on the subject of the published Volumes of the
Transactions.

The letter of Mr. Folsom was referred to the Library Com-
mittee, and that of Mr. Griffin to the Committee of Publica-
tion, with power to take order.

The following donations were announced:

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Boletin Enciclopedico de la Sociedad Economica de Amigos del Pais.

Tomo 1°. Numeros 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Valencia, 1841. 8vo.—

From the Society.
Collections of the New York Historical Society. Second Series.

Vol. I. New York, 1841. 8vo. — From the Society.
A Discourse on the Life and Character of the Rev. Joseph Tucker-
man. By William E. Channing. Boston, 1841. 8vo. — From

the Author.
Pamphlets. — Trois Notes sur le Projet de Loi sur les Fortifications de

Paris. Appel au bon sens National. La Voix de la France. —

From the Avthor, M. A. Jullien, de Paris.
Monograph of the Limniades of North America. By S. Stehman

Haldeman. No. 3. July, 1841. 8vo. — From the Author.
Tijdschrift voor Natuurlijke geschiedenis en Physiologie; uitgegeven

door J. van der Hoeven, M.D. &c, en W. H. de Vriese, M.D.

&c. Two numbers. 8vo. Leyden, 1841. — From the Edi-
tors.
Geschichte des Siebenjahrigen Krieges in Deutschland von 1756 bis

1763, durch J. M. von Archenholtz, &c Berlin, 1791. 12mo. —

From Mr. I)u Ponceau.
Kur/.gefasste Lebensgescbichte Nicolaus Ludwigs, Grafen und Hem

von Zinzendorf und Pottendorf, von Jacob Cbristoph Duvernoy.

Barby, 1793. 12mo. — From Mr. John Jordan, Jim.
Istruzione sui para fulmini, letters del Sig. Ferdinando EUice, &c 6:c.

&C. <irnoa, 1841. 8vo. — From tin Avthor.
Noticia de nn Cameleon Mineral, &c. &c Por S. I>. A mires del

, &C &C Mfxii-n, l^:!!». — From the Author.

Fifth Geological Report of the State of Tennessee, made Nov. l -*:*!<.

I'.. <!. Tr008t, M.l>. ^V''. &C — From ///( Author.

An Examination of Beauchamp Plantagenet's Description of the Pro-
vince of New Albion. By John Penington. L840. Bvo. — From

the Author.

81

Scraps, Osteologic and Archaic-logical. By John Penington. 1841.

8vo. — From the same.
Reports of Dr. Beck, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Vanuxem, and others, on the

Geological Survey of New York. 1841. 8vo. — From Mr. L.

Vanuxem.
Journal of the Franklin Institute. July, 1841. 8vo. — Fro?n the In-
stitute.
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Edited by Isaac

Hays, M.D. &c. &c. July, 1841. 8vo. — From the Editor.
The American Medical Library and Intelligencer. By Robley Dun-

glison, M.D. New Series. Vol. I. No. 1. July, 1841 From

the Editor.

FOR THE CABINET.

A specimen of Marble from Granada, of Andalusia. — From Mr. N.

Patrullo.
A large Map of South America, by Olmedilla. Published by order

of the Spanish Government, in 1775. — From the same.

The committee, consisting of Professor Bache, Mr. Walker,
and Mr. Lukens, to which was referred the paper by Mr.
Hassler, entitled "Description of a New Form of Transporta-
ble Original Barometer," &c. reported in favour of its publica-
tion in the Transactions, and recommended that in accordance
with the author's directions, as communicated through the Li-
brarian, it be published without alteration of the phraseology.
The Society declined making the publication in the manner
proposed, and ordered the paper to be placed at the disposal of
Mr. Hassler.

The committee, consisting of Mr. Nicklin, Dr. Hays, and
Mr. F. Peale, to which was referred the "Continuation of Mr.
Lea's Paper on Fresh Water and Land Shells," read on the
18th of June last, reported in favour of its publication in the
Transactions; and it was ordered accordingly.

In this paper Mr. Lea describes twenty-two new species of fresh
water and land shells of the United States, chiefly from Alabama and
Tennessee. The new Valvata (bicarinata) from the Schuylkill is
interesting from the fact of its inhabiting within the precincts of our
city, and remaining unobserved heretofore. The shell resembles in
form the tricarinata of Say, but differs in the number of the carina?,

82

and in some other characters. The animal differs still more both in
form and colour.

Unio Brumleyanus. Testa, elliptic*!, inflata, incequilaterali, postice subbian*

gulata; valvulis crassis; natibus ; epidermide nigra, polita; dentibus

cardinalibus subgrandibus, lateralibus brevibus subrectisque; margarita alba,
et iridescente. Hab. Warrior River, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. — Prof. Brumley.

Unio regularis. Testa regulariter elliptica, subinflata, ina?quilate.ali ; valvu-
lis subtenuibus; natibus vix prominentibus; epidermide luteo-fusea, radiata;
dentibus cardinalibus minutis, lateralibus longis curvisque; margarita coeruleA
et iridescente. Hab. French Broad River, East Tennessee. — Dr. Troost and
5. M. Edgar.

Unio rruBstus. Testa ovata, subinflata, valde inaequilaterali; valvulis sub-
craseis; natibus prominulis; epidermide tenebroso-fusca, rugoso-striata ; denti-
bus cardinalibus parvis. lateralibus longis curvisque; margarita atro-purpureA
et iridescente. Hab. French Broad River, East Tennessee. — Dr. Troost and
5. M. Edgar.

Unio sparsus. Testa sparsim tuberculata, triangulari, subinflata. suba^qui-
laterali, postice emarginata; ad latus planulata; valvulis crassis; natibus ele-
vatis; epidermide luteals. ; dentibus cardinalibus grandibus ; lateralibus bre-
vissimis rectisque ; margarita. alba et iridescente. Hab. Holston River, East
Tennessee. — Dr. Troost and S. M. Edgar.

Unio argenteus. Testa obliqua, oviformi, valde compressa, valde ina?quila-
terali, postice subangulala ; valvulis subcrassis ; natibus subprominentibus;
epidermide luteo-fusca, polita ; dentibus cardinalibus subgrandibus, lateralibus
longis subcurvisque; margarita argentea et iridescente. Hab. Holston River,
East Tenn. — Dr. Troost and S. M.Edgar.

Helix Mobiliana. Testa subglobosa, rufo-cornea, nitida, perforata.; spira
brevi, obtusa ; suturis impressis ; anfractibus senis, convexis; apcrturA luna-
ta; labro reflexo. Hab. Vicinity of Mobile, Alab. — Charles Lea.

Helix minutissima. Testa subglobosa, supra obtuso-conoidca, subtus con-
vexa, fusco-cornca, minutissime striata, umbilicata. ; spira brevi; suturis im-
pressis; anfractibus quatcrnis, rotundis; apcrtura subrotunda ; labro acuto.
Hab. Vicinity of Cincinnati. — T. G. Lea.

Melania turgida. Testa lasvi, obtuso-conica, inflata, crassa, fasciata ; spira
brevi, ad apicem acuminata ; suturis leviter impressis; anfractibus septcnis,
planulatis ; apcrtura parva, formam trapezii babente ; columella incrassata,
alba. Hab. Holston River, East Tenn. — Dr. Troost and S. M. Edgar.

Mi Ionia glabra. Testa lu-vi, conoidca, subtcnui, nitid.'i, tenebroso-castanes.;
epira subclevata, suturis leviter impressis ; anfractibus subplanulatia ; apertu-
ra clongata, formam trapezii habente, intus purpurata ; columi icurv.i.

Hab. Holston River, East Tenn. — I)r Troost and S. M. Edgar.

Melanin perfiuea. Testfl leovi, ci Ide&, Bubcrassa, tenebroso.fusca. ; spire.

cxerta ; suturis linearibus ; anfraetiboi subplanulatis; apertura grandi, inflatA,
ovata, intus paUido»purpures.. lloh Calf killer Creek, Tenn. — & M. Edgar.

Melania picta. Testa hrvi, obtuso-conica, crassa, sub-fusiformi, subviridi,
fasciata ; spira subclevata; suturis impressis, superne exaratis; anfractibus
octonis, planulatis; aperture elongate., formam trapezii habente; columella
incurva. Hab. Holston River, East Tenn.- !>r. Troost and V M. F.d^ar.

83

Melania impressa. Testa, transverse et crebissime sulcata, fusiformi, crassa,
rufo-fusca; spira obtusa; suturis impressis; anfractibus senis, planulatis;
apertura elliptica sub-grandi, ad basim angulata, intus alba. Hab. Coosa
River, Alabama. — Prof. Brumley.

Melania robusta. Testa striata, fusiformi, crassa, luteola; spira obtusa; su-
turis subimpressis j anfractibus senis, subconvexis; apertura elliptica, magna,
ad basim angulata, intus alba. Hab. Coosa River, Alabama. — Prof. Brumley.

Melania Jay ana. Testa tuberculata, subfusiformi, crassa, pallido-cornea;
spira exerta; suturis linearibus, curvatis; anfractibus subconvexis, medio im-
pressis, tuberculorum duplici serie cinctis ; columella incurvata, superne in-
crassata ; apertura formam trapezii habente, intus albida. Hab. Cany Fork,
De Kalb Co. Tenn.— Dr. Troost.

Anculosa rubiginosa. Testa ovato-gibbosa, crassa, lasvi, rubiginosa; spira
subelevata; suturis impressis; anfractibus planulatis; apertura enormiter
ovata, intus albida; columella crassa, tenebroso-purpurea. Hab. Warrior
River, Alabama. — Prof. Brumley.

Anculosa bella. Testa sub-globosa, subtenui, superne tuberculata, fasciata,
virido-fusca ; spira brevi ; suturis linearibus, anfractibus ternis, convexis;
apertura subrotunda, intus coerulea ; columella maculata. Hab. Warrior
River, Alabama. — Prof. Brumley.

Anculosa Griffithiana. Testa ovato-gibbosa, crassa, crebre et transverse
striata, fasciata; suturis impressis; anfractibus quaternis, planulatis; apertunL
ovata, intus fasciata ; columella crassa, tenebroso-purpurea. Hab. Coosa
River, Alabama. — Prof Brumley.

Anculosa tuberculata. Testa ovata, crassa, superne tuberculata, fusca; spira
brevi; suturis vix impressis; anfractibus subconvexis; apertura ovata, intus
carnea ; columella crassa, maculata. Hab. Warrior River, Alabama. — Prof.
Brumley.

Valvata bicarinata. Testa orbiculari, superne planulata, bicarinata, sub-
crassa, superne cornea, inferne albida, late umbilicata; suturis impressis; spira
depressa; anfractibus quaternis, convexis; apertura rotunda, intus albida.
Hab. Schuylkill River, west side, below Permanent Bridge. — H. C. Lea.

Paludina angulata. Testa inflata, tenui, fusca, superne subvaricosa, inferne
transverse et minute striata, minute perforata; spira breviuscula, ad apicem
tenebrosa; suturis impressis; anfractibus quinis, in medio angulatis; apertura
magna, subtriangulata, intus subrubiginosa. Hab. Coosa River, Alabama. —
Prof. Brumley.

Paludina Coosaensis. Testa sub-globosa, tenui, pallida, sub-lasvi, perforata;
spira brevi; suturis valde impressis; anfractibus quinis, rotundis; apertura
magna, subrotunda, intus albida. Hab. Coosa River, Alabama. — Professor
Brumley.

Paludina cyclostomaformis. Testa subcylindracea,subcrassa, pallido-cornea,
laevi, imperforata; spira exerta, ad apicem rosea, obtusa; suturis valde impres-
sis; anfractibus quinis, rotundatis; apertura parva, subrotunda, intus salmonis
colore tincta. Hab. Coosa River, Alabama. — Prof. Brumley.

Professor Bache communicated some recent observations of
the Magnetic Dip, made at Baltimore by M. Nicollet and by

84

Major Graham of the U. S. Topog. Engineers, and mentioned
that they confirmed those made by himself. He added, that
they gave additional confirmation to the fact of a very consi-
derable local attraction at the different stations in Baltimore,
to which he had been led by comparing his own observations
with those of Professors Courtenay and Loomis.*

The observations of M. Nicollet were made with a dipping circle
by Robinson, of London, and with two needles. The stations of ob-
servation were at the second square, N. E. of the Washington Mon-
ument, (the station of observation of Professor Bache,) and in the
Botanic Garden of rit. Mary's College. The times of observation from
9 A. M. to 12 M., and from 3 to 6$ P. M. on the 28th of April, 1841.
The resulting dip at the first station, 71° 34'. 9, and at the second,
71° 38'.8.

The observations of Major Graham were made with a dipping circle
and two needles, by Gambey. The stations of observation were four
in number. No. 1 was N. 5° E. 363 yards from the centre of the
Washington Monument, and is supposed to have been the station oc-
cupied by Prof. Loomis. The dates of observation, June 9th, 1 to 3
P.M. and June 10th, Q\ to 9£ A.M. The resulting magnetic dips,
were 71° 48'.4. and 71° 46'. 0, mean 71° 47'.2, agreeing wry well
with the determination of Prof. Loomis, (71° 50'. 3,) after making an
allowance for the diminution of dip in the interval between the obser-
vations.

Station No. 2 bore N. 45° E. from the centre of the Washington
Monument, N. 11° W. from the dome of the Exchange, and was the
place where Prof. Bache had observed. The time was June 10th,
1841, ll£ A.M. to 1\ P. .M. The resulting dip 71° 3] .9, agr
very well with the determinations ofM. Nicollet ami Prof Bache.

Observations at stations Nos. 3 and 4 wire made to ascertain
whether a line of iron pip< ^ si-r\ ing to connect a neighbouring spring-
e and dairy, and running nearly E. and W. caused the diner,
observed in the two stations Nos. 1 and '-'• No. 3 was nearl]
intermediate between Nos. 1 and 2, and 43 feel N. of the line of
pipes, bearing of No. l for No. 8, N. ;!~> W. and distance 212 feet.
!:• ilting dip, by tw> series of observations with one needle, 71°
r. .5. The bearing of No. 3 from No. i was N. 8 W. and distance
l-i feet, and Nos. 3 and i were Dearly at the same distances N.

■ ceilings of tin' Am. I * 1 • 1 1 Society, Vol I No 14.

85

and S. of the line of pipes. The resulting dip, by one needle, at No.
4, was 71° 43'.2, differing 4'.3 from that observed at No. 3. It
seems, therefore, by the comparison of stations Nos. 1, 3, and 4, that
the presence of this iron will not explain the differences at stations
Nos. 1 and 2. Major Graham found the dip, with the same instru-
ment, in the Magnetic Cabinet of the Botanic Garden, St. Mary's
College, on the 11th June, between 6£ and 1\ A. M., 71° 38'.8

Professor Bache then communicated the following tabular
view of the observations heretofore made at Baltimore, arranged
according to the stations and dates.

Station.

Holliday Street, nearly opposite
the Theatre,

In the grove, N. of the Wash-
ington Monument,

N. 5o E. (Magnetic) 363 yards
from centre of Washington
Monument, supposed the same
station as that of Prof. Loomis,

In the Second Square, N. E. of
Washington Monument,

At two points between 3, and 4,

5,6,
In the Botanic Garden, St.

Mary's College,

Observer.
Prof. Courtenay.
Prof. Loomis.

Date. Dip.

o '

July 19, 1834 70 58.6
Sept. 25, 1839 7150.3

Maj. Graham. June 10, 1841 7147.2

Prof. Bache.
Mr. Nicollet.
Maj. Graham.

Mr. Nicollet.
Maj. Graham.

Aug. 27, 1840 71 34.4

Apr. 28, 1841 7134.9

June 10, 1841 7131.9

„ 71 45.3

Apr. 28, „ 71 38.6

June 11, „ 71 38.8

The results obtained by different observers and with different in-
struments are, Professor Bache remarked, remarkably accordant, and
leave no doubt of the care with which the observations were made, or
of the value of the instruments.

Mr. Lea mentioned to the Society, that Mr. Lyell is about
to visit this country, upon the invitation of the Lowell Insti-
tute, to give lectures before that body. He announced also
that M. Ramon de la Sagra is about to publish a Journal of
Natural History at Havana, and that he invited communica-
tions for the work.

Mr. Kane submitted the following resolutions, which were
adopted:

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to negotiate with

86

the City or County of Philadelphia, as they shall judge expe-
dient, for the sale of the Hall of the Society and the lot of
ground on which it stands.

Resolved, That the same committee be instructed to in-
quire into the practicability and expediency of purchasing for
the use of the Society the building now occupied by the Phi-
ladelphia and Chinese Museums.

The Committee consists of Dr. Patterson, Dr. Chapman, and
Mr. Richards.

Mr. Kane, Reporter laid on the table No. 18 of the Pro-
ceedings of the Society, for May and June, 1S41.

The decease of the following named members was an-
nounced:

Joseph Parker Norris, 22d June, 1841; aged 78:

James Abercrombie, D.D. 26th June, 1841; aged 83:

William James Mac Neven, M.D. 12th July, 1841; aged 78:

Julien Ursin Niemcewicz, 1841; aged 84.

George Bancroft, of Boston, was duly elected a member
of the Society.

Special Meeting, July 28.

Present, twenty-three members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

On motion of Dr. Patterson, from the Committee appointed
at the last meeting to negotiate for the sale of the Hall of the
Society, &c, that Committee was authorized to take final order
in the matters referred to it.

Special Meeting, August 9.

Present, twenty-one members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Dr. Patterson, from the Committee appointed on the lGth
July, reported in part, that the Committee had purchased the
building now occupied by the Philadelphia and Chinese Mu-

87

seums, for the sum of thirty-seven thousand two hundred and
fifty dollars, subject to certain incumbrances; and upon his
motion it was unanimously Resolved, that the Society ratifies
the purchase made in its name by the Committee, and that the
Committee be authorized to take all necessary measures for
carrying it into effect Other resolutions were also adopted
on motion of Dr. Patterson, making provision for paying the
purchase money, and constituting a Committee to make ar-
rangements for the accommodation of the Society in the new
building, &c. This Committee consists of Dr. Patterson, Dr.
Bache, Mr. Kane, Mr. Richards, and Dr. Hays.

Stated Meeting, August 20.
Present, twenty-two members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were received and read —

From Major Edward Sabine, dated Woolwich, May 19,
1841, and from George Bancroft, Esq., dated Boston, July 10,
1841, making acknowledgments for the honour of their elec-
tion to membership: —

From the Cambridge Philosophical Society, dated May 24,
1841; the Royal Asiatic Society, dated November 7, 1840;
and the Geological Society of London, dated May 20, 1841,
acknowledging the receipt of copies of the Society's Transac-
tions and Proceedings: —

From the Rev. Dr. Samuel Miller, of Princeton, dated July
5, 1841, and Mr. Moncure Robinson, dated May 23, 1841, ac-
companying donations to the Society's Library: —

From His Excellency the Chevalier Pierre de Gotz,
Counsellor of State, &c. &c, dated St. Petersburg, {- June,
1839, accompanying donations to the Library from the Im-
perial Academy of Sciences, from the Minister of Public
Instruction of Russia, from Admiral Schisckow, and from
himself, and requesting the Society to distribute, on behalf of
the Imperial Academy, four copies of a work, entitled "Untur-

88

suchungen iiber die Sprache," &c, in 3 vols,, published under
its auspices.

This letter gives an interesting account of the extent to
which the system of public instruction obtains in Russia. Re-
ferring to the work, entitled " Enumeration of Schools," &c,
which was transmitted with it, the writer says: —

It gives me pleasure to offer you this work as an official document,
containing statistical details that are sufficiently curious, and the re-
sult of which may appear to you surprising.

Foreign statisticians, reckoning only those establishments which
are under the direction of the Ministry of Public Instruction, had esti-
mated the number of scholars in Russia, compared to that of the po-
pulation, as 1 to 700. It is evident that this estimate must be funda-
mentally wrong, since no place in the calculation is given to the
schools, and other establishments, under different control from that of
the Ministry of Public Instruction. Government having caused an
inquiry to be instituted on this subject, the result was, that, not count-
ing the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Finland, the
number of scholars in 1834, compared with that of the inhabitants,
was as 1 to 210. But in this calculation were still not comprised the
schools founded at the churches and convents of the Gnrco-Russian
confession, the peasant schools in the Baltic Governments, the youth
who enjoy domestic education, the individuals to whom the priest-
hood teaches writing and the catechism, besides 306s Jewish and
398 Mahometan schools. When in addition to this it is considered,
that since the year 1834 many new schools, especially primary
schools, have been established, and that the number of scholars in
the inferior classes of all the schools has so increased that it has be-
come necessary to divide the classes into sections, we may with suffi-
cient certainty estimate that there is now in Russia a scholar for
4"> individuals, at Moscow 1 for 35, and at St. Petersburg!) 1 for
I 9.

Letters were also received and read —

Prom Mr. I >u Ponceau, dated Augusl 80, i ^ ii, communi-
cating the letter of M. de Gfttz: —

From Mr. D. B. Warden, dated Paris, June 18, 1841, in re-
lation to the history of certain gentlemen, formerly members
of this Society: —

From Dr. William B. Stevens, of Savannah, to Dr. Dungli-

89

son, Secretary of the Historical and Literary Committee, dated
August 20, 1841, in relation to the materials which he has col-
lected for his History of the State of Georgia, and inviting aid
in making further collections.

The belief, he says, that there may be in the keeping of the Philo-
sophical or Historical Societies of Pennsylvania, some papers or docu-
ments, some written or published records, pertaining to this period, has
induced our Board to apply for the use of whatever are to be found.

There have been manv interesting ties subsisting between Penn-
sylvania and Georgia. In the founders of their respective colonies,
there was a harmony of plan which proved the accordance of their
natures, and in their treatment of the aborigines, the humanity and
moderation of each made him eminently conspicuous. Penn and
Oglethorpe were the noblest examples of lenity towards the Indians
in the history of the settlement of British America. The character
of the early settlers of the two colonies is analogous in many respects,
and closely interwoven. There emigrated to both of them large
masses of Germans, Saltzburgers and Moravians, coming from one
Fatherland, holding one creed, and bound together by identical do-
mestic habits : they separated in consequence of poverty, in America,
but still bore the lengthened and not ruptured chain of friendship
along with them. The town of Bethlehem, in Pennsylvania, was
settled by Moravians from this colony in 1741, under the guidance
of their good Bishop Nitchman. In the labours of Whitfield we find
another bond of interest, and the large contributions to his Georgia
Orphan House, which he obtained in your state, evinced the reality
of its interest in the rising colony of the south. Franklin, the im-
mortal Franklin ! was another link to bind us together. For a series
of years he was the agent of this province, acting as her solicitor in
England, and his letters to friends in Georgia, could they all be
recovered, would constitute a most desirable possession for our citi-
zens. (Three of them, together with his account against the state
of Georgia for services rendered her in London, all in his own hand
writing, were fortunately found a few days since, among some old
papers in the loft of a counting-room, but the greater part of his cor-
respondence is irrecoverably gone.) These, with other facts, which
might be mentioned, are ties which bind us together over and above
the common sympathies which we entertain as members of the same
great nation.

90

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

U. S. Congressional Documents, 1st Sess. 26th Congress. 21 Vols*
8vo. — From the Secretary of State.

Ancient Laws and Institutes of England. 1840. Fol.-r- From the
Commissioners on the Public Records of the Kingdom.

Report on the Invertebrate Animals of Massachusetts. Cambridge,
1841. 8vo. — From the Legislature of Massachusetts.

Ancient Geography of the Russian Empire. 2d Ed. St. Peters-
burg, 1838. 8vo. — From the Imperial Acad emy of Sciences of
St. Petersburg.

Russian Grammar. By Alexander Wostokoff. St. Petersburgh,

1839. 8vo. — From the same.

Abridged History and Geography of Servia. By Demetrius Momi-
rovitch. St. Petersburgh, 1839. 8vo. — From the same.

Commentationes Societatis Regiac Scientiarium Gottingensis Recen-
tiores. Vol. VI. Gottingen, 1828. 4to. — From the Society.

Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Vol. XIV. Part 2.

1840. 4to. — From the Society.

Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London. Vol. X.
Part 3. 1841. 8vo.— From the Society.

Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, N. S. Nos. 19, 20, 21.
Calcutta, 1840. 8vo. — From the Society.

Boston Journal of Natural History. Vol. III. No. 4. 1841. 8vo.
From the Boston Society of Natural History.

Journal of the Franklin Institute. Aug. 1841. 8vo. — From the
Institute.

Constitution of the National Institution for the Promotion of Science,
amended. Washington. April, Is 41. — From the Institu-
tion.

Records of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.

Philadelphia, 1841. svo. — From the Presbytt rian Hoard of

Publication,

Minutes of the Gen ral \< embly of the Presbyterian Church in the
U.S.A. l-i . Bv< — From the same.

Tracts. — Tentam i Medico-Botanicum de Plantis Cichoraceis. Pri-
mes Lines) Te hnologiee Generalis. Radix Plantarum mycetoi-
dearum. De Fructificatione Generis Rhizomorphee. De Lingua
L itinae usu, a medicis temere oeglecto. ( !ommentatio super V e«

91

ronicis Spicatis Linnaei. De Respiratione Sepiae Officinalis.
Esquisse du Systeme d'Anatomie, &c. Par Oken. — From
Prince Maximilian de Wied Neuwid.

Institut Royal de France : Seance Publique Annueile des cinq Aca-
demies. 3 Mai, 1841. 4to. — From Mr. D. B. Warden.

Institut Royal de France : Seance Publique Annueile de PAcademie
des Sciences, Morales et Politiques. 15th May, 1841. 4to. —
From the same.

Societe Royale et Centrale d'Agriculture : — Compte-rendu des tra-
vaux de la Societe, Seance Publique, 18 Avr. 1841. Bulletin
des Seances, Compte-rendu Mensuel, 6th Jan. 1841. Notice
Biographique sur M. Huerne de Pommeuse. Rapport sur les
travaux de MM. Gossin. Notice Biographique sur M. Jean-
Pierre Labbe. Memoire par M. le Baron de Rivitre, sur les
Poissons, &c. Rapports sur divers concours, &c. &c. — From
Mr. D. B. Warden.

Tracts. — Traite de Commerce entre la France et la Hollande. Lettre
de M. Joseph Clerc. Observations des Delegues du Commerce
Maritime, &c. — From the same.

Divers Traites, par M. Jomard. — From the Author.

Etwas iiber die Natur-Wunder in Nord America, zusammengetragen
von Charles Cramer, &c. &c. &c. St. Petersburg, 1840. 8vo.
From the Author.

Ta Tsing Leu Lee ; being the fundamental laws, &c. &c. of China,
translated by Sir George Thomas Staunton, Bart. F. R. S. Lon-
don, 1810. 4to. — From Mr. Benjamin F. French.

Chinese Magazine. By GutzlafF and others. 2 Vols. 8vo. — From
the Rev. C. Gutzlaff.

Brief Account of Jesus Christ, &c. in Chinese. By C. Gutzlaff.
8vo. — From the same.

Portfolio Chinensis, or a Collection of Authentic Chinese State Pa-
pers, illustrative of the History of the Present Position of Affairs
in China. By J. Lewis Shuck. Macao, 1840. 8vo. — From
Dr. Diver.

History of the United States, in Chinese, by Bridgman. History of
the Jews, in Chinese, by Gutzlaff. Chinese Missionary Tracts,
by Gutzlaff. Macao. 4 Vols. 8vo. — From the same.

Malay Idiomatic Phrases. — From the same.

A Brief Grammatical Analysis of the Grebo Language. Dictionary
of the Grebo Language. Matthew's Gospel in the Grebo Lan-
guage. Baibli ah Histori, in Grebo. The Life of Christ. The

92

Grebo Hymn Book. 1840. 6 Vols.— From Lieut Godon, U. S.
Nary.

De la Litterature et des hommes de lettres des Etats Unis d'Ame-
rique, par Eugene A. Vail, &c &c. Paris, 1841. 8vo. — From
the Author.

\ Description of the English Province of Carolana, by the Spaniards
called Florida, and by the French La Louisiaue, &c. By Daniel
Coxe, Esq. London, 1722. (Reprint. St. Louis, 1840.) 8vo.
From M. Lewis Clarke, of St. Louis.

Memoir of the Geological Survey of the State of Delaware, &c. By
James C. Booth, &c. &c. Dover, 1841. 8vo. — From the Au-
thor.

Letter to S. J. Peters, Esq. on the Improvement of the Navigation of
the Mississippi. By Albert Stein. 1841. 8vo. — From Mr.
William K. Robertson.

Letter to the Hon. Henry Clay, President of the American Coloni-
zation Society, &c. &c. By R. R. Gurley. London, 1841.
8vo. — From Mr. Petty Vaughan.

An Exposition of some of the Doctrines of the Latin Grammar. By
Gessner Harrison, M.D., Professor, &c. Part 1. Charlottes-
ville, 1839. — From the Author.

Supplementary Report on Meteorology. By James D. Forbes, Esq.,
F.R.S., &c &c. London, 1841. 8vo. — From the Author.

Memoir of the Rev. Charles Nisbet, D.D., late President of Dickin-
son College. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor, &c &c. New
York, 1840. 12mo.— From the Author.

Memoir of the Rev. John Rodgers, D.D., late Pastor, &c. &c, New
York. By Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor, &c. &o Philadel-
phia, 1840. 16mo. — From the Author.

Remarks on the Present State of the Evidence in regard to the
Larva: of the Hessian Fly. By B. H. Coatcs, M.D. August,
1841. 16mo. — From the Author.

A Practical Description of Hcrron's Patent Trellis Railway Struc-
ture, &c. &c. By .lames Herron, Civil Engineer. Philadelphia,
1841. 4to. — From rl" Author.

A Description of Ithiel Town's [mprovemenl in the Principle, &c<
of Bridges, Roads, &c. By Ithiel Town. New York, L889.

4to. — Froj/i the Author.
Description of an entire Head and various other Bones of the Masto-
don, recently presented to the Society by souk- of its Members.
By w. E. Horner, M.D. and I. Hays, M.D. 1841. Mo.— From
i/ir Authors.

93

On the Evaporative Power of Different Kinds of Coal. Edinburgh,
1841. 8vo. — From Major Bache, U. S. Engineers.

Geography of Great Britain and Ireland, in Chinese. — From Dr.
Diver.

FOR THE CABINET.

A Lithographic Portrait of Mr. Hassler, Superintendent of the U. S.
Coast Survey. — From Mr. Vavghan.

The copies of the work of Admiral Schischkow, transmitted
for distribution by the Imperial Academy of St. Petersburg,
were ordered to be sent to the University of Harvard, Mass.;
the University of Virginia; the Philadelphia Library; and the
National Institution at Washington.

Stated Meeting, September 17.

Present, twenty-two members.

Dr. Chapman, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Letters were received and read —

From the Rev. Charles Gutzlaff, dated Macao, March 16,
1840, making acknowledgments for the honour of his election
to membership, and giving information as to his progress in
the preparation of the Chinese Dictionary and Grammar: —

From the Royal Academy of Sciences, Institute of France,
dated July 5, 1841 ; the Royal Society of Edinburgh, dated De-
cember 7, 1840; the Royal Asiatic Society, without date; the
Royal Academy of Sciences of Gottingen, dated April 2, 1841 ;
and the Royal Academy of Sciences of Berlin, dated July 15,
and August 10, 1840; transmitting donations to the Library,
and acknowledging the receipt of the Transactions and Pro-
ceedings of the Society: —

From the Hon. C. C. Cambreleng, Minister to Russia, dated
St. Petersburg, June 19, 1841, transmitting, at the request of
Admiral Krusenstern, a copy of his Charts of the Pacific
Ocean : —

94

From the Rev. William M. Engles, dated July 17, 1841,
transmitting, on behalf of the General Assembly of the Pres-
byterian Church in the United States of America, a copy of
their Minutes for 1S41; and on behalf of the Presbyterian
Board of Publication, a volume of the early records of the
Presbyterian Church in this country: —

From Mr. F. A. Hassler, withdrawing his paper on a trans-
portable barometer, recently presented to the Society.

The following donations were announced: —

TO THE LIBRARY.

Abhandlungen der Koniglichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu
Berlin; 3d and 4th Vols, for 1832, and 1st Vol. for 1838.
Berlin, 1839. 4to. — From the Royal Academy of Berlin.

Bericht uber die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der
Konigl. Preuss. Akademie, &c.,for 1839, July to Dec., and for
1840: and Preisfragen der Konigl. Preuss. Akademie zur Jubel-
feier des Regierungs-Antritts Konigs Friedrichs II. auf das Jahr
1844. — From the same.

Annaler for Nordisk Oldkyndighed, udgivne af det Kongelige Nor-
diske Oldskriftselskab, 1839. — From the Royal Society of
Northern Antiquaries.

Memoires de la Societe Royale des Antiquaires du Nord, 1838,
1839. — From the same.

Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Vol. XV. Parti.
Edinburgh, 1841. 4to. — From the Society.

Transactions of the Zoological Society of London. Vol. II. Part 5.
London, 1841. 4to. — From the Society.

Transactions of the Geological Society of London. Vol. VI. Part 1.
London, 1841. 4to. — From the Society.

Bolctin Enciclopcdico de la Socicdad Economica de Amigos del Pais,
dc Valencia. Nos. 13, 14, 15, 10, 17, 19. Valencia, Jan. to
July, 1841. 8vo. — From the Society.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Nos. 46, 17. Lon-
don, 1840, 1841. 8vo.— Fr»m the Society.

Proco f the A.cademy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.

v<. :j. .lime, L841. Mv<>. — From 'In Academy.

Pennsylvania State Documents. — Journal of the Senate of Pennsyl-
vania, Session 1841, •'< Vols. Journal of tin- House of Represen-
tatives of Pennsylvania, Session 1841, 8 Vols. Reports of the

95

State Treasurer, 1st November 1839 and 1840, 2 Vols.— From
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Supplemens au Recueil de Memoires Hydrographiques, pour servir
d'analyse a l'Atlas de l'Ocean Pacifique, par le Vice-Amiral de
Krusenstern. St. Petersburg, 1833. 4to. — From the Author.

Atlas de l'Ocean Pacifique, dresse par M. de Krusenstern, Contre-
Amiral, &c. &c. St. Petersburg, 1827. Folio. — From the Au-
thor.

O Auxiliador da Industria Nacional. Vol. IV. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Vol. IX. Nos. 1, 2. Rio Janeiro, 1836, 1841. 8vo.— From
Mr. J. S. de Rebello.

Prodromus Systematis Herpetologia? Caroli Luciani Bonaparte, Muxi-
niani Principis. 8vo. 1840. — From the Author.

Illustrations of the Affinity of the Latin Language to the Gaelic or
Celtic of Scotland. By T. Stratton, &c. &c. Kingston, U. C.
1840. 4to. — From the Author.

Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania. Third
Series. Vol. II. No. 3. Sept. 1841. — From the Institute.

The American Medical Library and Intelligencer. By Robley Dun-
glison, M.D., &c. &c. New Series. Vol. I. No. 2. — From the
Editor.

Reports in reference to the Construction of the Potomac Aqueduct,
and to the Kyanizing of Timber, from the Colonel of the Topo-
graphical Engineers, U. S. Washington, 1841. 8vo. — From
Col. J. J. Abert, U. S. Top. Eng.

The History* of North Carolina from the Earliest Period. By Fran-
cois-Xavier Martin. New Orleans, 1829. 2 Vols. 8vo. — From
Mr. B. F. French.

Address delivered at Jefferson College, Louisiana. By Alexander H.
Everett, President, &c. New Orleans, 1841. 8vo. — From the
Author.

Account of some Parhelia observed at Milford and Camden, Dela-
ware, 14th March. 1841. By A. D. Chaloner, M.D., &c. &c. —
From the Author.

Official Register of the United States' Military Academy. 1841. —
From Lieut. Col. Delafield.

What to Observe. By J. R. Jackson. London, 1841. 8vo. — From
the Author.

The World in a Pocket Book, &c. By W. H. Crump. Philadel-
phia, 1841. 12mo. — From the Author.

M

96

Pantology, or a Systematic Survey of Human Knowledge, &c. &c.
By Roswell Park, Professor, &c. Philadelphia, 1841. 8vo. —
From the Author.

Supplement to a Paper on the Mutual Action of Permanent Mag-
nets, &c. By the Rev. Humphrey Lloyd, D-D. Dublin, 1841.
4to. — From the Author.

Contributions to Terrestrial Magnetism. No. 2. By Lieut. Col.
Edward Sabine, R. A., &c. 6cc. — From the Author.

Report on the Bear Valley Coal District, in Dauphin County, Penn-
sylvania. By Walter R. Johnson, A.M., <kc. «kc. — From the
Author.

Filices Britannicoe, a History of British Ferns. Part 2. By James
Bolton, &c. &c London, 1790. 4to. — From Mr. John Pen-
ington.

Metaphysische Anfangsgrunde der Naturwissenschaft von Immanuel
Kant. Riga, 1786. 8vo. — From Mr. Du Ponceau.

Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten von Immanuel Kant. Riga,
1792. 8vo. — From the same.

Psychische Anthropologic, von Gottlob Ernst Schulze, &c &c.
Gottingen, 1826. 8vo. — From the same.

Du Droit de la Paix et de la Guerre, &c. &c Paris, 1793. 8vo. —
From the same.

The Lyric Works of Horace, translated, &c. Philadelphia, 1786.
8vo. — From the same.

Statuts de I'Academie des Inscriptions, &c. Stockholm, 1788.
8vo. — From the same.

An Arrangement of British Plants according to the Latest Improve-
ments of the Linnean System. Sixth Edition. London, 1818.
I Vols. Bvo. — From Mr. Vavghan.

Principles of Legislation from the MS. of Jeremy Bentham. l'«\ M.

Dumont, &C. &C. Huston, 183(». Bvo. — From the same.

Eiandbuch der Deutschen Literatur, &c. Von Johann Samuel Brsch,
&c Amsterdam, 1812, 181 I, 1815. S Vote.— From the same.

Memoranda of a Residence al the Court of London. By Richard
Rush, &c. &c. Philadelphia, L833. Bvo. — From the same.

Dr. Bache announced the decease of Mr. Joshua Gilpin, a
member of the Society, who died on the 22d of August last, at
Ins residence, near Wilmington, Delaware, aged 7 ">.

Dr. B. II. Coates made an oral communication in relation to
the Hessian Fly.

97

Dr. Coates stated that the result of a number of examinations, made
in the vicinity of Philadelphia by several observers, on the crops of
the present year, has proved the pale yellow larva in the hollow of
the straw of wheat, to be the same with that which is ultimately con-
verted into the Cecidomyia Destructor of Say, and the Hessian Fly
of our cultivators. In many instances, referrible perhaps to a pecu-
liarity in the present season, the animal went through all its stages
before escaping from the cavity; thus affording irrefragable evidence
of the identity of the species.

In no case known to Dr. C. had any thing resembling a caterpillar
or maggot, or any thing apparently capable of locomotion, been found
under the sheath of the leaf: the body observed, was always immo-
vable, and fixed in a depression of the straw.

Nor was any insect known to have been found which approached
to the genus Lasioptera, as given by Meigen ; all those examined in
the perfect state, which were not the Ceraphron, since referred to
Pteromalus and Eurytoma, in either its four-winged or its apterous
form, being tipulide animals, and betraying no important difference
from those observed by Mr. Say.

Dr. C. called attention to several notices of this subject in the Pro-
ceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Professor Henry, of Princeton, exhibited to the Society a
simple form of the Heliostat, or instrument for throwing a sta-
tionary beam of light into a darkened room.

He stated that this article of apparatus, which is indispensable in
delicate experiments on light, is in its usual form a very complex in-
strument, and consequently very expensive; while the one to which
the attention of the Society was directed, is very simple, and scarcely
cost more than the tenth part of the price of one of the old form.

It was made in accordance with the plan given by Dr. Thomas
Young in the first volume of his Lectures on Natural Philosophy,
which consists in reflecting a beam of light into the room in a line
parallel to the axis of the earth, and then causing it to retain this
direction by giving the reflector a rotatory motion equal to the appa-
rent motion of the sun. The instrument consists of a flat block of
mahogany, about nine inches long and five inches wide, on which is
placed, in an inclined position, the wheel work of a common pocket
watch. This serves to give rotatory motion to a brass wheel of about

98

five inches in diameter, which is so geared into the large wheel of
the watch as to make one turn in twenty-four hours. The axis of
this wheel is a steel rod, carrying on its upper end a small mirror,
which can be set in any position by means of an universal joint. The
watch work and the wheel are attached to the mahogany block by a
hinge, so that the axis of the wheel can be inclined to the horizon at
an angle precisely equal to the latitude of the place where the instru-
ment is to be used.

The adjustment of the instrument is very simple. It is placed on
the outside of the window, with the axis of the wheel parallel to the
axis of the earth; a meridian line having been traced on the window
sill for this purpose. The mirror is then set so that the beam of light
is thrown into the room in a line forming the prolongation of the axis
of the wheel, which is readily effected by means of a mark previously
made on the opposite wall. The beam will preserve this direction
during the day, since the mirror and the sun revolve with the same
velocity, and are therefore comparatively at rest. The only motion
of the beam in reference to terrestrial objects is one of rotation on its
own axis. If the required direction of the beam is different from that
of the first reflection, a second mirror is used.

Professo- Henry's object in exhibiting this article to the Society,
was to render this simple contrivance more generally known in our
country. He stated that the invention probably belongs to Dr.
ng; that it was at least published by him in 1807, although an
account of the same instrument is given in the London and Philoso-
phical (Magazine for 1S33, as a new invention \<\ Mr. Potter. The
details of the instrument exhibited, differ from those proposed by Mr.
-. in the addition of a hinge and clamp-screw, by which the axis
may be adjusted to the angle of the latitude. The instrument was
constructed by an ingenious watchmaker at Princeton; and its whole
cost, including the watch work, was but sixteen dollars.

Dr. Patterson and Mr. Walker rend .strictures by Mr. Hos-
ier upon a notice of the Massachusetts State Survey which ap-
peared in the Proceedings for June last, and commented on the
apparent misconceptions of Mr. Hassler, a.s did several other
■ lemen.

Professor Bache communicated, on behalf of Professor Rlim-
kcr, of Hamburg, the observations made in 1838, at the obser-
vatory in that city, on Encke'a comet, with their reductions.

99

Dr. Patterson, from the Committee appointed in relation to
the buildings of the Society, made a further report of progress;
and on his motion, additional powers were conferred on the
Committee.

Stated Meeting, October 1.

Present, twenty-nine members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were received and read —

From the Royal Geographical Society of London, dated
May 12, and July 12, 1841, — the Zoological Society of Lon-
don, dated August 20, and November 7, 1840, and January
13, May 19, and July 9, 1841,— the Horticultural Society of
London, dated July 20, 1841, — and the Linnean Society of
London, dated August 12, 1841; announcing the transmission
of donations to the Library, and acknowledging the receipt of
the Transactions and Proceedings of the Society: —

From Dr. H. J. Bowditch, of Boston, dated Sept. 14, 1841,
accompanying a Report of the Bowditch Library, and acknow-
ledging the receipt of the Transactions and Proceedings: —

From Col. J. R. Jackson, dated London, July 19, 1841,
transmitting through Mr. Du Ponceau to the Society his work,
entitled, "What to Observe:"—

From Mr. Joseph E. Bloomfield, dated New York, Septem-
ber 26, 1841, relative to a deposit made by him with the So-
ciety, of two silver goblets and a cestus, taken by one of Pizar-
ro's soldiers from the Temple of the Sun, in Peru: —

From the Chief Engineer U. S. A., Col. Totten, dated Wash-
ington, September 17, 1841, accompanying a donation to the
Library; and from Mr. John B. Murray, dated Liverpool, Au-
gust 28, 1841, offering to the Society, on certain conditions, a
printing press at which Dr. Franklin worked when in Eng-
land. This letter was referred to a committee.

100

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Vol. VI. No. 12. London, 1841. 8vo.— From the Society.
Proceedings of the Committee of Commerce, &c. of the Royal Asiatic

Society, 1841. London. 8vo. — From the same.
Transactions of the Linnean Society. Vol. XVIII. Part 4. Lon-
don, 1841. 4to. — From the Society.
Memoirs of the American Academy : — An Account of the Magnetic

Observations made at the Observatory of Harvard University,

Cambridge. By Joseph Lovering, Hollis Professor, 6:c. and W.

Cranch Bond, &c. &c. 4to. — From the Academy.
Annales des Mines. 3me Ser. Tome XVIII. 4me, 5me, and Gme

Livrns. Paris, 1840. 8vo. — From the Ingenieurs des Mines.
Journal Asiatique. 3me Ser. Tome XI. Nos. 61, 62, 63. Paris,

1841. 8vo. — From the Asiatic Society, Paris.
Bulletin de la Societe de Geographic Juillet, 1840. 8vo. — From

the Society.
Nouveaux Tableaux de Lecture, assujettes au systeme de Tenseigne-

ment mutuel. Paris, 1835. Fol. — From Mr. Du Ponceau.
Annual Reports of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, 1839

ami 1840. Falmouth. 8vo. — From Mr. Robert Were Fox.
Report on some Observations on Subtcrraiifan Temperature. By

Robert Were Fox. London, 1841. 8vo. — From tin same.
Descriptiones et Icones Amphibiorum, auctor Dr. Joannes Wnglcr.

Fasciruli ], 2, 3. Fol. — From Dr. Holbrook.
Tijdschrift voor Natuurlijke Geschiedenis en Physiologie; 1'iL

yen door J. Van der Hoeven, M.D., &c. en W. H. de Vriese,

M.D.,&c. Vol. VIII. No. 3. Leyden, 1841. 8vo.— From

tin Editors.
Papers on Practical Engineering. Published by thr Engineer Dc-

partment of the U. S. Army. Washington, 1841. 8vo. — From

J, '.. I Urn.

stir la Philosophic des Scii aces, &c., par Andre-Marie Ampin',
a.-. &c. Par . L834i v\". — "From Professor Henry.

Informe presentado a la Real Junta de Fomento de Agriculture, &c
de Cuba, en el Bxpediente sobre la Elscuela Nautica, v\c Ila-
vanna, L834. Fol. — From 8enor de In 8usa.

Impugnacion al Bxamen de Cousin sobre el enaayo del ICntcndimicnto

101

Humano de Locke. Entregas I. II. Havanna, 1840. 8vo. —

From the same.
Remarks on the Abracadabra of the Nineteenth Century, or on Dr.

Samuel Hahnemann's Homoeopathic Medicine, &c. By William

Leo- Wolf, M.D. New York, 1835. 8vo.— From some of the

Physicians of Philadelphia.
The Case of the Seneca Indians, in the State of New York, illustrated

by Facts. Philadelphia, 1840. Qvo.—From Mr. G. M. Jus-
tice.
A Further Illustration of the Case of the Seneca Indians iu the State

of New York, &c. &c. Philadelphia, 1841. 8vo. — From the

same.
Report of the Proprietors of the Bowditch Library. Boston, 1841. —

From the Proprietors.
Notice of a Model of the Western Portion of the Schuylkill or

Southern Coal Field of Pennsylvania. By Richard C. Taylor,

&c. &c. — From the Author.
Address before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Union College, 27th

July, 1841. By William Kent. — From Mr. Du Ponceau.
Printer's Pension Society : List of Subscribers, Rules and Regula-
tions, 13th and 14th Annual Reports, &c. &c. London, 1840,

1841. — From the Society.
History of the United States, in Chinese. By Bridgman. — From

Rev. Joseph S. Travelli.
Tracts in the Malay Language: Natural History, &c. &c. ; and a

Tract in the Bums Language of Macassar. — From the same.

Donations were made to the Cabinet, in the name of the late
Joshua Gilpin, Esq., of a specimen of rock from the highest
pinnacle of Mont Blanc, which had been presented to him by
Professor de Saussure in 1798; and of the tusk of a swordfish
which was darted into an American ship in the Chinese Sea,
and there broken off.

Dr. Patterson presented a continuation of Mr. Borden's
paper on the Survey of Massachusetts, which was referred to
a Committee.

Professor Bache called the attention of the Society to the
"Account of the Magnetic Observations made at the Observa-
tory of Harvard University, Cambridge," by Prof. Lovering
and Mr. Bond, printed in the Memoirs of the American Aca-
demy at Boston, and presented this evening to the Society.

102

This paper contains an account of the observatory, and of the
transit and magnetic declination instruments with which it was pro-
vided, of the mode and times of observing, with deductions from the
observations, and tables of the observations themselves. Among
other interesting matter, is the investigation of an empirical formula,
expressing the daily changes of magnetic declination in terms of the
solar time, by Prof. Peirce, and a comparison of the magnetic decli-
nation and dip deduced from Gauss' formula, with those elements as
obtained by observation. Besides th* monthly term-days, several
extra days in each month had been devoted to observations at short
periods. The bi-hourly observations had not been attempted. The
paper closes with an account of the new observatory, and of the com-
plete set of magnetic instruments with which it is furnished.

Dr. Hays invited the attention of the Society to a very ex-
tensive and highly interesting collection of fossil bones, chiefly
of the Mastodon, recently brought to this city by Mr. Albert
Koch, of St. Louis.

Dr. H. stated that this collection comprises portions of twenty-
three lower and eleven upper jaws, of upwards of two hundred teeth,
and a sufficient number of the other bones to form a nearly complete
skeleton.

Four of the lower jaws appertain to the genus Tetracaulodon.
One of these is remarkable from having a single alveolus for a tusk.
This alveolus is on the right side; and in its form, position, and size,
is similar to that of a specimen in the collection of the Society, de-
scribed and figured in the Transactions, Vol. IV. PI. XXIX. There
is Dot the slightest trace of a corresponding alveolus ever having i \-
isted on the other side. Two other jaws have also only a single al-
veolus; but the specimens are too imperfect to determine whether or
not they had another, though Dr. II. infers thai they had, and that
the existence of a single tusk in the lower jaw was a merely acci-
dental occurrence. The specimen described by Dr. Godman lias
two, and also that belonging to the Museum of the I University of Vir-
ginia. See Vol. IV. of the Transactions, Plates \X\ I. and \\\ II.

The fragmenl of a fourth jaw is particularly interesting, from its
apparently belonging to a distincl variety, if nol even a nev< species,
of Tetracaulodon. This consists of the chin, and a portion of the left
side. In the chin there is a small alveolus on each side. This jaw
is strikingly similar to one m the < labinet of the Society , and described

103

by Dr. H. as belonging to the young of the M. giganteum. See
Transactions, Vol. IV., N. S., PI. XX. In the latter specimen the
alveolus was so small and imperfect, and so different from that in the
species of Tetracaulodon then known, that Dr. H. considered it an
accidental formation. In the specimen in Mr. Koch's collection the
alveolus is sufficiently perfect, the lining plate of bone in part remain-
ing, to place beyond all doubt its being a socket for a tusk.

Two of the fragments of upper jaws are extremely interesting, from
possessing, one an entire tusk, and the other the inner portion of both
tusks, apparently in their original position ; thus solving the problem
as to the position of the tusks in this genus, and showing it to be the
same as in the elephant.

The collection of bones forming the skeleton, called by Mr. Koch
the Missourium, though very unnaturally put together, is an object of
interest, from the large size and fine state of preservation of some of
the bones, particularly the femur and the atlas. The head is far less
perfect than the one belonging to the Society. The whole vault of the
cranium, except the inner table, is wanting. The two tables of the
cranium being widely separated in this genus, the absence of the outer
table and the diploe gives to the head a remarkably flat appearance.
This, with the smoothness of a great part of the upper surface, result-
ing from the natural structure of the cells of the diploe, which are
very large, led Mr. Koch to believe that the cranium was entire, and
that it belonged to an animal different from the Mastodon.

Professor Bache presented some further astronomical obser-
vations from Mr. Riimker, of Hamburg.

These observations are published in the Astronomische Nachrich-
ten, No. 432, which has been received in this country since the meet-
ing of the Society.

Stated Meeting, October 15.

Present, thirty-seven members.

Judge Hopkinson, Vice President, in the Chair.

Letters were received and read —

From the Royal Society of Sciences of Copenhagen, dated

mi

May 1, 1841, acknowledging the receipt of the Transactions
and Proceedings of the Society: —

From the President of Harvard University, dated Cam-
bridge, Sept. 7, 1S41, thanking the Society for the work of
Admiral Schisckow, presented by it in the name of the Impe-
rial Academy of St. Petersburg to the University Library.

The following donations were announced: —

TO THE LIBRARY.

Det Kongclige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Naturvidenskabelige

og Mathematiske Afhandlinger. Ottcnde Deel. Copenhagen,

1841. 4to. — From the Royal Society of Denmark.
Oversigt over det Kongclige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs For-

handlinger og dets Medlemmers Arbeider, i. a. 1839, 1840.

4to. — From the same.
Censura Commentationum Societati Regiae Danicrc Scientiarum a.

1840 oblatarum, et Nova.- Questiones quas in a. 1842 Societaa

cum pra;mii promisso proponit. — From the same.
Proceedings of the Meteorological Society of London, during the Ses-
sions 1838-39 and 1839-40.— front the Society.
Royal Astronomical Society of London. Proceedings. Vol. V. No.

16. June, 1841. — From the Society.
Proceedings of the Geological Society of London. Vol. III. Part II.

No. 76. 1841.— From the Society.
Botanical Society of London. Regulations, &c. 1841. — From the

Socii ty.
Royal Geographical Society of London. Address of George Bellas

Greenough, I'. U.S. &c., President. 24th May, L841. — From

the Society.
Academic Royale de Bruxelles. Extrail du Tom. VI. No. 10, dee

Bulletins. Note sur la Temperature de I'Eaude Puits,parW. II.

White, dec. — From the Author.
On the Theories of the Weather Prophets, &c. By W. rl. White,

Secretary of the Meteorological Societ) of London, &c. — From

tin same.
'. bj Mr. O'Sullivan, to the Legislature of the Stair of New

fork, "ii the lubjecl of Capital Punishment, i lth April. I S 1 1 . —

From tin Author.
The American Journal of Science and the Arts. Conducted l>\ Pro-

105

lessor Silliman and B. Silliman, Jun. Vol. XLI. No. 2. Oct.
1841. — From the Editors.
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. By Isaac Hays,

M.D., &c Oct. 1841.— From the Editor.
The American Medical Library and Intelligencer. By Robley Dun-

glison, M.D., &c. N. S. Vol. I. No. S.—From the Editor.
Academical Lectures on the Jewish Scriptures and Antiquities. By
John Gorham Palfrey, D.D. 2 Vols. 8vo. Boston, 1838, 1840.
From the Author.

Dr. Bache, from the Committee, consisting of the Secretaries,
to whom were referred on the 26th of June, 1840, the commu-
nications of Mr. Du Ponceau and Mr. Fisher, relating to the
early history of the Society, presented a report, which was
read. At the request of the President, who was absent in con-
sequence of indisposition, the consideration of this report was
postponed till the next meeting.

The Committee, consisting of Mr. Kane, Mr. Breck, and
Judge Hopkinson, to whom was referred a letter from Mr.
John B. Murray to Mr. Vaughan, which was read at the last
meeting, made report.

Mr. Murray's letter communicates a proposal from some gentlemen,
members of the Printer's Pension Society of London, to present to
this Society a printing press at which Dr. Franklin worked while in
England, provided a pecuniary gift or endowment be made in return
to the Printer's Pension Society, and the Philosophical Society engage
that the press shall be accessible to the public.

The Committee express their sense of the liberal exertions of Mr.
Murray to promote the interests of the Society, but for reasons which
they detail, recommend that the proposal communicated in his letter
be declined.

The Society concurred in the recommendation, and de-
clined Mr. Murray's proposal.

Dr. Harlan presented a communication entitled, " Descrip-
tion of the Bones of a nondescript fossil Animal, of the order
Edentata, allied to the Megatherium, Megalonyx, Clamypho-
rus, Orycteropus, &c. &c, by R. Harlan, M.D.;" which was
read and referred to a committee.

Dr. Hays made some additional remarks on the new variety

106

of the Tetracaulodon, which he had noticed at the last meet-
ing.

He called the attention of the Society to four specimens, which he
had placed on the table. 1st. A cast of the lower jaw of the Tetra-
caulodon, described by Dr. Godman, and figured in our Transac-
tions, Vol. IV. N. S., PI. xxvi. 2d. A fragment of a lower jaw of
the same species, belonging to our Cabinet, described Vol. IV. N. S.,
Trans. PI. xxix. 3d. The portion of a lower jaw of a young Tetra-
caulodon, exhibited at the last meeting; and 4th, One similar, from
the collection of Mr. Koch, and which he stated he was enabled to
submit to the inspection of the members, through the liberality of the
owner.

He called attention to the circumstance, that the alveoli for the
tusks in the first and second of these specimens were alike in form,
depth and direction, but that there was a marked dissimilarity in these
respects between them and those of the third and fourth specimens ;
the latter being also like each other. In the two former the alveoli
are nearly cylindrical, and extend nearly to the inner table of the
chin, leaving at their base merely a thin plate of bone: whilst in the
two last the alveoli are conical, and so superficial as to leave a space
of nearly two inches between their base and the posterior surface of
the chin.

NOTE. — By an error in the typographical arrangement of the table of lon-
gitudes in the last Number, at page GG, a blank has been introduced atttr
" Worcester," in the 24th line, of the 3d and 4th columns. This blank should
have b en in the first line, after " Boston," and the figures in those columns
from the first to the 24th line inclusive, should have stood, each of them, one
line below their present place — thus:

2 I Amherst | 9 | 25 | 7S 31 35.86 | +7.36

PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Vol. II. NOVEMBER & DECEMBER, 1841. No. 20.

Stated Meeting, Nov. 5.

Present, thirly-three members.

Dr. Patterson, Vice President, in the Chair.

Letters were received and read : —

From the Royal Society of Gottingen, dated April 20,1841, —
the Royal Society of Copenhagen, dated 3d May, 1841, — the
Royal Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres, Institute of
France, dated 20th August, 1841, — the Royal Academy of
Sciences, Institute of France, dated 23d August, 1841, — and
the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, dated Penzance,
25th Sept, 1841; severally acknowledging the receipt of copies
of the Transactions and Proceedings of the Society, and trans-
mitting donations to the Library: —

From the Secretary of the London Electrical Society, dated
7th July, 1841, presenting the entire series of the Transactions
and Proceedings of that Society: —

From Mr. Charles Nagy, dated Vienna, xOth March, 1841,
accompanying donations to the Library, and referring to ex-
periments, making under his direction, with the invariable
pendulum : —

From Professor Palfrey, dated Boston, 28th Sept. 1841, pre-
senting a copy of his Lectures.

The letter of Mr. Nagy was referred to a committee.

N

108

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARV.

Flora Batava. No. 122. Amsterdam. 4to. — From II. M. the

King of the Netherlands.
Laws of Pennsylvania, passed at the Session of 1841. 8vo. —

From the Commonwealth.
Wrhandlingen van hct Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en

W ■< nschappen. XVIIde Deel. Batavia, 1339. 8vo. — From

the Batavian Society of Sciences.
The Transactions and the Proceedings of the London Electrical So-
ciety, from 1837 to 1840. London, 1841. 4to.— -From the So-
ciety.
Proceedings of the London Electrical Society, Session 1841-42.

Parts I. II. London. 8vo. — From the same.
De l'Application des Axiomes de la Mecanique et du Calcul Geome-

trique aux Phenomenes de l'Electricite, par Richard Laming.

Paris, 1839. 8vo. — From the same.
Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.

Vol. I. Nos. 5, 6. — From the Society.
Historia Acadcmioc Scientiarum Pazmanhr Archi-Episcopalis ac M.

Theresians Regiae Literaria. Buda, 1835. — 4to. — From Mr.

Charles Nagy, of Hungary.
M. Tud6a Tarsasagi Nevkiinyv Astronomiai Naploval &s Kalenda-

riommal, 1841-re. Buda. 12mo. — From the same.
Az egi £s foldtekt-k' hasznalata, &c. Becsben, 1840. l','mo. —

From the same.
Auswahl aua den Diwanen des Mewlana Dschelaleddin Rutni. Vien-

na, ls*3->. 4to. — From Mr. ./. G. Schwarz, of Vienna.
Armenische Vorschriften und Kalligraphien herausgegeben von P.

\. I:. ,\.-. 2 Nos. Vienna, L837. 4to. — From the same.
tebniss der Chinesiachen und Japanischen Munzen des K. K.

Munz-und Antiken-Cabinetes in Wien, &&, von Stephan Endli-

cher. Vienna, I-:'.-. Fol. — Fromtki same.
Catalogue of Skulls of Man and the Inferior Animals, in the Col-
lection of Samuel < ieorgi Morton, M.D., &c. &c. Philadelphia,

L840. — From tl« Author.
w of the Crania Americana, from Silliman'a Journal. — From

tin sumi .

109

Memoir of William Maclure, Esq. &c. By S. G. Morton, M.D. &c.
1841. — From the same.

Lettre sur le Rhopalodon, genre du Saurien Fossile du Versant Occi-
dentale de POural, par G. Fischer de Waldheim, &c. &c. Mos-
cow, 1841. 8vo. — From the Avthor.

Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Bowdoin College. 1841. —
From Mr. D. R. Goodwin.

Societe Royale et Centrale d'Agriculture: Bulletin des Seances.
Tome II. No. 5. June, 1841.— From Mr. D. B. Warden.

Tracts. Catalogues of Collections of Rocks, Fossils and Petrifac-
tions, published by the Heidelberg Mineralogical Institute, 1841.
Plusieurs Rapports a la Societe d'Agriculture, &c, par M. le
Baron de Mortemart de Boisse, Rapporteur. Des Haras en
France, &c. &c. &c. — From the same.

The American Medical Library and Intelligencer, &c. N. S. Vol. I.
No. 4. By Robley Dunglison, M.D. &c. &c. — From the Edi-
tor.

The Charter of Privileges, granted by William Penn, — and Laws of
the Government of Newcastle, Kent and Sussex, upon Delaware.
Philadelphia, 1741. Fol. — From Mr. Meigs.

FOR THE CABINET.

' Typographical Specimens, from the Typometry of Mr. Raffelsper-
ger, of Vienna, including Maps, Portraits, &c. — From Mr. J. G.
Schivarz, of Vienna.

The Committee, consisting of Dr. Horner, Mr. Wetherill,
and Dr. Goddard, to whom Dr. Harlan's paper entitled, "De-
scription of the Bones of a Fossil Animal of the Order Edenta-
ta," was referred at the last meeting, made a report recom-
mending its publication in the Transactions; which was or-
dered accordingly.

These bones form part of the extensive collection of fossils recently
exhibited in Philadelphia, by Mr. A. Koch, by whom they were ob-
tained in Benton County, Missouri.

Among them, more or less perfectly preserved, are two ossa hu-
meri, two tibia?, two portions of the radius, two of the clavicle, parts
of several ribs, twelve vertebra?, a cubitus, twenty-four teeth, eight of
them in their sockets, two fragments of a lower jaw, with two and
three teeth in situ, two fragments of the upper jaw, five ungueal pha-

110

langes, the sternum of four articulated pieces, and a part of the ilium
and sacrum.

These specimens apparently belonged to three individuals of the
same species. They were found, with portions of a mastodon, in
company with numerous tropica' vegetable remains. They are fri-
able and light, not petrified, but destitute of animal matter.

The teeth are very similar in structure to those of the Megalonyx,
though the pieces of the lower jaw are stouter: the jaws may have
contained six or seven teeth on each side.

The largest os humeri is twenty inches long, and fourteen in dia-
meter; it is of a massive structure, and deeply grooved by the mus-
cular attachments. In place of a foramen, as in the humerus of the
Megalonyx, the exterior surface, near the elbow joint, has a deep
groove, for the origin of the flexor muscles. The condyles are of
great breadth, as in the Megatherium. The inferior articulating sur-
face consists of two facets, one exterior and convex, the other de-
scribed by Dr. Harlan as concavo-convex, admitting a ginghmous
and rocking motion.

The cubitus or ulna is a short and strong bone, with strong marks
of muscular attachments: this was part of an aniuul of less size than
that to which the large humerus belonged. A peculiarity of this bone
consists in the position of its superior articulating surface, which is
nearly in the middle of its shaft; the olecranon process bring very
long, and extending upwards. The lower articulating surface was
articulated with the carpal bones, as well as the radius. The total
length of this bone is sixteen inches.

There arc four claws, or phalangeal bones of the fore-foot of a
small-sized individual: in general form these bones approach aearest
to thus'' df tin' Orycteropus.

There are two tibia; belonging to different individuals of different
sizes: one is ten inches five-tenths in length, the other ten inches.
This is a short, thick and strong bone. Its upper articulating BUr-
face i> nearly a circular concave disc. Its lower anterior extremity
is marked by a peculiar deep ovoid depression, or hollow, for the
reception of a corresponding hemisphere, projecting upwards from
tin' astragalus; forming together, a structure of joint altogether
unique. The motions of the ankle joint were rotatory, but the arti-
culating surface of the lower aspect of the astragalus admitted "i"
ginglymous motion with the "s calcis.

The clavicle and ribs, portions of which only exist, are not distin-
gui hed b) anj remarkable characters: but the foramen for the pas-

Ill

sage of the spinal marrow, in the vertebrae, is exceedingly small- an
unaccountable feature in a skeleton, which in all other respects, de-
monstrates great physical strength as one of its most remarkable
characteristics.

The portion of sternum belonged most probably to the largest of
the three individuals; the animal being apparently less than the
Megatherium and larger than the Megalonyx.

Dr. Harlan proposes to name this animal " Orycterotherium
Missouriense."

Professor Henry, of Princeton, gave a verbal account of a
series of experiments he had made on Magnetic Distribution,
and which he intended to present as the fifth number ot his
contributions. A full account of these experiments will be
given hereafter.

Professor Henry also gave an account of some observations
he had made on the effects of a thunder storm which visited
Princeton on the evening of the 14th of July, 1841.

Storms of this kind, he said, are not very frequent at Princeton :
but two severe ones have passed immediately over the place within the
last nine years, and the lightning has stmk but twice in the village,
during the same time. It is thought by some of the inhabitants, that
damage by lightning was more frequent some years ago than it has
been lately ; and the idea has been suggested that the water of the
canal, which passes to the south of this place, may have had some
effect in determining the course of the cloud. Be this as it may; the
thunder storm generally comes from the south-west, and before it
reaches the village it usually divides into two parts, one of which
passes along the edge of Rocky Hill, and the other along the valley
of Stonybrook, so that the principal part of the storm seldom passes
immediately over the vi'lage; and when it does thus pass it is general-
ly at a great elevation, and the thunder is not so loud as that which
the observer has been in the habit of hearing at the north. In connection
with this remark, Prof. Henry mentioned, that he has several times
observed the lightning assume a beautiful violet colour, similar to that
of the vapour of iodine, and this was particularly th~ case during a
storm which occurred on the 12th of April, 1840. On this occasion,
although the cloud and the flashes appeared directly over head, yet
the sound of the thunder seemed to come from a distance. The pe-
culiar colour may, perhaps, receive a sufficient explanation, by refer-

112

ring it to the fact of the discharge taking place at a great altitude, and
consequently in comparatively rarefied air, as in the case of the co-
lour exhibited by the spark through a vessel partially exhausted.

The storm of the evening of the 14th of July, was said to be more
severe than any which had visited Princeton for twenty years before.
It commenced between 7 and 8 o'clock, and lasted about three hours;
the thunder was almost continuous, but, except in two or three cases,
it was not very near. Several buildings and other objects were
struck in the vicinity of Princeton, and also Mrs. Hamilton's house,
which is situated in the village, about 20 rods west of the college, on
the opposite side of the way. It seemed a little surprising that this
house should be singled out, since the buildings on either side are
considerably higher, although at a few rods distance; and in front of
the one to the west is a number of tall trees. The house is also fur-
nished with a lightning rod; but this, like most of the rods erected in
the country, is not formed in accordance with the most scientific prin-
ciples. The front of Mrs. Hamilton's house is parallel with the main
street, and is nearly in an east and west direction. The building is
of brick, with a shingle roof, and two stories high : it has on the front
three upper windows, and two windows and a door below; the latter
being immediately under the western upper window. The chimney
is on the eastern end, and the lightning conductor is supported
against this. The rod is formed of round iron, three-eighths of an
inch thick, and the several parts of it are imperfectly connected by
hooks and eyes. It appears to be merely thrust into the ground to
the depth of about two feet, and is terminated above by three prongs
instead of one; the points of which are blunted by long exposure, but
do not exhibit any appearance of fusion. The top of the rod is not
more than six feet above the ridge of the roof: and since the house is
about thirty feet long, the farther end of the ridge is unprotected. A
point, according to the experiments of Mr. Charles, ••an only protect
a circular space, the radius of which is ool greater than twice the
height of the point above the plane to be protected.

The lightning, according to the accounts of several persons, came
from a cloud situated to the Bouth-west, and the discharge did not
strike the most elevated part of the building, l>nt the western end of
the horizontal wooden gutter which extends along the front of the
house under the eaves. This point [sat the greatesl possible distance
from the i xtremity of the lightning rod, and perhaps as near to the
cloud as any other part of the building. The discharge immediately

divided itself into two pari-: one of these, and probably the larger,

113

passed along the gutter, which must have been filled with water at
the time, to the eastern end of the same, and then down to the earth
along an ordinary tinned-iron pipe or conductor, which conveys the
water from the gutter to the pavement below. Marks of its passage
were observed along the gutter, and particularly near the end next
the metallic conductor. The other part of the discharge passed im-
mediately downward through the end of the gutter which first received
the shock, to the casing of the window below; and was probably thus
deflected out of its course by the attraction of the iron hinges and
bolts of the shutters. Its course to the ground was further traced
along the casings on each side of the front door. The wood was
cracked at every place where a nail happened to be in the line of the
discharge, and at some places the lightning appeared merely to pass
along the surface making a groove in the wood of about one-eighth
of an inch in width, and six or seven inches long : several of these
grooves were observed on the side casings of the door. Three panes
of glass were broken in the window above the door, and the pieces
were thrown inward. The entrance within the door was filled with
dust, and a strong sulphurous odour was perceptible for an hour or
more after. No marks of a discharge were found at the foot of the
lightning rod.

During the storm, several females were alone in the house, and at
the time it was struck, three of these were in the front room in the
second story, and consequently near the line of the discharge along
the gutter. Two were on a bed placed against the partition wall,
opposite to the front, and the third female was standing on the floor
about eight feet from the front window, with her face to the same.
Those on the bed were unaffected; but the one on the floor stated that
she felt a sensation on her right ear, as if it had been touched with a
live coal ; at the same time she felt a rushing sensation down her
side and perceived a flash at her foot, and a forked spark in the air
between her and the nearest window. One of the persons on the bed
also stated that she saw the forked spark in the air, and that the fe-
male on the floor appeared to her for an instant as if surrounded with
light. The outside shutters of the window opposite to which the
female was standing, were closed, and also one leaf of the shutters of
the window farther east. The western window, or that from which
the glass was broken, was not in the same room, but in a small ad-
joining one, over the main entrance from the front door. The cham-
ber door was shut at the time, and no marks of the entrance of the

114

electricity into the room could be found on the walls or on the casings
of the two windows.

The principal facts here detailed, although perhaps not unusual oc-
currences, afford interesting illustrations of the action of electrical
induction. First, the horizontal gutter and the vertical tin pipe, both
filled with water, formed a long continuous electrical conductor, ex-
tending from the point where the lightning first struck to the lower
farther corner of the front of the house; and this conduc or, on ac-
count of its length, would be intensely affected by the induction of the
distant cloud, or rather by that of the approaching discharge. If the
electricity of the cloud were positive, then that of the water in the
nearest end of the gutter would be negative, and, consequently, a
powerful attraction would determine the lightning on the point where
it struck. The house, under these circumstances, might have been
damaged even had the rod been much higher than it was, and its
connection with the earth much more perfect.

Again, the phenomena exhibited to the females in the upper cham-
ber were also most probably due to inductive action. After a proper
allowance for imperfect observation, occasioned by the fright and con-
fusion of the moment, it is still evident that the female on the floor
was in some degree affected by the discharge, although none of the
electricity of the cloud actually entered the room, since no traces
of it were to be found on the walls or other parts. The effects may
therefore be referred to the inductive action of the lightning at a dis-
tance and through the wall, as it passed along the gutter across the
front of the house. When a shock of electricity from a Leyden jar
is passed through a slip of tinfoil pasted on one side of a pane of glass,
the hand on the other side will receive a slight sensation from the la-
teral induction through the glass. In the same way, it may be sup-
posed, that the effects perceived by the females were due t . . the dis-
turbance for an instant of the natural electricity of the chamber, by
the passage of a large charge along the outside of the house.

The discharge, as has before been stated, came from the south-
ami in its passage it crossed obliquely some houses on the op-
posite side of the street. In one o!' these, two persons were sensibly
affected by the shock; and another, in a room with the windows
closed, according to hex own statement, saw sparks of electricity on
thi floor. The same explanation will also apply to these enects.

During the same storm, another house about three miles south-
west of the village was struck, and this also was furnished with an
imperfect conductor. The upper part of the rod had been broken,

115

and it hung down, so that no part was above the chimney. The
lightning struck the eastern chimney, which was on the end of the
house opposite to that to which the rod was attached, and passed down
the inside of the flue to the kitchen fire-place, in which wood was
burning at the time. It threw down a great quantity of soot, filled
the lower rooms with smoke, and diffused, according to the account,
a strong smell of gunpowder. A part of the charge passed to the
outside through the thick stone wall which forms the back of the
chimney, and was evidently attracted by the iron hoop of a large
cask which was nearly against the wall. It made a triangular hole,
as if the stone and mortar had been burst outwards by an explosive
force, and this was directly opposite the nearest part of the hoop. It
then descended along the cask to the ground, breaking off all the
wooden hoops in its course, while those of iron were undisturbed.
The house is about sixty feet long; and from the state of the rod, the
greater part of this distance might be considered as unprotected. The
stroke fell on the end most remote from the approaching storm, and
probably the lightning was drawn to this chimney rather than the
other on account of the heated air which was escaping from it at the
time.

Effects were also produced in this case, which can only be ex-
plained on the principles of induction. Three persons, the man of
the house, his wife and son, all took refuge on a bed in a room sepa-
rated from that through which the chimney passes, and upwards of
twenty feet from the line of the electrical discharge. They were all
lying across the bed, with their feet hanging down the side, and they
each received a shock in the knees and lower joints of the legs. The
female stated that the feeling was precisely like that which she had
experienced from a shock from an electrical jar. No marks of the
entrance of any part of the discharge from the cloud were found on
the plastering or any other parts of the room ; the effect can therefore
only be accounted for, by a sudden disturbance of the equilibrium of
the natural electricity of the space within the room.

The induction of an electrical cloud is often exerted at an aston-
ishing distance. It has long been known, that a delicate gold-leaf
electrometer is sometimes affected by the presence of an electrical
cloud immediately over head ; but Dr. Ellet, professor of chemistry
in the college of South Carolina, has informed Professor H., that if
one of Dr. Hare's single-leaf electrometers be furnished with a point-
ed metal rod attached to the cap, and then placed on the sill of an
open window in the upper story, the leaf will be seen to touch the
o

116

ball at the moment of a flash, although the lightning is several miles
distant.

Prof. Bache gave an account of the formation of cumulus
cloud from the action of a fire, as witnessed by him in the
month of August last, at Ellicottville, in the state of New
York.

The place where this phenomenon was observed is nearly sur-
rounded by hills ; the valley in which it is situated extending to the
southward. Near the foot of the hills on the north sid&of the village,
a fire was made of the heavy timber which had been felled in clear-
ing a small tract of land. The column of heated air from the fire,
made visible by the smoke and condensing vapour, rose almost verti-
cally, widening irregularly as it rose, curling over at the sides and
reaching various heights. On one occasion, when the height of the co-
lumn, judging from the known distance of the fire and the angle of
elevation, was about three-tenths of a mile, the top flattened out,
presenting a mushroom appearance. The smoke having been left
behind in the ascent of the heated air, the condensed vapour form-
ing the top of the column and presenting precisely the appearance
of a cumulus cloud, was carried slowly to the westward; rising
gradually and at first enlarging itself, it next became feathery at
the edges, and finally disappeared. The lower current of air was
from the S. W., and moderate in force. An upper current, as
shown by the direction of the small cloud just described, was pass-
ing at a small elevation from the N. N. W.

A second time a small cumulus cloud formed, at the distance of
about two hundred yards above the smoke from the lire, and without
visible connexion with it. This cloud enlarged in its ascent until,
when about the same height as tin- former cloud, it began to move
from the N. N. W. It next separated into two parts, one rising ra-
pidly, and in turn breaking into two portions; the whole three
small masses thus formed bring carried slowly from the \. X. W.,
ami the two lower ones gradually disappearing. A detached cloud
of the same kind gradually formed t<> the leeward of the upper re-
maining one, presenting the general appearance, upon a small scale,
of the detached masses which may be Been to form in the neighbour-
hood of thunder clouds in th<' summer season.

These observations were made <>n the 16th of August, between

; I 2 P. M. The temperature of tin- air was *<) , lhrrva|>n rating
point 64°, and the height of the barometer 28.74 inches. From these

117

data the dew point may be calculated by Dr. Apjohn's formula to have
been 52° 9.

The report, presented at the last meeting by the Committee
on the Communications of Mr. Du Ponceau and Mr. Fisher,
was considered, and the resolution with which it closed was
adopted.

The Committee review in their report, the papers which were re-
ferred to them, and take notice also of some additional facts that bear
upon the same subject. In conclusion, they congratulate the Society
on the important accession to the knowledge of our early history,
which has resulted from the labours of Mr. Du Ponceau and Mr.
Fisher. Yet it must be admitted, they say, that chasms still remain
in our early annals which require to be filled up; that doubts exist on
some points, and discrepancies of opinion on others. The question
arises: Shall we give publicity to the Society's early history in its
present imperfect state, or shall we delay in the hope of obtaining
more facts? The Committee express themselves in favour of the
latter course, and recommend the adoption by the Society of the fol-
lowing resolution :

Resolved, That the papers of Mr. Du Ponceau and Mr. Fisher,
which were read on the 26th of June, 1840, together with the sup-
plementary communications, be deposited in the Archives, as valu-
able contributions to the early history of the Society.

Mr. Du Ponceau, by permission of the Society, withdrew
his communication for the purpose of revising it.

Stated Meeting, November 19.

Present, seventeen members.

Dr. Patterson, Vice President, in the Chair.

A letter was received and read from Jac. Berzelius, Perpe-
tual Secretary of the Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, dated
28th September, 1841, acknowledging the receipt of the Trans-
actions and Proceedings of the Society.

118

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Proceedings of the Geological Society of London. Vol. III. Part 2.

No. 77. 1841. 8vo. — From the Society.
Proceedings of the Botanical Society of London, from July, 1836, to

Nov. 1838. 1839. 8vo.— From the Society.
Ad Runographiam Scandinavia? Accessiones Novse. Upsal, 1833.

4to. — From Mr. Du Ponceau.
Vocabularium Vcerendicum. Upsal, 1839. 8vo. — From the same.
Kort Beskrifning om Provincicn nya Swerige uti America, Com nu

fbrtjden af the Engelske kallas Pensylvania, af Thomas Campa-

nius Holm. Stockholm, 1702. 4to. — From Professor J. H.

Schroder, of Upsal.
Maison de Commission pour l'Etranger, de Hector Bossange, &c.

Paris, 1841. 8vo. — From M. Bossange.
Notes on the Use of Anthracite in the Manufacture of Iron, &:c. By

Walter R. Johnson, A.M. Civil and Mining Engineer, Professor,

&c. &c. Boston, 1841. 8vo. — From the Author.

FOR THE CABINET.

An Engraved Portrait of Alexander Von Humboldt. — From Mr.
John Pcnington.

Messrs. Saxton and Gobrecht of the U. S. Mint, presented an en-
graved Seal for the use of the Secretaries.

The Committee, consisting of Professor Bache, Dr. Patterson
and Professor Henry, to whom Mr. Nagy's letter was referred
at the last meeting, presented a report; and in pursuance of
their recommendation, it was resolved by the Society, that
Mr. Nagy of Vienna be informed that the Society will be
pleased to receive an account of his pendulum researches, and
also the invariable pendulum with which they were made; and
that they will defray the expenses of receiving and returning
the instrument, and will cause a corresponding series of obser-
vations to be made at Philadelphia.

Dr. Bache announced the decease of Gen. Thomas Cadwala-
der. a member of the Society, on the 25th ult in the t>ist year
ot his age.

Dr. Bache reported, that by an arrangement among theSe-

119

cretaries, not heretofore communicated, Dr. Dunglison had been
charged with the correspondence of the Society for the pre-
sent year.

Stated Meeting, Dec. 3.
Present, twenty-five members.

Dr. Patterson, Vice President, in the Chair.

Letters were received and read —

From the Massachusetts Historical Society, dated Boston,
18th Nov. 1S41; the National Institution, dated Washington,
26th Nov. 1841; H. J. Bowditch, Esq. of Boston, dated 13th
Nov. 1841, and the Rev. David Thorn, of Liverpool, dated
13th Oct. 1841; transmitting donations to the Society, and ac-
knowledging the receipt of its Transactions and Proceedings.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Account of the Anniversary Meeting of the Numismatic Society of
London, June, 1841, — and Mr. A. J. Stothard's List of British
Medals. — From the Numismatic Society.

Esop's Fables in Chinese. By Sloth. (Robert Thorn, Esq, Bri'ish
Interpreter, at Canton.) 1840. Fol. — From the Rev. David
Thorn.

The Chemical Catechism, by the late Samuel Parkes, &c. &c. 13th
Edition, by E. W. Bray ley, Esq. of the London Institution, &c
&c. London, 1834. 8vo. — From the Editor.

Address before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Bowdoin College, 2d
Sept. 1841. By Alden Bradford, Esq. &c. &c. — From the Au-
thor.

Introductory Lecture to a Course on the Principles and Practice of
Surgery, in the University of Pennsylvania, Nov. 1841. By
William Gibson, M.D. &c. — From the Author.

Introductory Lecture to a Course on the Institutes of Medicine, in
the University of Pennsylvania, Nov. 1841. By Samuel Jack-
son, M.D. &c. — From the Author.

Mr. Nuttall presented a communication, entitled " Descrip-
tion and Notices of New or Rare Plants, collected in a Jour-
ney over the Continent of North America, and during a Visit

120

to the Sandwich Islands and Upper California, by Thomas
Nuttall;" which was read and referred to a committee.

Professor Henry D. Rogers read a communication by his
brother, Professor William B. Rogers, and himself, entitled,
"Observations on the Geology of the Western Peninsula of
Upper Canada, and the Western part of Ohio;" which was re-
ferred to a committee.

The authors commence by expressing their views of the importance
of determining the relations of the rocks of the western states to the
formations of the Appalachian system, as they are developed in New
York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. They deem this comparison es-
sential to the full understanding of those gradations in type which
elucidate the physical changes that accompanied the production of the
strata. The difficulties of the investigation are then alluded to, con-
sisting in these very changes of type, the horizontally of the rocks,
the deep covering of drift which so generally conceals them, and the
interruption of their range from western New York into Ohio, caused
by the waters of Lake Erie.

The direct comparison of the western formation with those of the
Appalachian chain being precluded by the changes which the forma-
tions undergo in the interval ; it was deemed essential to establish, if
possible, their relations by a continuous tracing from Pennsylvania
through New York, and thence keeping some easily recognised hori-
zon steadily in view, to work round Lake Eric through Upper Canada
and Michigan, ami by this means form a junction with the strata of
Ohio.

Range of the Niagara Limestone. — In following some of the for-
mations of the Niagara River, through Upper Canada, the course of
the Niagara limestone, which forms the escarpment of the mountain
ridge, was traced westward from Quccnstown to the head of Lake
Ontario. It then sweeps round the head of the lake, and again
changing its strike, takes a N.N. W. direction to the southern end of
Iroquois, or Georgian baj of Lake Huron. A section of the
formation is then given in the neighbourhood of Ancestor, about fifty
treat of Niagara. It shows a slight change in the lithologicaJ
character of some of the strata, accompanied l>\ an increase of thick-
■ • - a • traced westward.

The Gypsum Shales are then traced in a belt south of the terrace,

nown to intersed the Welland Canal, and to follow the course

of c.raml River to the vicinity ofParia. From this point they strike

north with the mountain ridge, and passing a little east of Guelph,

121

stretch northward towards the southern end of Lake Iroquois. At
Paris some of the beds contain the characteristic hopper-shaped cavi-
ties. The well-marked vesicular or pitted limestone of the top of the
formation is likewise found here.

The Vesicular Limestone is next described and traced. This is a
buff coloured, impure subcrystalline limestone, distinguished by its
peculiar lenticular cavities. Being remarkable for the constancy of
its features and its extensive range, it proved of great importance in
ascertaining the super-position of the more variable strata that adjoin
it, and was thus used as a horizon from the Niagara river through
Upper Canada into Michigan and Ohio. It was traced northward,
from Paris to the vicinity of Guelph, and was shown to lie below the
south branch of the Thames at Beachville, but to immerge in the
north branch of the same river about 40 miles above London.

On the Maitland river near Lake Huron, it is well exposed, with a
group of overlying limestone. Though destitute of fossils, it was
readily identified at all these points.

The Rocks overlying the Vesicular Limestone in Upper Canada
are stated not to accord exactly with those which repose upon this
rock in New York. The important changes which this part of the
series undergoes in passing from the central counties of that state to
the districts west of the Genesee, being first shown by citations from
the annual reports of Mr. Vanuxem and Mr. Hall, evidence was af-
forded of still further modifications in Upper Canada. An opinion
was expressed that the corniferous and Onondaga limestones thin
out entirely before crossing the peninsula to Lake Huron, and that
the hydraulic and Seneca limestones must likewise vanish, or greatly
change their type. On the Maitland river, near Goderich, where
there is a well exposed section ; the vesicular limestone forming the
bottom of the group; none of the formations seen east of Buffalo could
be recognised. In a section of the strata exposed in the cliffs of the
Maitland, the pitted rock is described as immediately overlaid by dove
coloured and bluish limestone, sometimes of a sparry texture, abound-
ing in fossils. No attempt was made to determine with precision
the relations of this formation to the strata of western New York, as
no instance occurred where it was found in company with the Onon-
daga rock or its associates ; but the opinion is expressed that it occu-
pies a position high among the limestones which underlie the Marcellus
shales. One reason for so placing the Maitland rock, is its obvious
identity with the limestone of Sandusky, the infraposition of which to
the Marcellus shales can readily be shown. This identity is made to
rest on a comparison of fossils, and on an actual tracing of the pitted

122

rock and the Maitland limestone from Canada round the head of Lake
Erie. Another motive for thus referring the Maitland rock, is found
in the affinity which prevails between its fossils and those of the
Onondaga, Seneca and Marcellus strata. Of the species examined,
it contains in common with those formations, atrypa affinis, also an
atrypa common at Schoharie, strophomena lineata, a delthyris, com-
mon to the Onondaga limestone and to the shales next above that
rock in Pennsylvania (Marcellus shales); also cyathophillum ceratites,
and a trilobite of the Onondaga limestone. Though these links indi-
cate a somewhat near approximation in date, they aie not regarded
as proving the rock an equivalent of any of the formations mentioned.
None of the organic remains are characteristic of any of the strata
lower than the Onondaga limestone. What seems most conclusive
however of the high position of the Maitland stratum, is its identity
with the limestone of Sandusky, the plane of which is but little under
the horizon of the Marcellus shales.

Rocks of the Detroit River, and of the u-cstern end of Lake Erie.
The persistence of the pitted rock through Upper Canada being
ascertained, the next point was to discover the relations of it and the
overlying limestones to the strata widely developed about the head of
Lake Erie. Uniting the facts collected of the dip and range of tin1
strata in Upper Canada, with the statements contained in the annual
reports of Dr. Houghton, the State Geologist of Michigan, it was in-
ferred that a gentle axis of elevation passes in a south-south-west di-
rection near the lower end of Lake Huron, forming the northern
portion of that broad anticlinal rise of the rocks which divides the
upper formations of Ohio from their equivalents in Indian.). It was
therefore suspected that the pitted limestone and other strata would
depart from their north-western strike, .seen in Canada, and range in
obedience to this axis towards the south-si uth-west. Should such be
the cav, it was hoped to unite by actual tracing the rocks of Michigan
and Ohio with those of Canada and New York. Pursuing the forma-
tion south-westwardly by the borders of Detroit river, Lake Erie and
the Maumee, these anticipations were realized.

The Foasiliferou8 Rocks of tin Detroit River, both in Canada
and Michigan, are readily identified by their composition and organic

remain, with the limestones which OVerlie the pitted rock on the
Maitland. Hut the pitted rock itself in GrOS Isle, at the mouth of the

Detroil river, in a position proving its immediate subjacence to these
strata, fortunately places this identity beyond a doubt. It is an are-
is cream coloured limestone, abounding in the characteristic

123

lenticular cavities, and as usual destitute of organic remains. Its
elevation above the level of the river cannot exceed eight feet : its
extremely slight dip towards the north-west is perceptible.

The overlying limestones are well seen on the western side of the
river, one mile from the village of Truago in Monguagon. The most
common variety of the rock at this place is a light grey, somewhat
sparry limestone, which becomes yellowish and mealy by weather-
ing. It strongly resembles the limestone of the Mailland, and that
seen in the bed of the Thames at Beachville. It has an inconsider-
able dip towards the north-west. The same strata are displayed in
a series of quarries on the Canada side, about two miles from Mai-
den. The dip here is scarcely noticeable : if any prevails, it is west-
ward. The Truago and Maldon beds manifestly overlie the vesicu-
lar rock of Gros Isle, and agree in their fossils with the similarly
placed limestone of the Maitland. They contain strophomena lineata,
another strophomena, atrypa affinis, also another atrypa, septsena,
orthoceratites, cyathophillum, ceratites, favosites, encrini, a trilobite,
and several fossils not yet determined.

Rocks of the Maumce River and of Sandusky Bay. — On the
Maumee, in Ohio, the pitted limestone is again met with, under fea-
tures identical with those of the rock seen at Gros Isle and Gode-
rich. Its occurring thus so exactly in a line with the two last named
places, goes unequivocally to establish the anticlinal axis supposed to
pass from the western part of Canada into Ohio. This axis crosses
Lake Erie probably about midway between the head of the lake and
the chain of islands stretching from Point du Playe to Point Sandus-
ky. An examination of the fossils of the Sandusky limestone esta-
blishes beyond a question its identity with the formation exposed at
Maiden, Truago and Goderich. This agreement is the more interest-
ing, since the Sandusky rock, under the name of the cliff limestone
of Ohio, has by some geologists been regarded as the equivalent of
the European carboniferous or mountain limestone. But an inspec-
tion of its organic remains shows that its closest foreign relations are
to the Wenlock limestones of the English silurian strata. There
exists moreover in Tennessee and Virginia a higher limestone, not
seen in Ohio or New York, much more accurately referrible to the
European mountain limestone, and so regarded by Prof. Troost, in
his annual reports and other communications on the geology of Ten-
nessee. This rock, characterized by its oolitic structure, and the
beautiful genus pentremites, seems, from the descriptions given, to
overlie the cliff limestone of Ohio.
p

124

The extensive anticlinal line, traced from the western side of Ca-
nada to the Maumee, crosses the Ohio river somewhere in the vicinity
of Louisville, and terminates probably in Kentucky, imparting a gene-
ral south-south-west strike to all the strata of western Canada, east-
ern Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. The lowest formation near Lake
Erie which the axis elevates to the surface, is the pitted limestone.
But further to the south^south-west, still lower formations appear; the
cliff limestone, at the base of which wo place the pitted rock, being
underlaid, according to Dr. Locke, by marly shales, that rest upon
an extensive formation of blue limestone, well exposed around Cin-
cinnati. These shales are regarded by the authors of the paper as
representing the gypsum shales of New York. Influenced by a cer-
tain degree of correspondence in the fossils of the Cincinnati lime-
stone, and by other considerations, they view this latter formation to
be approximately contemporaneous with the Niagara or Lockport
limestone, but to include beds nowhere met with in New York.
Apart from the indications afforded by the fossils, a reasonable in-
ference is drawn from its progressive thickening westward, that it
ranges at least as far as the axis on the Ohio. The Cincinnati lime-
stone, occupying the same position below the shales under tip- ;
limestone, as the Niagara formation, may, if we use the term with
proper restrictions, be regarded as its equivalent. In thus viewing
the limestone of Cincinnati, the authors find their conclusions at va-
riance with those of Mr. Conrad, for whose researches in Pala ntology
they avow the highest respect. In his last annual report, that geolo-
gist regards the limestone of Cincinnati as the equivalent or continua-
tion of the black limestone of Trenton falls in New York. But to
bring up a formation so low in the Appalachian series, the anticlinal
axis must previously elevate, not only the gypseous and .\
strata, but the prodigiously thick groups of shales, limestones,
and sandstones, which rest above the Trenton limestone, and which,
if thus elevated, would have conferred upon Ohio. Indiana and Ken-
tucky, a wholly different with a mineralogical character and
physical geography unlike those whicl w belong t<> them.

In conclusion, a simple generalization is presented of the results
arrived at respecting the range and distribution of the Niagara river
rocks. 'I he trata overspreading the plain, bounded by the mountain
terrace, are conceived to decline gently to the south-wesl in Upper
Canada and » >hio, while the Hat hut extensive anticlinal axis traverses
the slope from Kentucky to the western side of Upper Canada. In
these two conditions the authors find a reason, first, lor the general

125

north-western strike of the pitted rock, which carries it in the direc-
tion of the mountain terrace to Cabot's Head and the Manitouline
islands; and secondly, for that extensive south-western strike, which
affects the same stratum in another outcrop as far south as the Mau-
mee, and sends the overlying and next subjacent rocks in a broad
zone from Lake Erie across the Ohio river into Kentucky and Ten-
nessee.

Professor Bache called the attention of the Society to a Me-
morial to the House of Representatives of the U. S., which
had been laid on the tables, soliciting the action of Congress to
effectuate the reduction of the different Astronomical Observa-
tions, which are on the files of the Navy Department, or to be
found in the Transactions of different learned Societies of this
country; with a view to the determination of the longitude of
the Capitol at Washington, and other principal stations in the
United States. Professor B. explained the views expressed
in the Memorial, and invited for it the signatures of the mem-
bers.

Mr. Justice mentioned, that recent observations of the moon,
made by him with the great telescope at the High School Ob-
servatory, confirmed the correctness of Maedeler's map of that
satellite in the parts between Aristarchus and Herodotus,
which are differently represented by Dermond.

Mr. Lea, from the Publication Committee, presented' their
annual report, detailing their proceedings during the past year.

The number of Subscribers to the published Transactions, is at
this time, 109; there have been 69 copies distributed in exchange
with other Societies, &c, and 15 copies sold to non-subscribers.
The balance of funds in the hands of the Committee is $685. 12.

Stated Meeting, December 17.

Present, twenty-three members.

Dr. Chapman, Vice President, in the Chair.

Letters were received and read —

From the Royal Academy of Turin, dated 21st Aug. 1841,
acknowledging the receipt of the Transactions and Proceed-

126

ings, and asking the renewed transmission of some numbers
that are wanting to complete their sets: —

From the Chief of the Engineers of Mines of Russia, dated
St. Petersburg, 19/3iSt July, 1S41, transmitting donations to
the Library : —

From the Library Company of Philadelphia, dated 16th
Nov. 1841, acknowledging the receipt of donations from the
Society: —

From Mr. William Amies, dated Philadelphia, 10th Dec.
1841, making a donation to the Society of a painting emblem-
atic of the American Union, executed in 17S4, by order of
M. Barbe de Marbois, and by him presented to Charles Thom-
son, Secretary of the American Congress; together with a
copy of a Resolution of that Congress, passed 14th Jan. 17S4,
authenticated by Charles Thomson : — and

From Mr. John B. Murray, of New York, to the President,
dated Liverpool, 19th Nov. 1841, offering to the Society's ac-
ceptance, as a donation from himself, the printing press on
which Benjamin Franklin worked as a journeyman in London,
in 1725-26.

The President was requested to express to Mr. Murray on
behalf of the Society, the satisfaction with which they will re-
ceive the donation he has tendered.

The following donations were announced:

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Transits as observed, and Calculations of the Apparent Right As-
censions, 1834. London. 4to. — From the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiral/;/.

Zenith Distances observed with the Mural Circle, and Calculation
of Geocentric South Polar Distances, 1836. 4to. London. — From
the same.

'I'll'- Nautical Almanack, and Astronomical Bphemeris, for 1841.
London, 1840. 8vo. — From tin same*

ophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, for
tli*- year 1841, Part I. London, 1841. -Ito. — From tin Society.

Proceedings of the Royal Society. 1-11. .No. 1-. -vo. — From the
same.

Besscl's Refraction Tables. 4to. London. — From the same.

127

Annuaire Magnetique et Meteorologique du Corps des Ingenieurs des
Mines de Russie, &c. &c. St. Petersburg, 1841. 4to. — From
Count Cancrine, Chef du Corps des Ingenieurs. <$fc. of Russia.

Nouveaux Memoires de 1'Academie Royale des Sciences et Belles-
Lettres de Bruxelles, Tome XIII. Brussels, 1841. 4to. — From
the Academy.

Memoires couronnes par 1'Academie Royale, &c. de Bruxelles, Tome
XIV. 2me. Partie. Brussels, 1841. 4to. — From the same.

Academie Royale de Bruxelles : — Bulletins des Seances du 7 Oct.

1840, du 15 et du 16 Dec' 1840, du 6 Mars, 1841, du 3 Avr.

1841, du 6 et du 7 Mai, 1841, et du 5 Juin, 1841. Bruxelles,
1840-1841. 8vo. — From the same.

Traite Elementaire des Fonctions Elliptiques, par P. F. Verhulst, &c.

&c. Brussels, 1841. 8vo. — From the same.
Annuaire de 1'Academie Royale de Bruxelles, 1840. Brussels, 1841.

12mo. — From the same.
Annuaire de l'Observatoire Royale de Bruxelles, 1841. Brussels,

1840. 12mo. — From the same.
Rapport Decennal des Travaux de 1'Academie Royale de Bruxelles,

depuis 1830; par Mr. A. Quetelet, Secretaire Perpetual, &c. 8vo.

From the Author.
Resume des Observations sur la Meteorologie, sur Ie Magnetisme,

sur les Temperatures de la Terre, &c. &c. faites a l'Observatoire

Royale de Bruxelles en 1840, par le Directeur A. Quetelet, &c.

&c. Brussels, 1841. 4to. — From the Author.
Additional Note on the Contraction of Voluntary Muscle in the

Living Body. By William Bowman, Esq. F. R. S., Demonstra-
tor of Anatomy, &c. London, 1841. 4to. — From the Author.
A Few Notes on the History of the Discovery of the Composition of

Water. By J. O. Halliwell, Esq. F. R. S. &c. London, 1840.

8vo. — From the Author.
Beitrage zur Lehre von den Haulkrankheiten. Von Dr. Th. A. O.

Tellkampf. Vienna, 1839. 8vo. — From the Author.
Political Economy — its Uses, Objects, and Principles, &c. &c. By

A. Potter, D.D. Professor, &c. in Union College. New York,

1840. 12mo. — From the same.
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia : List of Members and

Correspondents, to 1st Sept. 1841 : Proceedings, Vol. I. Nos. 7, 8.

Oct. Nov. 1841. — From the Academy.
Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Yale College. 1841-42. —

From Professor Silliman.

128

Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Dartmouth College.

] B 11-42. — From Professor Hubbard.
Charter and Laws of the Philadelphia Museum Company. 1840. —

From the Company.
Reports on the Receipts and Expenditures of the County of Philadel-
phia, made by a Committee of the County Board, 13th Sept.

1841. — From Mr. Vaughan.
Professor Dunglison's Introductory Lecture to a Course of Institutes

of Medicine, &c. in Jefferson Medical College, 1st Nov. 1841.

Published by the Class. — From the Author.
Professor Meigs's Introductory Lecture to a Course on Obstetrics, in

Jefferson Medical College, 4th Nov. 1841. Published by the

Class. — From the Author.
Two Sermons on the Death of the Rev. Ezra Ripley, D.D. By Rev.

Barzillai Frost and Rev, Comers Francis, D.D. Boston, 1841.

From Rev. Mr. Frost.
The American Library and Intelligencer. New Series. Vol. I.

No. 5. By Robley Dunglison, M.D. die. &c. Nov. 1841.—

From the Author.

FOK THE CABINET.

A Painting emblematic of the Union of the American States, execu-
ted 1784. — From Mr. Wm. Amies.

A Broad Sheet Copy of the Resolution of the Continental Congress,
passed 14th January, 1784; authenticated by the autograph of
Charles Thomson, Secretary. — From the same.

The Committee, consisting of Mr. Lea, Dr. Wood, and Pro-
fessor Booth, to whom Mr. Nuttall's communication was re-
ferred at the last meeting, reported in favour of its publication
among the Transactions; and it was ordered accordingly.

Mr. Espy exhibited an instrument, devised by himself, and
which he calls the Nephelescope, intruded to show the changes
induced in the temperature of air by its greater or less rarefac-
tion; and made several experiments with it in the presence of
the Society.

M . .wed. thai he was enabled by this instrument to di

mine the reduction of temperature, which air undergoes by expansion,

whether in a dry etui • when charged with moisture. He called

ition to the cloud which was formed in moisl air bj the cold of
expansion, and remarked that the latent heat evolved by this conden-

129

salion of vapour, counteracted the reduction of temperature produced
by the expansion in a ratio which increased with the increase of tempe-
rature. Thus, he stated as the result of experiments, that an expan-
sion occurring in air saturated with aqueous vapour, at a temperature
of about 71°, produced an increase of temperature half as great as in
dry air; and at a temperature of 102°, a similar expansion increased
the temperature only one third as much as when the air was dry.

Mr. Espy went on to show, that by experiments made with this in-
strument, he had been able to make out a law, from which, when the
temperature of the air and the dew point at the surface of the earth
under the base of a forming cloud are known, the decrease of tempe-
rature can be determined up to the base of the cloud, and even to its
top, though that should be ten miles high, as some great clouds in the
summer are. And as the temperature of the air on the outside of the
cloud is nearly known, being about one degree colder for every hun-
dred yards in height, the specific gravity of the cloud can be known,
when compared with that of the air surrounding it. Mr. Espy en-
tered into a calculation to show that the air under the base of a form-
ing cloud is colder about one degree and a quarter for every hundred
yards above the surface of the earth, and that from the base of the
cloud upwards it gets colder about one degree and a quarter for each
two hundred yards of increased elevation. This calculation is found-
ed on the supposition that there is an up-moving column of air under
and in every forming cloud, as established in his Philosophy of
Storms.

Mr. Espy went on to state, that it is ascertained, both by experi-
ments made with the nephelescope and by calculations founded on
the well known laws of latent heat in vapour, and specific caloric of
air, that the latent caloric, given out into air by the vapour which
condenses into cloud, expands the air in the cloud about 8000 cubic
feet for every cubic foot of water generated in the cloud ; and it is
known, that it requires about 1300 cubic feet of vapour in the air to
make one cubic foot of water. The difierence between these quanti-
ties, or 6700 cubic feet, is therefore the actual expansion for every
cubic foot of water generated from the condensing vapour. This
great expansion of the air in a forming cloud, should evidently cause
the air to spread out above, around the cloud, causing the barometer
to rise around it, by the increased quantity of gravitating matter, and
also causing the barometer to fall under the cloud, especially near
the middle of the base of the ascending column, as it is known to do
under great storm-clouds.

130

It was a remarkable fact, he said, in the history of science, that no
one had adverted to a deduction from the laws of dynamics, which
he deemed incontrovertible, that the wind must blow inwards on all
sides of a storm, since the barometer is known always to stand low
at the centre, sometimes more than two inches lower than the mean:
and he went on to show that, in narrow spouts or tornadoes, where
the friction of the air at the surface of the earth may be neglected, the
air, following the law of spouting fluids, would spout upwards with a
velocity of 240 feet per second, if the barometer should fall only one
inch; and so in proportion to the square root of the fall.

Mr. Espy stated that experiments had been made, both in Great
Britain and France, on dry air, similar to those which he had made
with his nephelcscope ; but none, he believed, had ever been made
with moist air, so as to compare the results together.

Finally, Mr. Espy gave a brief summary of the principles of his
theory. When the air becomes heated or highly charged with vapour
at the surface of the earth, it becomes lighter, and ascends in columns,
comes under less pressure, expands, becomes colder by expansion,
begins to condense its vapour into water or cloud, when it becomes
as cold as the dew point; which it will do when it rises as many hun-
dred yards as the dew point is below the temperature of the air in de-
grees of Fahf.; and the higher it goes the more vapour will it con-
dense, the more latent heat will it give out, and the more will the
cloud expand by the latent heal evolved. The more also will the ba-
rometer fall under the cloud: this will cause the air to rush towards
the centre of the ascending column, where the barometer stands \om :
the air thus rushing in will ascend and form cloud as before, and
thus the process will be continued as [ong as air continues to come

in, highly charged with vapour. And as the storm-cloud moves over
the surface of the earth, the air around is thus pressed in towards the
centre of the region under the cloud, and upwards into the cload, in
consequence of the diminished specific gravity of the air.

The Committee of Finance presented the Treasurer's ac-
counts, with their animal report thereon; and the appropri-
ations for the service of the coming year were made, in ai cord-
ance with the recommendation of the Committee.

On motion of Dr. Patterson, additional authority was confer-
red on the Committee appointed on the 9th of August last,
to make leases, &c. of the Museum Building.

131

Special Meeting, Dec. 31.

Present, thirty-nine members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

The President announced the death of the venerable Treas-
urer and Librarian of the Society, John Vaughan, Esquire,
which took place on the morning of the 30th instant, at the
age of 85 years, 11 months and 14 days; and laid before the
Society the following minute of the proceedings of the Officers
and Council on the occasion: —

" At a special meeting of the Officers and Council of the
American Philosophical Society, held on the 30th of Decem-
ber, 1841, Mr. Du Ponceau, President of the Society in the
chair; the death of Mr. Vaughan having been announced, the
following minute and resolutions were adopted on motion of
Mr. Kane:—

" The Officers and Council of the American Philosophical
Society, affectionately mindful of the relations that have so
long and intimately subsisted between them and their venera-
ble associate, Mr. Vaughan, direct this memorial of their feel-
ing towards him to be entered upon their minutes.

" They remember Mr. Vaughan as the patriarch represen-
tative of the Society, its oldest member, who had for more than
fifty years been an officer at this Board. They can never forget
his zeal for science in all its departments, his sympathy with
scientific men, and his unlimited devotion to the interests and
honour of this Institution. They have proved the warmth of his
social affections, and the constancy of his friendship. They have
seen his active, unwearied, yet discriminating benevolence, as
it extended itself through every circle; rejoicing with the hap-
py, cheering the distressed, counselling the friendless, and suc-
couring the needy. Like the rest of this community, they
have venerated the moral beauty of his daily life; and they
feel, that even in his peaceful death, he has not ceased to be a

13:2

benefactor to the city in which he lived, bequeathing to it, as
he has done, the rich legacy of his admirable example, and a
memory without reproach.

" Resolved, That a Committee of the Officers and Council
be appointed to make arrangements for the funeral.

" Resolved, That these proceedings be reported to the Soci-
ety at its special meeting, to be held to-morrow evening."

" The President appointed Dr. Chapman and Prof. Bache,
the Committee under the first resolution.

" Franklin Bache, Sec'ry."

Dr. Chapman then presented the following preamble and
resolutions; which were adopted unanimously.

The American Philosophical Society entertains the deepest
sense of the loss it has sustained, in the death of its venerable
and beloved associate, John Vaughan. The oldest of its mem-
bers, he was also among its most diligent, faithful and efficient.
Long devoted to the furtherance of its objects, he failed not at
the same time to conciliate the confidence and affection of all
with whom he was connected, by the elevation and moral tone
of his spirit, the purity of his disposition, and the amenity of
his manners. A zealous promoter of science, he was actuated
by the contemplation of its inherent excellence, and tendencies
to benefit the great concerns of mankind, without a single as-
piration after its honours, distinctions, or emoluments. Con-
tent to occupy in the Society stations of laborious usefulness,
he continued to the last moment of life to render to it services
of inestimable value, and was only diverted from the exclusive
advancement of its prosperity by the claims of other institu-
tions of learning, or of charity, or of benevolence; none of
which wen- ever presented to him, without awakening his zeal,
and enlisting a share of his active exertions in their behalf.
.Mudcst and unpresuming — disinterested, generous, social, and
hospitable — beneficent, cordial, and sincere — it may truly be
affirmed of him, that no one was more uniformly esteemed by
a singularly extensive acquaintance; and no one certainly
among ue has contributed more largel) to the chum of human-
ity in its several relations, or can bequeath to this Society and

133

Community a brighter example to venerate and to follow.
With these impressions of the character and services of its de-
ceased associate, the Society has resolved: —

1st. That the arrangements made by the Board of Officers
and Council, be approved and confirmed.

2d. That the Hall of the Society be appropriated for the re-
ception of Mr. Vaughan's body before interment, and that his
family and friends be requested to assemble there, on the oc-
casion of his obsequies.

3d. That the members of the Society will attend the funeral,
as mourners.

4th. That a member be appointed to prepare the biography
of Mr. Vaughan, for publication under the auspices of the So-
ciety.

5th. That the Society will cordially co-operate with other
Societies of which he was a member, or individuals approving
the design, in erecting a durable monument over his grave.

6th. That the members, individually, tender their affection-
ate condolence and sympathy to the relatives of Mr. Vaughan,
on the occasion of their common bereavement; and that the
Secretaries be charged with the duty of communicating a copy
of these resolutions to William Vaughan, Esq. of London, the
oldest representative of his family.

Alexander Dallas Bache, Esq. one of the Secretaries, was
appointed under the fourth resolution, to prepare Mr. Vaughan's
Biography.

PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Vol. II. JAN., FEB., MAR. & APRIL, 1842. No. 21.

Stated Meeting, January 7.

Present, twenty members.

Dr. Patterson, Vice-President, in the Chair.

The judges of the annual election, held this day, reported
that the following officers had been chosen for the present
year:—

President.
Peter S. Du Ponceau, LL. D.

Vice-Presidents.
Nathaniel Chapman, M.D.,
Joseph Hopkinson, LL. D.,
Robert M. Patterson, M.D.

Secretaries.
Franklin Bache, M.D.,
John K. Kane,

Alexander Dallas Bache, LL. D.,
Robley Dunglison, M.D.
Counsellors for Three Years.
Clement C. Biddle, LL. D.,
William Short,
Joseph Henry, LL. D.,
Philip H. Nicklin.

Curators.
Isaac Hays, M.D.,
Franklin Peale,
John P. Wetherill.
Treasurer.
Ceorge Ord.
v

13G

Letters were read : —

From the Geological Society of London, dated 4th Novem-
ber, 1S41, — the Society of Antiquaries of London, dated 19th
Nov. and 3d Dec. 1841, — the Imperial Medico-Chirurgical
Academy of Moscow, dated y^th June, 1841, — and the Bos-
ton Society of Natural History, dated 2d June, 1S41, acknow-
ledging the receipt of copies of the Transactions and Proceed-
ings of the Society: —

From the Institute of the Netherlands, dated 28th February,

1840, stating that duplicate copies of the sixth, seventh, eighth
and ninth volumes of the Memoirs of the Institute had been
forwarded to *he Society: —

From Mr. ^Villiam Vaughan, of London, addressed to Mr.
John Vaughan, relating to documents received from the So-
ciety:—

From Mr. Peter Force, of Washington, dated 28th Dec.

1841, stating that he had forwarded three volumes of the
American Archives to the Society: —

From Mr. Du Ponceau, dated 6th Jan. 1S42, inclosing let-
ters from Mr. Alcott: — and

From Mr. Jacob Snider, Jun., dated 7th Jan. 1841, transmit-
ting a copy of the will of the late John Vaughan, Esq.

The following donations were announced:

FOR THE LIBRAKV.

Nieuwe Verhandelingen der Eerste Klasse van hct Koninklijk Neder-
landschc Instituut van Wetcnschappon, Lctterkmulr en Schoone
Kunston. Seven Tarts. 4to. Amsterdam, 1837-38-39-40. —
From the Institute of the Netherlands.

Verhandeling over hct Verschil Tusschen de Algemeene Croud-
krachten der Natuur en de Levenskracht. Door C. G. Ontijd.
8vo. Amstf-rdam, 1840. — From the Author.

A Discourse in Commemoration of the Life and Character of the
Hon. Nicholas Brown, delivered In the Chapel of Brown Univer-
sity, Nov. 8d, 1841. By Francis Wayland, D.D. Bvo. L841.
"From tin- Author.

Bulletin de la Socitte [mperiale des Naturalists de Moscou. N"os.
i to t for 1840, and No. 1 for 1841. 8vo. Moscow.— from
the Society.

137

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Edited by Isaac-
Hays, M.D. No. 5. New Series. Philadelphia, 1842.— From
the Editor.

The Committee, consisting of Mr. Lea, Mr. Taylor, and
Mr. Vanuxem, to whom was referred the paper of Professors
William B. Rogers and Henry D. Rogers, entitled " Observa-
tions on the Geology of the Western Peninsula of Upper
Canada, and the Western part of Ohio," reported in favour of
its publication in the Society's Transactions, which was ordered
accordingly.

Major Bache made an oral communication in relation to a
method which he had recently practised for obtaining the mag-
netic meridian.

He stated that the instrument used in the operation was a theodo-
lite of the ordinary English construction, having eight inch plates,
with double verniers, reading to fifteen seconds, and a needle, 3|
inches in length, moving in a compass box graduated to degrees.
The method consists in measuring two equal arcs with the needle,
one on each side of the zero, and referring them to the graduation on
the limb of the instrument ; the line bisecting the sum of these, as
shown by the same means, being assumed as the magnetic meridian.
The advantages which this mode has over the ordinary one by a
single reading of the needle, consist in the means afforded by the
graduation on the limb of the instrument, for ascertaining the proba-
ble error in each single determination of the meridian; and for refer-
ring any number of sets of observations to a fixed graduated plate,
by which a mean of a series may be obtained. The mode of opera-
ting is as follows : the theodolite being levelled, and the horizontal
limb undamped, the upper plate is moved by hand until the needle
coincides nearly with the graduation at 45° on the compass box. The
limb is then clamped, and the final movement made with the tangent
screw; the observer placing himself for that purpose in range with
the centre pin and given line on the compass box ; the coincidence
being considered satisfactory when the eye can no longer distinguish
the end of the needle from the end of the line of the graduation. The
reading on the limb is then made. The plates are now undamped,
and the upper one turned to bring the needle, as in the first instance,
near the graduation at 45° on the other side of the zero; and the ope-
ration for obtaining a nice coincidence is performed, and the limb a

138

second time read. The line, bisecting the angle given by these two
readings, is the magnetic meridian, as indicated by the needle of the
instrument. To show the accuracy of which this method is suscep-
tible, he mentioned that, on the occasion referred to, the angle of 90°
was measured by the needle, on the first trial to within three minutes
and thirty seconds, on the second to within two minutes; and that in
no case afterwards did the error amount to one minute, and frequently
it was less than thirty seconds. He expressed the opinion that
any one accustomed to the use of instruments may obtain equally
satisfactory results. In conclusion he deemed it proper to state lhat
the theodolite used was made by Mr. Edward Draper, Mathematical
Instrument Maker, of Philadelphia.

Dr. Hays announced the decease of Professor de Candolle,
of Geneva, a member of the Society.

Mr. Kane informed the Society that the Secretaries had ap-
pointed Dr. Bache, Reporter, and Dr. Dunglison, Correspond-
ing Secretary for the present year.

Mr. Lea, Chairman of the Publication Committee, laid upon
the table the First Part of Volume VIII. of the Society's Trans-
actions; and Mr. Kane, late Reporter, the closing Number for
1S41 of the Proceedings.

Dr. Patterson, on behalf of the Committee on the Museum
property, requested authority to memorialize the Legislature
for a grant of the necessary powers, to enable the Society to
make disposition of the Hall now occupied by it; which re-
quest, on motion, was granted.

On motion of Prof. A. D. Bache, the Curators were requested
to receive the standards of measure, left by Mr. Vaughan to
the Society, and to have them placed in suitable cases and de-
posited in the Cabinet.

Special Meeting) January 15.

Present, fourteen members.

Mr. Di Ponceau, President, in the ('hair.

The Presidenl announced the death of Joseph Llopkinson,
nil'- nf the Vice-Presidents, which occurred this day. in the

139

72d year of his age, and referred in impressive terms to the
virtues and services by which his life has been illustrated; and
thereupon, on motion of Dr. Patterson, the following minute
and resolutions were unanimously adopted: —

The American Philosophical Society, after the lapse of a
brief fortnight, finds itself again called upon to mourn over the
loss of a valued officer and associate. The Honourable Joseph
Hopkinson bore a name distinguished in the Society from the
earliest period of its existence. His grandfather, Thomas Hop-
kinson, was selected, nearly a century ago, as the first President
of one of the branches of which our Institution is composed;
and his father, Francis Hopkinson, was afterwards one of its
most zealous and influential members, and contributed inge-
nious papers to its Transactions. From these ancestors, our
lamented Vice-President inherited an attachment to our Insti-
tution, which, during his long connection with it, he lost no
opportunity of exhibiting, and for which we shall ever hold
him in grateful remembrance. Possessed of talents of a high
order, of great industry, and a conscientious sense of duty, he
was enabled to act an important and distinguished part in life;
and long will it be before his place can be filled in the commu-
nity of which he was an ornament. After reaching the limit
of life, with a mind unimpaired and an activity almost youth-
ful, he passed tranquilly to its end, after a short illness unat-
tended by the sense of pain. He lived as his friends wished
that he should live, and he died as he himself always wished
to die. Entertaining a high value for the character and ser-
vices of its deceased associate, and sincere regret for his loss,
the Society resolves, —

1. That the members will attend the funeral as mourners.

2. That a member be appointed to prepare a notice of the
life and character of Judge Hopkinson.

3. That the members tender their sympathy and condolence
to the family of the deceased, and that the Secretaries be in-
structed to communicate to them a copy of these proceedings.

Dr. Chapman was appointed under the second resolution, to
prepare an obituary notice of Judge Hopkinson.

140

Stated Meeting, January 21.

Present, thirty-nine members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were read: —

From the National Institution of Washington, dated 15th
Jan. 1S42, — from the Albany Institute, — and from Mr. Re-
bello, dated Rio Janeiro, 25th Nov. 1841, acknowledging
the receipt of the Society's Proceedings.

From Mr. E. C. Bridgman, dated Macao, 2d July, 1841,
transmitting a copy of the second part of a Chinese Chrcstoma-
thy, of which he is the author: — and

From Mr. Jacob Snider, Jun., dated 21st Jan. 1842, present-
ing the cast from Chantrey's bust of William Vaughan, of Lon-
don, owned by the late librarian of the Society.

The Society passed a vote of thanks to Mr. Snider for this
donation.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

American Archives: Consisting of a Collection of Authcntick Re-
cords, Stan' Papers, Debates and Letters and other Notices of
Publick Affairs, &c. Prepared and published under Authority of
an Act of Congress. 3 Vols. Folio. Washington, 1837, 39-40.
From Mr. Peter Force.

A Digest of the Ordinances of the Corporation of the City of Phila-
delphia, and of the Acts of Assembly relating thereto. ?-\".
Philadelphia, 1841. — From the ('it;/ Council*.

Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal: edited by tli<' Secretary.
Nos. 22 to 29, inclusive. 8vo. Calcutta, Is 11. — From the
8ocu ty.

<> Auxiliador da [ndustria Nacional, &c. Vol. IX. Nos. 1 tofi, in-
clusive, ^vo. Rio dc Janeiro, 1811. — From Mr. J. S. lie
bell".

Objections to Mr. Redfield's Theory of Storms, with some Strictures
upon In- Reasoning. By Robert Hare, M.D. Svo. — From the
Author,

141

FOR THE CABINET.

Two specimens of preserved butterflies, from Malta. Accompanied
by explanatory letters from the donor, and the Rev. Dr. Be-
thune. — From Mr. William Winthrop Andrews, U. S. Consul,
Malta.

Dr. Hare made an oral communication, in which he pointed
out what he conceived to be very glaring errors in Mr. Red-
field's opinions, which may be briefly stated as follows: —

1st. That all atmospheric currents, whether designated as trade
winds, gales, storms, tempests, tornadoes, thunder gusts or hurri-
canes, are to be explained by a reference to the " simple conditions of
the great laws of gravitation ;" the agency of electricity being neglect-
ed, and " the theory of calorific rarefaction'1'' renounced.

2d. In alleging the existence of " opposing and unequal forces,"
without specifying their nature, or accounting for their existence;
although implying that they are the effects of "the simple conditions
of the great laws of gravitation.''''

3d. In assigning to " all fluid matter a tendency to run into whirls
or circuits, when subjected to opposing and unequal forces ;" which
can be true only in some peculiar cases of the influence of such
forces.

4th. In treating of all storms as whirlwinds; or in other words in
making the words storm and whirlwind synonymous, and yet repre-
senting a rotative movement in the air, or in other words a whirl-
wind, " as the only known cause of violent and destructive winds
or tempests;" so that a whirlwind is the only cause of its own
force !

5th. In averring that " all narrow and violent vortices have a
spiral involute motion, quickening in its gyrations as it approaches
the centre or the axis of the whirl," whereas, it must be evident that,
when a whirl is the consequence of forces applied at the periphery of
any mass, the consequent velocity in any part of the mass will be
less in proportion to its proximity to the axis; and that the only case
in which it will be greater in proportion to the nearness of the axis, is
where the motion proceeds from some competent cause acting at the
centre.

6th. In admitting the gyration which he considers as the cause of
storms, to quicken as it approaches the axis of motion, without per-
ceiving that this characteristic is, as above stated, irreconcilable with

142

his fundamental doctrine that "gyration, caused by opposing and
unequal forces," acting necessarily at points remote from the axis, is
productive of all the phenomena in question.

7th. In representing a "vortical, or gyratory, action,"1"1* for which
no source is assigned, unless" unequal and opposing forces" resulting
from "the simple conditions of the great laws of gravitation," as
the proximate cause of the upward force of tornadoes; whereas, if
such action be not the effect of an upward force, but is on the contrary
a proximate cause of the phenomena, it could only have an influence
the opposite of that suggested by Mr. Redfield, and which the facts
require. Necessarily producing a centrifugal movement in the lower
stratum of air, it would, by diminishing the pressure about the axis
of the whirl, cause the upper air, beyond the theatre of the gyration,
to descend in order to restore the equilibrium.

Dr. Hare made another oral communication respecting a
new ethereal liquid which he had succeeded in obtaining.

He mentioned that he had procured by means of hyponitrite of
soda, diluted sulphuric acid, and pyroxylic spirit, an ethereal liquid
in which methyl (C2 II3) might be inferred to perform the same part
as ethyl (C4 H5) in hyponitrous ether. In fact, by substituting py-
roxylic spirit for alcohol, this new ether was elaborated by the pro-
cess for hyponitrous ether, of which he had published an account in
the Society's Transactions, Vol. VII., Part 2.

The compound which was the subject of his communication, had a
great resemblance to alcoholic hyponitrous ether, similarly evolved,
in colour, smell and taste; although there was still a difference suffi-
cient to prevent the one from being mistaken for the other.

Pyroxylic spirit appeared to have a greater disposition than alcohol
to combine with the ether generated from it, probably in consequence
of its having less affinity for water. The boiling point appeared to be;
nearly the same in both of the ethers; and in both, in consequence of
the escape of an ethereal gas, an effervescence, resembling thai of
ebullition, was observed to take place at a lower temperature than
thatat which the boiling poinl became stationary. The ethereal
of which Dr. Hare had given an account in his communication re-
specting hyponitrous ether, seemed to have escaped the attention of
European chemists; and, even after it had been noticed by him,

* Sco American Journal uf Science, Vol, WW 1. No. I.

143

seemed to be overlooked by Liebig, Kane, and others in their subse-
quent publications.

Dr. Hare attached the more importance to his success in producing
the ether which was the subject of his communication ; since, agree-
ably to Liebig, no such compound exists, and it is to be inferred that
efforts to produce it had heretofore failed. It was presumed that
this would excite no surprise, when the difference was considered be-
tween the consequences of the reaction of nitric acid with pyroxylic
spirit, and with alcohol.

The liquid last mentioned is now viewed as a hydrated oxide of
ethyl, while pyroxylic spirit is viewed as a hydrated oxide of methyl.
When alcohol is presented to nitric acid, a reciprocal decomposition
ensues. The acid loses two atoms of oxygen, which by taking two
atoms of hydrogen from a portion of the alcohol, transforms it into
aldehyd ; while the hyponitrous acid, resulting inevitably from the
partial deoxydizement of the nitric acid, unites with the base of the re-
maining part of the alcohol. But when pyroxylic spirit is presented
to nitric acid, this acid, without decomposition, combines with methyl,
the base of this hydrate; so that, as no hyponitrous acid can be
evolved, no hyponitrite can be produced. Thus in the case of the one
there can be no ethereal hyponitrite, in that of the other, no ethereal
nitrate.

Dr. Hare regretted that Liebig should not have been informed of
the improved process for hyponitrous ether, to which he had referred
in commencing his communication. Instead of recommending a re-
sort to that process, it was advised that the fumes, resulting from the
reaction of nitric acid with fecula, should be passed into alcohol, and
the resulting vapour condensed by means of a tube surrounded by a
freezing mixture.

This process Dr. Hare had repeated, and found the product very
inferior in quantity and purity to that resulting from the employment
of a hyponitrite. In this process, nascent hyponitrous acid, as libe-
rated from a base, is brought into contact with the hydrated oxide.
In the process recommended by Liebig, evidently this contact could
not take place ; since it was well known that hyponitrous acid could
not be obtained by subjecting fecula and nitric acid to distillation,
and condensing the aeriform products.*

* The process alluded to is as follows:— Seven parts of acid, eight parts of
alcohol, fourteen parts of water, and fourteen of hyponitrite being prepared,
add seven parts of water to the salt and seven to the acid, and allow the mix-
ture to cool. The saline solution and alcohol are introduced into a tubulated

Q

144

Professor A. D. Bache communicated, on behalf of Mr.
Nicollet, of Washington, an abstract of observations on the
magnetic dip, made at Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia,
Albany, Oswego, Niagara Falls, Detroit, Mackinaw Island,
Chicago, Joliet, Ottawa, Peru, Illinoistown and St. Louis. He
also read a letter from Major Sabine, communicating the pro-
gress of the general series of magnetic observations; and one
from Prof. Loomis, of Western Reserve College, stating that,
last autumn, he had made observations of the magnetic dip at
nearly forty different stations, in the north-west part of the
United States, the results of which he intended hereafter to
communicate to the Society.

Dr. Goddard showed specimens of photographic portraits
made by the diffused light of a room, and by a peculiar process
in which bibromide of iodine is used. This process he de-
scribed, and stated that he had ascertained only to-day, that a
similar method had been presented to the French Academy,
which, however, in some particulars, was inferior to his own.

Mr. George Ord was elected Librarian, in the place of John
Vaughan, deceased.

The following standing Committees were appointed for the
present year.

Of Finance. — Mr. C. C. Biddle, Dr. Patterson, and Mr.
Nicklin.

Of Publication. — Mr. Lea, Dr. Hays, and Mr. Fisher.

On the Hall. — Mr. Campbell, Mr. Richards, and Mr. G.
W. Smith.

retort, of which the recurved and tapering beak enters a tube, which occupies
the axis and descends through the neck of an inverted bell-glass, so as to
terminate within a tall phial. Roth the tube and phial must be surrounded
and water. The dilated acid is then added gradually. A water-bath,
blood-warm, is sufficient to cause all the ether to ''"in"- over.

Agreeably t" another plan, the materials, previously refrigerated by ice,nro
introduced into a bottle, alsr> similarly refrigerated. Under these oircam.
tin' ether soon forms a superstratum which may be separated by de-
cantation

This laal mentioned proci i well for the byponitrite of

methyl, "" account <>f the pyroxylic spirit being prone to rise with the ether.
Vi it, the pint may be separated from the ether by anhydrous chloride of
calcium,

145

On the Library. — Dr. Hays, Mr. Campbell, and Mr. Pen-
ington.

Agreeably to the laws, the list of surviving members was
read; by which it appeared that the number of members, at
the beginning of the year was 329; namely, 228 resident in
the United States, and 101 in foreign countries.

The following gentlemen were elected members of the So-
ciety:—

Alexis de Tocqueville, of Paris.

Baron de Roenne, of Prussia.

John F. Frazer, of Philadelphia.

E. Otis Kendall, of Philadelphia.

Charles Lyell, of London.

J. N. Nicollet, of Washington.

Baron de la Doucette, of Paris.

E. W. Brayley, of London.

Stated Meeting, February 4.

Present, thirty-one members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Professors Frazer and Kendall, members elect, were pre-
sented to the President and signed the Laws.

Letters were read, —

From Baron Roenne, dated 29th January, 1S42, — from Mr.
Charles Lyell, dated 5th Feb. 1842,— and from Mr. J. N. Ni-
collet, dated 1st Feb. 1842, severally acknowledging the honour
of their election as members of the Society: —

From the Geological Society of London, dated 21st Oct.
1841, — the Society of Arts of London, dated 27th Nov. 1841,
and from the Royal Asiatic Society of London, dated 6th
Nov. 1841, severally acknowledging the receipt of copies of
the Society's Transactions: —

From Dr. Tidy man, of Charleston, dated 10th Jan. 1842,
transmitting four volumes of the Statutes of South Carolina,
as a donation: — and

146

From M. de Bacourt, Minister of France, dated Washing-
ton, 2d Feb. 1842, stating that the missing numbers of the Ar-
chives du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle would be forwarded
to the Society.

Three letters were read from Mr. Jacob Snider, Jun.; the
first, communicating an extract from a letter from Mr. AYilliam
Vaughan, of London, dated 3d Jan. 1842, relating to th 3 receipt
of the Society's Proceedings, &c. for distribution; the second,
dated 4th Feb. 1842, relating to parcels received for the Society,
and papers from Mr. Murray, printed on the Franklin Press;
and the third, dated 4th Feb. 1S42, making certain donations to
the Society, and assuming the payment of the collateral in-
heritance tax on the bequests of Mr. John Vaughan.

On motion, it was resolved that the thanks of the Society
be returned to Jacob Snider, Jun. Esq., for his liberal dona-
tions, made this evening.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Annales des Mines. Vol. XIX. Parts 1, 2 & 3 for 1841. Paris,

1841. — From the Engineers of Mines.
Journal Asiatique. For June, July, & August, 1841. Three Num-
bers. Paris, 1841.
The American Medical Library and Intelligencer. By Robley Dun-

glison, M.U. New Series Vol. I. No. 6. Philadelphia, 1841 —

From the Editor.
Bulletin de la Societe de Geographic. Second Series. Vol. \Y.

8vo. Paris, 1841. — From the Society.
The Statutes at Large of South Carolina. Edited by David J. M'Cord.

Vols. VII, VIII, [X. & X. 8vo. Columbia, S. C. 1840-41.—

From Dr. Philip Tidyman.
The Practice of Medicine; or a Treatise on Special Pathology and

Therapeutics. By Robley Dunglison, M.D. Two Volumes, 8vo.

Philadelphia, 1842 — From the Author.
Boletin Enciclopedico de la Sociedad Economics. He Amigos del Pais.

No. 22. Valencia, 1841. — From the Society.
Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London. Vol. XI.

Part 1. 8vo. London, 1841. — From the Society.

Transactions of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. Vol. \ II.
Part 2. 4to. Cambridge, 1841. — From the Society.

147

Memoire sur Differens Procedes d'Integration, .&c. &c. Par J.
Plana. Extrait du Journal des Mathematiques de M. Crelle. —
From the Author.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. Part VIII. 8vo.
London, 1840. — From the Society.

Supplemental Instructions for the use of the Magnetical Observato-
ries. 8vo. London, 1841. — From the Royal Astronomical So-
ciety.

The British Almanac of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful
Knowledge for the Year 1842. 12mo. London, 1842. — From
Mr. Jacob Snider, Jvn.

Memorias de la Sociedad Patriotica de la Habana. Vol. XIII. No.
73. Havana, 1841. — From Dr. Dunglison.

Chinese Chrestomathy, in the Canton Dialect. By E. C. Bridgman.
4to. Macao, 1841. — From the Author.

A note to the paper of Dr. Harlan, reported for publication
at the last meeting, was read, and, by request of the Committee
to whom the paper had been referred, was ordered for publica-
tion.

Dr. Hare made an oral communication in relation to the re-
port presented to the Academy of Paris on Mr. Espy's theory
of tornadoes, rain, &c, and stated that, on his representations
that the electrical theory of these meteors had not been duly
considered in making up the report, the subject had been again
brought before the Academy and referred.

Prof. A. D. Bache made some statements, on the authority
of Mr. Espy, of the circumstances under which the conclusions
to the report referred to had been prepared.

Dr. Hare also communicated some observations on the sus-
pension of clouds, made by him last summer in Switzerland,
and stated his opinion that clouds were constantly forming and
dissolving masses of vapour.

Mr. Lea made some remarks upon the Oolitic formation of
America, and submitted evidence of its existence, in addition
to that furnished in his paper, published in the Society's Trans-
actions.

Dr. Dunglison, on behalf of Dr. Cohen, of Baltimore, com-
municated a paper, describing the post mortem appearances in a
case of deafness.

148

In this case, an abnorraous state of the ossicles and other irregu-
larities were found in one ear; and destruction of the membrana
tympani and disorganization of the soft parts of the tympanum, &c,
in the other.

Stated Meeting, February 18.

Present, thirty-two members.

Mr. Duponceau, President, in the Chair.

Mr. Lyell, of London, a recently elected member, was pre-
sented to the President and signed the Laws.

Letters were read : —

From the Royal Society of Gottingen, dated 18th August,
1841, acknowledging the receipt of copies of the Transactions
and Proceedings of this Society, and notifying it of the trans-
mission of the eighth volume of the " Commentationes Socic-
tatis Regiae Scientiarum Gottingensis Recentiores:" —

From the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, inviting the
members of this Society to be present at the delivery of a dis-
course by Job R. Tyson, Esq., before the former Society, on
the evening of the 21st instant: — and

From Mr. Adam Ramage, offering to put the Franklin Press
in order at his own expense, in order that the members might
have an opportunity of pulling a sheet on it.

The invitation of the Historical Society was accepted, and
the letter of Mr. Ramage referred to a committee, with power
to take order.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

A Monograph of the Limniades, or Fresh-water Univalve Shells of
North America. By S. S. Haldeman. No. 4. s\<>. Philadel-
phia, 1842. — From the Author.

An Account of th<' Receipts and Expenditures of the United States

for the Year 1- in. IVepaml in t In- < Office of the Register of the

149

Treasury. 8vo. Washington, 1842. — From the Treasury De-
partment.
Document No/70, Second Session, Twenty-seventh Congress. North-
eastern Boundary. — From Major J. D. Graham.

FOR THE CABINET.

Twenty-one Copper Coins, chiefly Oriental. — From Dr. Diver.
A Fossil from the Island of Antigua. — From Mr. G. M. Justice.

Mr. Justice referred to certain interesting documents, rela-
ting to the history of Pennsylvania, which he hoped hereafter
to be able to lay before the Society. He noticed particularly
those relating to the expenses incurred in running Mason and
Dixon's Line.

Mr. Kane informed the Societ)^ that the Legislature had re-
cently passed an act, agreeably to the memorial of the Soci-
ety, granting the power of selling the Hall.

Stated Meeting, March 4.
Present, thirty-four members.
Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.
The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Quarterly Summary of the Transactions of the College of Physicians
of Philadelphia, Vol. I. No. 1. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1841.—
From the College.

A New Dictionary of Medical Science. Third Edition, greatly mo-
dified and enlarged. By R. Dunglison, M.D. Philadelphia,
1842. — From the Author.

Tijdschrift voor Natuurlijke Geschiedenis en Physiologic Uitgege-
ven door J. Van der Hoeven, M.D. en W. H. de Vriese, M.D.
8vo. Leyden, 1841. — From the Editors.

The Committee, consisting of Mr. Walker, Dr. Patterson,
and Major Bache, to whom were referred Mr. Simeon Bor-

150

den's additional papers relative to the Trigonometrical Survey
of Massachusetts, reported in favour of their publication in the
Society's Transactions, which was ordered accordingly.

Prof. Vethake announced the death of Philip H. Nicklin,
one of the Counsellors of the Society, which occurred on the
2d of March, at the age of 55; accompanying the announce-
ment with appropriate remarks in relation to the character and
services of the deceased: whereupon the Society appointed
Prof. Vethake to prepare a necrological notice of Mr. Nicklin.

A communication was presented by Prof. A. D. Bache, on
behalf of Lieut. J. M. Gilliss, U. S. N., exhibiting the monthly
means of the magnetic declination, the barometer, and the ther-
mometer, as observed by him at the Washington Observatory.
This communication was referred to a committee.

Mr. Lea stated that specimens of the Melania Altilis, de-
scribed by him, and supposed hitherto to be a southern shell,
had recently been found by his son on the shore of the Schuyl-
kill, near this city.

Dr. Goddard presented specimens of Daguerreotypes on a
surface of gilded silver, and stated that the surface of iodide
of gold was more susceptible to the Daguerreotype action of
light than that of the iodide of silver, that the surface of the
plate might be polished without injury before the action of the
iodine, and that the lights came out better than on the silver
surface.

Major Bache remarked upon a theory presented by certain
geologists, that the coral reef owes its permanence to vital
forces, stating his conviction that this was rather owing to a
general law by which vertical dikes, based below the depth of
the action of the waves, opposed no resistance to their motion,
and were not, therefore, destroyed. He stated that this fact had
been observed by engineers, and used in most of our public
works on the lakes, and that he had drawn a similar inference
from observations made by him at Mount Desert Island in 1S22.

Prof. A. 1). Bache exhibited the curves representing the re-
sults of the bi-hourly magnetic observations, made (luring the
years 18 i<> and 1841 at the Girard College Observatory, show-
ing the daily changes of magnetic declination, and horizontal
and vertical intensity. He .stated that from these curves the

151

approximate times of maximum and minimum could be infer-
red; but that, in order to render the determination of the pe-
riods of their occurrence more accurate, additional observations
at every six minutes were now made (since January 1) within
the limits shown by the curves, presented this evening, to be
those of the occurrence of maxima and minima.

The Committee on the Hall reported that the articles be-
queathed to the Society by the late Mr. Vaughan, as well as
those presented by Mr. Jacob Snider, Jun., were now in its
possession.

Stated Meeting, March 18.

Present, twenty-seven members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were read: —

From the Royal Academy of Sciences of Berlin, dated 15th
Aug. 1841, acknowledging the receipt of the Transactions and
Proceedings of the Society, and of the American Almanac for
1841; and notifying the transmission of their Transactions for
1839, and their Monthly Reports from July, 1840, to June,
1841:— and

From the Royal Academy of Sciences of Brussels, dated 18th
Aug. 1841, acknowledging the receipt of copies of the So-
ciety's Transactions and Proceedings.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

A Catalogue of Books. Henry G. Bohn, York Street, Covent Gar-
den. 8vo. of 1948 pages. London, 1841. — From Mr. Henry
G. Bohn.

Zoological Contributions. On some American Species of Hydrach-
nidse. By S. S. Haldeman. No. 1. 8vo. 1842. — From the
Author.

Boston Journal of Natural History. Vol. IV. No. 1. 8vo. Boston,
1842. — From the Boston Society of Natural History.

152

Notice of the Origin, Progress, and present Condition of the Boston

Society of Natural History. — From the Society.
The American Medical Library and Intelligencer. By Robley

Dunglison, M.D. New Series. Vol. I. No. 7. Philadelphia,

1842.— From the Editor.
Nouveaux Memoires de l'Academie Royale des Sciences et Belles

Lettres de Bruxelles. Vol. XIV. 4to. Brussels, 1841. — From

the Academy.
Memoires Couronnes par l'Academie Royale des Sciences et Belles

Lettres de Bruxelles. Vol. XV. Part 1. 4to. Brussels, 1840-

41. — From the same.
Bulletin de l'Academie Royale de Bruxelles. Vol. VIII. Nos. 7,

8 & 9. 8vo. Brussels, 1841. — From the same.
Royaume de Belgique. Ministere de l'Interieur. Statuts Organiques

de la Commission Centrale de Statistique. 8vo. Brussels, 1841.

From the Minister of the Interior.
Du Spiritualisme au XlXme Siecle, ou Examen de la Doctrine de

Maine de Biran. Par L. A. Gruyer. 8vo. Brussels. — From

the Author.
Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.

Vol. X. No. 10. Philadelphia, 1842.— From the Acadcm y.
Commentationes Societatis Region Scientiarum Gottingcnsis Recen-

tiores. Vol. VIII. 4to. Gottingen. 1841. — From the Society.
Abhandlungen der Koniglichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu

Berlin. Aus dem Jahre 1839. 4to. Berlin, 1841. — From the

Academy.
Bericht uber die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen

der Konigl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin,

in den Monatem Julius, Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. & Dec. 1840, &

Januar, Februar, Marz, April, Mai, & Juni, 1841. — From the

Academy.
Versuche zur Bestimmung der Elasticitat und Festigkeil verschieder,

auf Kdniglich Hannoverschen Eisenhiitten verfertiger Stabeisen-

Sorten. Aus den Acten mitgetheilt von I. F. L. Eiaussmann. —

From the Author.
Thcrmomctrical Observations as connected with Navigation. By

James Mease, M.D. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1841. — From the Au-
thor.

\ donation for the library w;is also received from Mr. Ja-
cob Snider, Jun., consisting of US works, comprised in 230

153

volumes, formerly the property of the late John Vaughan,
Esq., having formed part of his library prior to the year 1798.
The donation was accompanied by a letter from the donor, and
an accurate catalogue of the books.

For this valuable donation, the Society passed a special vote
of thanks to Mr. Snider.

The following is a list of the books comprised in Mr. Sni-
der's donation.

Jeffrey's West India Atlas. Folio. London, 1783.

Carey's General Atlas. Folio. Philadelphia, 1795.

Forty Accurate Plans on a large Scale of Ports, &c in the West

Indies. Folio. London, 1790.
Dictionnaire Universel, vulgairement appele Dictionnaire de Trevoux.

8 Vols. Folio. Paris, 1771.
Historical and Chronological Deduction of the Origin of the Com-
merce of the British Empire. 2 Vols. Folio. London, 1764.
Nievhoff's Account of Goyer and Keyser's Embassy to China, &c.

Folio. London, 1673.
Shaw's Travels in Barbary and the Levant. Folio. Oxford, 1738.
Virloy. Dictionnaire d'Architecture, Civile, Militaire, et Navale. 3

Vols. 4to. Paris, 1770.
Saint Mery. Description Topographique, Physique, Civile, Politique

et Historique de la Partie Francaise de l'lsle de St. Domingue.

2 Vols. 4to. Philadelphia, 1797.
Historical and Chronological Deduction of the Origin of Commerce,

from the earliest Accounts. 4 Vols. 4to. London, 1787.
De Laulnais. Guide de Commerce. Folio. Paris.
De la Loubere's New Historical Relation of the Kingdom of Siam.

Folio. London, 1693.
Delia Storia di Genova dal Trattato di Worms fino alia Pace d'Aquis-

grana. 4to. Leida, 1750.
Tavernier's Collection of Travels through Turkey into Persia and

the East Indies. Folio. London, 1684.
Histoire Generate de la Chine, ou Annals de cet Empire. 12 Vols.

4to. Paris, 1777.
Guthrie's New System of Geography. Second Volume. 4to. Phil-
adelphia, 1795.
Gaigneur. Le Pilote Instruit, ou Nouvelles Lecons de Navigation.

4to. Nantes, 1781.

154

Bougucr. Traite du Navire, de sa Construction, ct de scs Mouvc-
ments. 4to. Paris, 1746.

Jones' English System of Book-keeping. 4to. New York, 1797.

Jeffreys' Voyages from Asia to America, for completing the Dis-
coveries of the N. W. Coast of America. 4to. London, 1764.

Juan et Leveque. Examen Maritime, theorique et pratique, ou
Traite de Mechanique. 2 Vols. 4to. Nantes, 1783.

Secret History of the Armed Neutrality. 12mo. London, 1792.

Rush's Account of the Yellow Fever. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1794.

Poyvre. Observations sur les Moeurs et les Arts des Peuples de l'Af-
rique, de l'Asie et de l'Amerique. 12mo. Mac st rich, 1779.

Le Politique Indien, ou Considerations sur les Colonies des Indes Ori-
entales. 12mo. Amsterdam, 1768.

Hardie's American Remembrancer. 12mo. Philadelphia, 1795.

Walker's Treatise on Magnetism, &c 8vo. London, 1794.

Volney. Ruines, ou Meditations sur les Revolutions des Empires.
8vo. 1792.

The Federalist: a Collection of Essays written in favour of the New
Constitution. First Volume. 12mo. New York, 1788.

New and Old Principles of Trade. 8vo. London, 1788.

Marius' Advice concerning Bills of Exchange. 12mo. Philadelphia,
1790.

Lescallicr. Traite pratique du Greemcnt des Vaisseaux, &c. 4to.
Paris, 1791.

Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. First
Volume. 4to. Boston, 1785.

Phillips' General History of Inland Navigation, Foreign and Domes-
tic. 4to. London, 1791.

Voyage de I'Ambassade dc la Compagnic des Indes, &c. 4to. Phil-
adelphia, 1797.

An Inquiry into the Principles of Taxation. 4to. London, 1790.

Bouguer. De la Manoeuvre des Vaisseaux. 4to. Part*, 1757.

Du Monceau. Traits de la Fabrique des Manoeuvres pour les Vais-
seaux, ;t I'Art de la Cordcric perfectionne. 4to. Paris, L769.

Guthrie's New Geographical, Historical, and Commercial Grammar.
8vo. London, 1 788.

Girandeau. La Banque rendue facile aus Principales Nations dc
I'Europe. 4to. Lyons, 1769.

Robertson's Elements of Navigation. 2 Vols. Bvo. London, 177'-'.

Lelandi. Antiquarii de Rebus Britannicis. 8 Vols. 8vo. London,
1774.

155

Raynal. Histoire Philosophique et Politique des Establissemens des

Europeens dans les deux Indes. 10 Vols. Geneva, 1786.
Le Spectacle de la Nature, ou Entretiens sur les Particularites de

l'Histoire Naturelle. 8 Vols. 12mo. Paris, 1771.
Histoire Civile et Naturelle du Royaume de Siam. 2 Vols. 12mo.

Paris, 1771.
Saint Mery's Topographical and Political Description of the Spanish

Part of St. Domingo. 2 Vols. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1796.
Volney. Voyage en Syrie et en Egypte. 2 Vols. 1792.
Charleton's Three Tracts on Bath Water. 8vo. Bath, 1774.
History and Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris.

Fourteenth Volume. London, 1742.
Laws of the State of New York. 2 Vols. 8vo. New Yor Jc, 1792.
Baddam's Memoirs of the Royal Society. 10 Vols. London, 1741.
Morse's American Geography. 8vo. Elizabethtown, 1789.
Haye's Negotiator's Magazine, or most Authentic Account of Moneys,

&c. 8vo. London, 1740.
Sullivan's History of Maine. 8vo. Boston, 1795.
Fourcroy's Elements of Natural History and Chemistry. Second,

third, fourth and fifth Volumes. 8vo. London, 1788.
Acts of the First Congress of the United States. 2 Vols. 8vo.

Philadelphia, 1793.
Adams' Defence of Constitutions, &c. 3 Vols. 8vo. London, 1787.
Burgh's Political Disquisitions. 3 Vols. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1775.
Leach's Treatise of Universal Inland Navigation. 8vo. London,

1791.
Cooper's Information respecting America. 8vo. London, 1794.
Dictionnaire Dramatique. First & third Volumes. 8vo. Paris,

1776.
Nugent's Life of Cellini. 2 Vols. 8vo. London, 1771.
Wright's American Negotiator. 8vo. London, 1761.
Quincy's Lexicon. 8vo. London, 1775.
Imlay's Topographical Description of the Western Territory of North

America. 8vo. London, 1793.
Life of Pyrrhus. 8vo. London, 1751.

Macquer's Elements of Chemistry. 2 Vols. 8vo. London, 1775.
Nicholson's Introduction to Natural Philosophy. 2 Vols. 8vo.

Philadelphia, 1788.
The American Annual Register for 1796. 8vo. Philadelphia,

1797.
Letters of Sir Thomas Filzosborne. 8vo. London, 1776.

156

Bossu. Nouveaux Voyages, &c. 8vo. Amsterdam, 1777.
Ramsay's History of the American Revolution. First Volume. 8vo.

Philadelphia, 1789.
Transactions of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. First

Volume. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1793.
Letters on the Concert of Princes. 8vo. London, 1793.
Aldridge's Universal Merchant. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1797.
Le Commerce de la Hollande. First Volume. 12mo. Amster-
dam, 1768.
Natural and Civil History of California. 2 Vols. 8vo- London,

1759.
Abrege Portatif du Dictionnaire Geographiquc de la Martiniere.

12mo. Paris, 1759.
Dwight's Conquest of Canaan. 8vo. Hartford, 1785.
Gibson's Practical Surveying. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1789.
Middleton's Interest Book. 8vo. London, 1779.
Trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda. Second Volume. 8vo. Ma-
drid, 1781.
Restaut. Grammaire Francaise. 8vo. Paris, 1774.
Recherches Philosophiques sur Ies Americains, &c. 3 Vols. 12mo.

Berlin, 1771.
Voyage de Gautier Schoutcn. 2 Vols. 8vo. Rouen, 1725.
Recueil des Voyages qui ont servi a l'Etablissement et aux Progrez

de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales. 9 Vols. 8vo. Rouen,

1725.
Rolin. Abreviado 6 Compendio de la Historia Antiqua. First, third,

fourth, fifth and sixth Volumes. 8vo. Amheres, 1745.
Clendenin's Surveyor's Assistant. 4to. Philadelphia, 1793.
Les Caracteres de Theophraste et dc la Bruyere. 2 Vols. 12mo.

Paris, 1769.
Adventures of Telemachus. First Volume. 8vo. London, 1118.
Bibliotheque Nouvelle d'un Homme de Gout. 4 Vols. 12mo.

I'uris, 1777.
CEuvres de Boileau Despreaux. 5 Vols. 8vo. Amsterdam, 1772.
Corinth's Address to Protestants. 8vo. London, 1772.
CEuvres de J. J. Rousseau. 12 Vols. (Second & eleventh Volumes

wanting.) L2mo. Amsterdam, 1 7 7 c
Recherches Philosophiques sur les Egyptiens et les Chinois. S Vols.

l2mo. Berlin, 177H.
Compendio de la Historia de Espana. 2 Vols. 12mo. Madrid.
1782.

157

(Euvres de Chaulieu. 2 Vols. 24mo. Hague, 1777.

Tableau de l'Histoire Moderne. Second & third Volumes. 12mo.

Paris, 1772.
Bossuet. Discours sur l'Histoire Universelle. 2 Vols. Paris, 1775.
Contes Moraux. Second & fourth Volumes. 12mo. Paris, 1765.
(Euvres de Gresset. First Volume. 24mo. London, 1765.
(Euvres de Regnier. First Volume. 24mo. London, 1750.
Ambassades de la Compagnie Hollandoise des Indes d'Orient vers

1'Empereur du Japon. 2 Vols. 12mo. Leyden, 1685.
Horace. Juvenal. Perseus. 12mo.
Biographical Dictionary. 24mo. London, 1794.
La Maniere de bien penser dans les Ouvrages d'Esprit. 12mo.

Lyons.
Henry Smetii Prosodia. 8vo. London, 1767.
Adelaide and Theodore, or Letters on Education. Second Volume.

London, 1783.
The Rambler. Third Volume. London, 1784.
Watts' Psalms with Tunes. 8vo. London, 1722.
Compendium Grammatical Latinse. 8vo. Hamburg, 1765.
United States' Register for 1795. 12mo. Philadelphia, 1794.
Reduction des Changes entre la France, 1'Italie, PEspagne, Ham-

bourg, et la Hollande. 12mo. Amsterdam, 1767.
Cicero de Officiis. 8vo.

Grammatical Institutes, or an easy Introduction to Dr. Lowth's En-
glish Grammar. 12mo. London, 1793.
Abrege des Principes de la Grammaire Francaise. 12mo. Lu-

sanne, 1763.
Description of the Situation, Climate, Soil and Production in certain

Tracts in M?ine. 4to.
Italian, German, and French Grammar. 8vo. Frankfort, 1706.

A donation for the Cabinet was received from Dr. Harlan,
consisting of a set of casts, comprising twenty-eight pieces, of a
new fossil genus, named by him Orycterotherium Missou-
riensis, to be described in the forthcoming volume of the So-
ciety's Transactions.

On motion of Dr. Dunglison, the Society's Proceedings
were directed to be regularly furnished to the Patriotic So-
ciety of Havana.

158

Stated Meeting, April 1.

Present, twenty-seven members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were read: —

From the Geological Society of London, dated 2d Dec.
1S41, and the Society of Arts of London, dated 23d Dec.

1541, acknowledging the receipt of No. IS of the Society's
Proceedings: —

From William Vaughan, Esq., of London, dated 2d March,

1542, in acknowledgment of the resolutions of the Society,
passed in honour of his brother, the late Librarian: —

From the Editor of "L'Institut," dated Paris, 17th Jan.
1842, requesting that the Proceedings of the Society may be
sent to him: — and

From Mr. Jacob Snider, Jr., in relation to the books recently
given by him to the Society, and tendering a further donation
of twenty-one volumes, provided the Society does not possess
them already.

On motion of Prof. A. D. Bache, the Society directed a copy
of the Proceedings to be regularly furnished to the Editor of
"L'Institut."

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

The History of the Herculean Straits; now called the Straits of Gib-
raltar. By Lieut. Col. Thomas James. 2 Vols. 4to. London,
1771. — From Mr. Jacob Snider, Jr.

Lectures on History ami General Policy. By Joseph Priestley,
LL.D. 4to. Birmingham, 1788. — From tin same.

Travels during the Years 1787-88-89 in France. By Arthur
Jfoung, P.R.S. 4to. Bury St. Edmunds, 1792. — From the

SI 1)1)1 .

Sheridan's Dictionary of the English Language. Revised and Cor-
rected by John Andrews, D.D. 8vo. Philadelphia, 17 v.). —

From the same

159

An Historical Disquisition concerning the Knowledge which the An-
cients had of India. By William Robertson, D.D. 8vo. Phil-
adelphia, 1792. — From the same.

Tracts by Joseph Price, LL.D. 3 Vols. 8vo. London, 1783. —
From the same.

Serious Considerations on the Political Conduct of Lord North. By
Nathaniel Buckington, Esq. (Dr. Price.) 8vo. London, 1783 —
From the same.

A Journey through Spain in the Years 1786-87. By Joseph Towns-
end. 3 Vols. 8vo. London, 1791. — From the same.

A New Portuguese Grammar. By Anthony Vieyra. 8vo. London,
1794. — From the same.

A Collection of French Comedies and Operas. 3 Vols. 8vo. Paris.
Avignon. — From the same.

A Discourse of Coin and Coinage. By Rice Vaughan, Esq. 12mo.
London, 1675. — From the same.

A Collection of Pamphlets. — From the same.

The American Medical Library and Intelligencer. By Robley Dun-
glison, M.D. Vol. I. No. 8. 8vo. Philadelphia, Feb. 1842.—
From the Editor.

Catalogue of the Library in Red Cross Street, Cripplegate. 2 Vols.
8vo. London, 1841. From Mr. Petty Vaughan, through Mr.
J. Snider, Jr.

Proceedings of the Royal Astronomical Society of London. Vol. V.
No. 18. 8vo. London, 1841. — From the. Society.

Revista de Espafia y del Estrangero. Director y Redactor Princi-
pal, D. Fermin Gonzalo Moron. Vol. I. No. 1. 8vo. Madrid,
1842. — From the Editor.

Boletin Enciclopedico de la Sociedad Economicade Valencia. Vol. I.
No. 24. 8vo. Valencia, 1841. — From the Society.

Journal Asiatique. Troisieme Serie. Vol. XII. Nos. 67 & 68.
8vo. Paris, Sept. Oct. and Nov. 1841. — From the Asiatic
Society of Paris.

Annals des Mines. Troisieme Serie. Vol. XX. No. 4. 8vo. Pa-
ris, 1841. — From the Council of Mines.

Chart of Cape Cod Harbour and the Adjacent Coast of Province-
town and Truro. Reduced from the Original of Major J. D.
Graham, U. S. Topog. Eng., by J. W. Lewis, Civil Engineer.
1841. — From Major Graham.

Chart of Cape Cod Harbour and Adjacent Coast. Reduced from
the Survey of Major J. D. Graham. Small size. — From the same.
s

160

Dr. Bache announced the death of Condy Raguet, Esq. a
member of the Society, which took place on the 22d of March,
at the age of 58; and on motion, Mr. C. C. Biddle was ap-
pointed to prepare an obituary notice of the deceased.

Prof. Kendall made an oral communication in relation to
Encke's comet.

He stated that he had succeeded in finding the comet with the
nine feet Fraunhofer equatorial of the High School Observatory, on
the evenings of the 27th, 28th and 31st of March, and 1st of April;
being the only clear evenings since the arrival of Prof. Encke's
Ephemeris. The place of the comet in the Ephemeris, according to
the observations made at the Observatory of the High School, is cor-
rect within 20" of space. On the 27th, it appeared at first at 7,
P. M., precisely in the centre of the field of view ; the equatorial
having been at sunset adjusted by the Ephemeris, and subjected to
the motion of the clockwork. On all the evenings except the 31st,
its position and distance from a known star or stars in the field, were
measured by the Fraunhofer Filarmicrometer. On the 31st, this
method was impracticable, and differences of right ascension and de-
clination were observed and measured with reference to a star from
Bessel's Zone Observations, preceding the comet by two minutes of
time. The comet appeared as a conspicuous nebula, 32" in diameter,
condensed toward the centre, without nucleus and without tail, on
the 27th and 28th; but on the 31st of March and 1st of April, it ex-
hibited a faint tail, extending about 7' of space, in position, 55°
N. E. from the declination circle, and gradually widening towards
the extremity. Prof. Kendall intended, while the comet rem
visible, to continue his observations, and, when carefully reduced, to
communicate them to the Society. I fe took occasion to acknowledge
the assistance of Messrs. Patterson, Walker and Dick.

Dr. Hare related some experiments, showing thai the vapour
of nascent steam, generated by the hydro-oxygen flame, was
not productive of electricity.

He observed that, before his late voyi rope, In- had made

some experi nta in order to ascertain whether any electricity \\as

given "ut by the flame of the hydro-oxygen blowpipe, or by the
elcnvnt-; of water during their conversion into steam.

The unexpectt d electrical results, previously ascertained respecting
high steam, naturally gave importance to this inquiry, the result of

161

which he had no previous opportunity of communicating to the
Society.

Even the flame produced by means of a very powerful hydro-
oxygen blowpipe, was not found to be productive of electrical indica-
tion, when allowed to act upon a metallic mass supported upon the
canopy of an extremely delicate electroscope. As it was suggested
that, the flame being a conductor, the electricity evolved might retro-
cede by it to the metallic pipe, the experiment was modified in the
following way: —

The mixture of one part of oxygen and two of hydrogen, being, as
in the first instance, condensed within a mercury bottle, was made, by
means of a valve cock and safety tube, to communicate, through a
glass tube, with a jet pipe of platinum, a foot in length and in bore.

The apparatus being thus arranged, and the cock so adjusted as
to allow the gaseous mixture to escape through the jet pipe with suffi-
cient celerity, a flame of hydrogen was applied to the outside of this
pipe about the middle. By these means, the temperature being raised
so as to cause the elements of water to combine, the flame was re-
moved ; the heat being sufficiently kept up by the internal combus-
tion. Thus that which entered at one end of the tube as gas, came
out at the other as steam. Under these circumstances, a single-leaf
electrometer, more susceptible than a condensing electrometer, was
not indicative of any electrical excitement, either in the insulated jet
tube, or in any body on which the steam was allowed to condense.

Dr. J. K. Mitchell having expressed a wish to see these experiments,
they were repeated, with his assistance, with the same results.

Dr. Hare also mentioned that he had observed an ethereal
liquid to subside on the addition of pure pyroxylic spirit to an
aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid, obtained by passing
chlorine into water in contact with bioxide of mercury.

Having separated the ether thus produced, he found it to have an
agreeable and peculiar fragrance. Like oil of wine, it could not be
distilled without decomposition. There was an effervescence at the
temperature of 140° F.; but the boiling point rose beyond that of a
boiling water-bath. When a naked flame was applied, the ether,
previously colourless, acquired a yellowish wine colour, and, by the
crackling evolution of vapour, indicated decomposition.

When the liquid hypochlorous acid was subjected to the process
of distillation, before the addition of the spirit, an ether resulted which

]6'2

floated on the solution, and which appeared to differ from that obtained
as first mentioned.

Dr. Hare made these observations, and those previously communi-
cated respecting the hyponitrite of methyl, by the aid of a small quan-
tity of pure pyroxylic spirit, supplied to him by his friend Dr. Ure, and
regretted that both ill health and the exhaustion of his stock of spirit
had prevented him from making further observations and experiments,
tending to decide whether the ethers obtained, as he had described,
were either or both hypochlorites, or whether mercury entered into
the composition of the heavier ether. This there was some reason
for believing; since, when boiled to dryness at a high temperature,
a reddish residuum was apparent, which being redissolved, and a
small strip of copper immersed in the resulting solution, a minute
deposition, apparently metallic, was observable.

Dr. Dunglison drew the attention of the Society to the sub-
ject of a monument to Mr. Vaughan, on which resolutions had
been passed on the occasion of Mr. Vaughan's death; where-
upon, on motion of Dr. Chapman, a Committee was appointed
to carry the resolutions into effect. Committee, Dr. Chapman,
Dr. Dunglison and Mr. Kane.

Mr. Kane reminded the Society of its pledge to appropriate
a certain sum of money for the Magnetic Observatory; where-
upon, on motion of Dr. Chapman, it was resolved that the
Committee, having charge of the subject, pay over the sum of
one hundred and ninety dollars, now in their hands, for the
use of the Magnetic Observatory.

Slated Meeting, Jljnil 15.

Present, thirty-seven members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

A letter was read from the Corporation of the University of
Cambridge, Mass., dated I lth April, 1842, acknowledging the
receipl of Vol. VIII. Pari I, of the Society's Transactions.

A letter was also read from Isaac Elliott, Esq. addressed to
Mi. Cane, enclosing an account against the Society for one

163

hundred and forty-three dollars, for services rendered by him,
and generously offering the amount thereof to the acceptance
of the Society. Whereupon, on motion of Dr. Patterson, the
donation was accepted, and it was resolved unanimously, that
the thanks of the Society be returned to Mr. Elliott for the
same.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Edited by Isaac
Hays, M.D. New Series. No. 6. 8vo. Philadelphia, April,
1842.— From the Editor.

Whirlwind Storms; with a Reply to the Objections and Strictures of
Dr. Hare. By W. C. Redfield. 8vo. — From the Author.

A New Key to the Exact Sciences. By F. Tillett. 8vo. 1824. —
From Professor Silliman.

Catalogue of the Phenogamous Plants and Trees, growing, without
Cultivation, within five miles of Yale College. 8vo. 1831. — From
the same.

The Condition of the New Haven Burying Ground. 8vo. New
Haven, 1839. — From the same.

An Essay on Matter. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1784. — From the same.

Twenty-Six Letters respecting the Revolution of America. Written
in Holland in the year 1780. By John Adams. 12mo. New
York, 1789. — From the same.

Sixth Geological Report to the General Assembly of Tennessee.
Made October, 1841. By Gerard Troost, M.D. 8vo. Nash-
ville, 1841. — From the Author.

Flora Batava, ou Figures et Descriptions de Plantes Belgiques. Par
J. Kops et F. A. W. Miquel. Parts 123 & 124. 4to. Amster-
dam, 1841. — From his Majesty, the King of the Netherlands.

Public Documents. No. 174. Second Session, Twenty-seventh
Congress. — From the Hon. G. W. Toland.

On Regimen and Longevity. By John Bell, M.D. 8vo. Phila-
delphia, 1842. — From the Author.

Mr. G. W. Smith presented some Daguerreotype portraits,
made by Mr. Cornelius by an improved process, an important
part of which was the greater polish given to the plate, and the
absence of cross lines.

164

Prof. A. D. Bache described the mode in which the self-
registering rain gauge, by Osier, employed at the Magnetic
Observatory at the Girard College, was adapted to registering
the fall of snow.

He stated that in this climate, during winters of ordinary severity,
if a record of the fall of snow were not kept on the same plan with
that of the quantity of rain, a very considerable hiatus would be
caused in a year's observations. In Osier's self- registering rain
gauge, the water is conducted by a pipe from the funnel of the gauge
to the reservoir in which it is weighed. To adapt this apparatus to
register the rate of fall of snow, it is only necessary to keep the tem-
perature of the funnel and connecting tube a little above that of the
freezing point of water.

Prof. Bache further stated, that an arrangement for this purpose
had been made under his direction, by Mr. S. W. Hall, Assistant at
the Magnetic Observatory, which had proved completely successful.
The funnel of the gauge was surrounded by a metallic casing, con-
nected by a pipe, covered with a bad conductor of heat, to a small
boiler, placed upon the stove which warmed the Observatory. The
boiler being once supplied with water, the steam rising from it kept
the funnel moderately warm; and being entirely condensed in the
pipe and casing, the water returned to the boiler. If no leak occur-
red in the apparatus, no additional supply of water was necessary.

Mr. Walker communicated to the Society the principal
points of Mr. Simeon Borden's Reply to the Criticism of Mr.
F. R. Hassler, on the Massachusetts Survey, as reported upon
in the Proceedings of the Society, Vol. II. No. IS, p. 59.

The criticisms of Mr. Hassler arc alluded to in the Pro-
ceedings, No. 19. page 98, and may be briefly stated as fol-
lows: —

1. The phrase Chronometric Survey is inapplicable.

'J. The Massachusetts Survey Bhoold have been stated to t><- begun in 1824

instead of I-:: I
:'.. Tin- Survey is incomplete till tin- soundings have been taken.
1. A sextant of •! inches radius is unfit tor use in a trigonometric survey.

.".. 'I'iie phrase rrrtiral triangles, in No. I~, |>. 60, .it bottom, is improper!
6 Mi Hi lei objects to the mode of deducing the value of a degree of the

meridian from differences of latitude, obtained by the use of a l inch

sextant., in the table, page ''1 ,
'. '1 in' rejection of the four results, stated on pi nsidered by Mr.

II ble to the work, being what is called "cooking."

165

8. Mr. Hassler is at a loss for the meaning of the words " arithmetical progres-

sion," in p. 62.

9. The method of obtaining the value of a degree, perpendicular to the me-

ridian, by the convergency of the meridians, is objected to as being
above the compass of the instruments in use by Mr. Borden, and as be-
ing too general in its conclusions, from a survey on so small a scale.

10. " Chronometric determinations," p. 62, are insufficient for the purpose of

ascertaining the value of a degree perpendicular to the meridian.

11. Mountain attraction is not observable by the instruments used by Mr.

Borden.

12. Mr. Hassler prefers the adoption of Bessel's elements of the spheroid,

deduced from a discussion of all the trigonometric surveys yet made,
instead of those derived from a survey on so small a scale, even with
the best instruments.

13. Mr. Borden's ellipticity, 1-345, is adduced as confirming the 12th ob-

jection.

14. The latitude of Boston State House, p. 64, is uncertain, as having no other

basis than sextant observations.

15. Are the altitudes, p. 65, single altitudes or series ?

16. Mr. H. objects to the comparison of the single results in the table of lati-

tudes, p. 65, and recommends the reduction of Mr. Paine's observa-
tions, (if they are used at all,) according to their situation and proximity
to two points, at the greatest interval apart, or two points, situated so
near the extremes of the survey as to receive all the observations with
the least possible reduction, so as to obtain the most plausible ultimate
mean for comparison with the trigonometric operations.

17. Mr. H. thinks that the discrepancies in p. 66, are sufficient ground for re-

jecting " chronometric determinations," and considers their inadequacy
as an established point in Geodesy.

18. The actual topography is imperfect, the Township Surveys never having

been completed with sufficient minuteness. Mr. H. also objects to the
use of the " camera lucida" for purposes of topography.

19. The expense of the Massachusetts Survey should not have been stated —

not being a subject of scientific interest.

Mr. Walker stated, on behalf of the Committee whose report on Messrs.
Borden and Paine's labours had been made the subject of criticism by the
Superintendent of the Coast Survey, that, previous to the drawing up of the
report, a comparison had been made of Borden's spheroidal elements with
Bessel's values, contained in the 333d No. of Schumacher's Astronomische
Nachrichten; and that the agreement had been considered sufficiently close,
to sanction the publication of Mr. Borden's results in their original state, as
affording an illustration of the degree of success and precision attainable in a
survey on a small scale like that of Massachusetts, — with instruments of small
compass — conducted with great economy and despatch, — and finally reduced
by spheroidal elements indigenous to the survey.

Mr. W. was by no means the advocate of cheapening science, or of the use of
inferior instruments in the public service, nor would he have advised the choice
of such instruments as were used in determining the latitudes and azimuths in

166

the Massachusetts Survey. He deemed it his duty, however, to say that the
observers. Messrs. Borden and Paine, had made amends for the inferiority of
their instruments by the application of extraordinary tact and skill, and had
produced a survey adequate for all the purposes originally contemplated by
the Legislature of Massachusetts. The discrepancies between the astronomi-
cal and topographical results in the tables referred to by Mr. Hassler, except
for the stations of Piltsfield and Williamstown, are not much greater than
those %vhich the European surveys present. And the close agreement of the
value of the degree perpendicular to the meridian, obtained by chronometric
differences of longitude, with the most approved values of this element, shows
that these instruments may be employed as an important auxiliary of a trigo-
nometric survey. Indeed, from a comparison of the final results, for this small
survey, (more extensive, however, than any other yet made, as far as regards
the use of chronometers.) it must be manifest to any one that an extension of
a similar comparison of chronometric and trigonometric results over the entire
surface of the United States, besides furnishing all the requisites for topogra-
phy, would form a valuable contribution to science, and perhaps go far to
settle the question, how far the shape of the surface of this portion of the
western continent conforms to the measures of the eastern. Mr. Borden had
omitted no expedient for obviating the errors of the eccentricity of his repeat-
ing circle, and his complete success maybe inferred from the fact that the sides
of twenty miles length, derived from the original base by different series of tri-
angles, conformed together within three feet on the average, and never differed
more than five feet.

Mr. Walker stated that he differed in opinion from Mr. Hassler, in refer-
ence to the precision of the latitudes furnished from sextant observations by
Mr. Paine. The 8J inch sextant by Troughton was a choice instrument of its
kind, and though absolute angles could not be measured by it without an
error of perhaps 6", yet, this error disappears, by observing, as in Mr. Paine's
case, north and south stars of the same altitude on the same evening. Thero
is not any necessary error outstanding, but that of the star catalogues. The
others may vanish in the mean of a great number of observations. The same
method was used with eastern and western altitudes for rating his chronome-
ters; and being all executed by himself, there was no personal equation neces-
sarily outstanding. It is to this compensation of small errors in the mean
result that Messrs. Paine and Borden are indebted for the close agreement,
(quite unexpected even by themselves,) of their Bpheroidal elements, derived
from so small a survey, with the standard values of those elements derived
from European triangulations. Mr. W. remarked that the publication of the
statistics of the expense of the survey was useful to others, who contemplate
similar undertakings, and had its example in the Transactions of other Aca-
demies.

Mi. \V. then proceeded to notice Mr. Borden's answer to
Mr. Ilasslcr's objections to the Massachusetts Survey.

1. Any reader will understand the phrase •• Chronometric Survey

■J. The A et of the Legislature ordering the Maasachuaetta Survey was
paaeed in Man b, 1830.

167

3. The soundings are expected to be furnished by the Coast Survey.

4. The fine Troughton sextant used by Mr. Paine is 8J inches in radius.

5. In computations relative to three-sided figures in the vertical, the phrase

"vertical triangles" is not objectionable.

6. Will be answered in the sequel.

7. All the results are stated. Cooking, on the contrary, consists in sup-

pressing unfavourable results, or altering the immediate data of instru-
ments; not in rejecting results that differ too much from the mean.

8. Mr. B. refers to Mr. Hassler's Arithmetic, 8th edition, pages 127 and 128.

9. Mr. B. admits the difficulty of determining the value of a degree perpen-

dicular to the meridian from the convergency of the meridians in low
latitudes. He should not have adopted his result, had it differed much
from that of the chronometers.

10. Mr. B refers to the tables of comparison.

11. Mr. B. finds the average discrepancy between Mr. Paine's and the trigo-

nometric results to be only about Os.4 in time, omitting Pittsfield and
Williamstown, where they amount respectively to 2s.O and ls.3, and too
far exceed the mean to be ascribed to errors of observation. They
are also in the right direction to indicate an attraction of the plumb line
towards the stations, which are on the west side of a mountain, 2000
feet high, and 20 miles broad.

12 & 13. Mr. B. refers to the results derived from the use of Bessel's ele-
ments of the spheroid, which do not exhibit any important discrepancy.
Mr. Borden's elements, derived from the Massachusetts Survey, cor-
respond with Bessel's almost as closely as it is possible to compare two
scales together.

14 & 15. Mr. Borden refers to Mr. Paine's Report, from which it appears that
the numbers on p. 65 refer to single readings.

16. Mr. Borden prefers the method used by himself; inasmuch as his results

are obtained from the elements of the survey alone, without any " a
priori" supposition respecting the dimensions of the spheroid, which
Mr. Hassler's method requires.

17. Mr. B. leaves the chronometric comparisons to speak for themselves.

18. Mr. Borden admits that many of the Township Surveys were imperfect.

The "camera lucida" was not used by Mr. B. for topographical pur-
poses— had never before heard the instrument mentioned in connexion
with topography.

19. The statement of the cost of the Survey was furnished by Mr. Borden, in

answer to the inquiries of the Committee, and is derived from the do-
cuments on file in the Department of State.
Mr. Borden, having thus noticed Mr. Hassler's objections, proceeds to
remark, that it was to him a source of regret that better instruments had not
at first been procured by the State, — that they would have been productive of
greater economy, dispatch and confidence in the precision of the results. His
aim, however, had been to attain the greatest possible precision which the in-
struments permitted, and he had submitted the results to the Society as nearly
in their original form as was possible in a brief notice. He could not but
hope that the work would soon be further tested by the extension and pro-
gress of the Coast Survey.
T

168

Comparison of Bessel's elements of the spheroid, from the mean often sur-
veys hitherto executed (See Astr. Nachr. No. 333), with those derived by Mr.
Borden from his triangulation, combined with Mr. Paine's differences of lati-
tude and longitude.

ELEMENTS.

Equatorial radius in English feet,
„ „ miles,

Semi-polar axis ,, feet,

„ „ miles,

Degree of meridian for middle lati- >
tude,42° 21' 30" in feet. $

Degree perpendicular to meridian, do.

Degree of the parallel, do.

Latitude of southernmost point, ^

.Nantucket, )

Latitude of northernmost point, )

Ncwburyport, $

Values from

Bessel's

Elements.

2092281 1.G40
3962.653

20853232.370
3949.476

364393.550

365723.230
270249.750

41° 16 57^02
42 48 3L98

Borden's Values
from the
hosetts

Survey.

Dis-
crepancy.

20914728.000

3961.123

1.53

20854128.000

3949.646

0.17

364356.000

37.55

365511.330

212.10

270092.120

157.63

41° 16 56'62

0.40

42 48 32'!l5

0.17

169

The comparison of Mr. Paine's differences of longitude by chronometers,
with those of the triangulation, reduced respectively by Bessel's and Borden's
elements of the spheroid, gives the following results for the several stations,
referred to the Boston State House.

Paine,

Borden,

No.

Station.

West of Borden,

West of Bessel,

in time.

in time.

S.

S

1

Boston,

0.00

0.00

2

Amherst,

+ 0.49

+ 0.20

3

Barnstable,

+ 0.15

— 0.11

4

Cambridge,

+ 0 62

+ 0.01

5

Dedham,

— 0.67

+ 0.02

6

Greenfield,

+ 0.31

+ 0.21

7

Gloucester,

+ 0.13

— 0.05

8

Holmes' Hole,

+ 0.01

— 0.06

9

Lowell,

— 0.32

+ 0.03

10

Monomoy,

+ 0.61

— 0.15

11

Nantucket,

— 0.11

— 0.13

12

New Bedford,

+ 0.33

— 0.02

13

Newburyport,

+ 0.39

— 0.03

14

Northampton,

+ 0.40

+ 022

15

Pittsfield,

+ 1.93

+ 0.31

16

Plymouth,

+ 0.56

— 0.06

17

Providence,

+ 0.91

+ 0.05

18

Salem,

+ 0.24

— 0.02

19

Sandwich,

+ 0.92

— 0.08

20

Springfield,

+ 0.15

+ 0.21

21

Taunton,

+ 0.63

+ 0.00

22

Truro,

+ 0.89

— 0.14

23

Williamstown,

+ 1.28

+ 0.30

24

Worcester,

+ 019

— 0.10

25

Squam,

— 0.29

— 0.05

26

Thatcher's Island,

— 0.27

— 0.07

27

Eastern Point,

+ 0.13

— 0.05

28

Baker's Island,

+ 0.57

— 0.04

170

In consequence of the remark of Mr. Hassler, that differences of longitude,
obtained by the transportation of chronometers, do not possess the requisite
precision for determining the elements for the reduction of the trianrrulntion,
and are consequently unfit for geodetic purposes, Mr. Borden was induced to
compare the results derived from all the chronometric differences of longi-
tudes, with Bessel's mean result from the ten trigonometric surveys hitherto
executed. For this purpose, having ascertained that the convergency of the
meridians derived from the Massachusetts survey was sufficiently precise,
since a change of -f- 2."78 would fit them to Bessel's elements, he proceeds,
through the medium of this convergency, to compute the value of the degree
perpendicular to the meridian for the latitude of the State House, Boston,
42° 21' 30", by means of Mr. Paine's longitudes of those of the principal sta-
tions (Nantucket excepted) which were obtained directly from the State
House, omitting intermediate stations not directly compared with the Slate
House, and using relative weights proportionate to the polar angle.

No.

Stations compared.

Degree perpen-
dicular to me- Relative weight,
ridian in feet.

Product in feet.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Boston and Northainpton,
„ Springfield,
,, Greenfield,
„ Worcester,
„ Barnstable,
„ Gloucester,
,, Monomoy,
,, Plymouth,
,, Truro,
,, Nantucket,

D

365119
365356
365198
365904
365804
365991
366382
367653
3 6897
365329

w

1.00
0.97
0.98
0.47
048
055
0.68
0.25
0.64
0.62

DX W

365119
354395
357894
171976
175586

91498
249140

91913
23481 I
226504

Aggregate, 6.34 2318839

Paine's mean value, 365747
Bessel's do. :iip.")?23

Discrepancy in feet, 24

By comparing one of the stations, viz. Nantucket, with New Bedford, with
\ hich it was actually compared by Mr. Paine, the tenth result becomes 364690,
with a weight 0.52. This substituted for No. 10 in the table, gives the mean
result, 365701, which falls below that of Bessel as much, nearly, as the former
exceeds it, and is preferred by Mr. Bcrden.

The conclusion from this examination is, that chronometric com*
parisons do afford the means of determining one of the elements of

the reduction of a trigonometric survey, viz. the value- <>f a decree
perpendicular t<> the meridian, and that, too, with a degree of uni-
formity f|iut' too ''pat to be the result of a happy accident.

171

Dr. Patterson, from the Committees severally appointed to
negotiate for the sale of the Society's Hall and for the purchase
of the Museum property, and to take charge of the new build-
ing, &c. presented reports from each Committee, the conside-
ration of which was postponed to a special meeting, to be held
on the 29th of April next.

The following gentlemen were elected members of the
Society: —

Stephen Endlicher, of Vienna.

D. Humphreys Storer, M.D., of Boston.

Simeon Borden, of Boston.

Special Meeting, Jipril 29.

Present, forty-four members.

Dr. Patterson, Vice-President, in the Chair.

The reports, postponed for consideration at this meeting,
were taken up, and referred to a special Committee, to report
to the Society thereon, and on the whole subject to which they
relate. Committee, Mr. G. M. Wharton, Mr. G. W. Smith,
Mr. Breck, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Fisher.

PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Vol. II. MAY, JUNE & JULY, 1842. No. 22.

Stated Meeting, May 6.

Present, thirty-seven members.

Dr. Chapman, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Mr. Nicollet, a member elect, was presented to the presiding
officer, and signed the Laws.

Letters were read: —

From the Academy of Sciences of Paris, dated 11th Oct.
1841, — the Museum of Natural History of Paris, dated 16th
Nov. 1841, — the Royal Institution of London, dated 29th Nov.
1841, and 22d Jan. 1842, — the Geological Society, dated 20th
Jan. 1842, — the Zoological Society, dated 14th Jan. 1842, — the
Linnean Society, dated 20th Jan. 1842, — the Society of Arts
of London, dated 22d Jan. 1842, — the Boston Natural History
Society, dated 6th April, 1842,— the Lyceum of Natural His-
tory of New York, dated 12th April, 1842, severally acknow-
ledging the receipt of copies of the Society's Transactions and
Proceedings: —

From the Museum of Natural History of Paris, dated 28th
Feb. 1842, in relation to the transmission to tHs Society of the
Archives of the Museum: —

From the London Electrical Society, dated 31st Dec. 1841,
stating that Part III. of their Proceedings had been forwarded
to this Society: —

From Mr. Samuel Bailey, dated Sheffield, 15th Dec. 1841,
presenting a copy of his treatise on Berkley's Theory of Vi-
sion : —

From Messrs. R. Murchison and Edward Sabine, General

174

Secretaries of the British Association, dated 12th Feb. 1842,
requesting to be informed whether any members of this Society-
would attend the annual meeting of the Association in June
next: —

From Mr. William Vaughan, of London, dated 5th March,
1S42, relating to a parcel forwarded on behalf of the Linnean
Society: — and

From Dr. D. Humpreys Storer, dated 24th April, 1842, and
Mr. Simeon Borden, dated 25th April, 1842, severally ac-
knowledging the honour done them by their election as mem-
bers of the Society.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Proceedings of the Royal Astronomical Society of London. Vol. V.

Nos. 19 & 20. 8vo. London, 1842.— .From the Society.
Twenty-fifth Annual Report of the Superintending Committee of the

London Provident Institution. 8vo. London, 1841. — From Mr

William Vaughan.
A Review of Berkley's Theory of Vision, designed to show the Un

soundness of that Celebrated Speculation. By Samuel Bailey

8vo. London, 1842. — From the Author.
The American Medical Library and Intelligencer. By Robley Dun

glison, M.D. New Series. Vol. I. No 9. For March. 8vo

Philadelphia, 1842. — From the Editor.
Manners and Household Expenses of England in the Thirteenth and

Fifteenth Centuries. By Bcriah Botfield, Esq. 4to. London,

1841. — From the Author.
The Manuscript Rarities of the University of Cambridge. By James

Orchard I Ialliwdl, Esq. 8vo. London, 1841. — From the Au-
thor.
The Character of Sir John FalstafT. By James Orchard Halliwell,

Esq. 12mo. London, 1841. — From the Author.
List of Members of t hi ■ Royal Society. 30th November, 1841. 4to.

London, 1841. — From the Society,
The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London. Vol.

XI. I'art 1. 8vo. Lom! l-ll. — From the Society.

Prooeedioga of the London Electrical Society. Session 1841-3.

8vo. London, L841. — From tin Society.
Fifty-fifth Annual Report of tli<> Regents of the University of the

175

State of New York. Made to the Legislature, March 1, 1842.
8vo. Albany, 1842. — From the Regents.

Jahrbucher der Literatur. Nos. 93 to 96 inclusive. 8vo. 1841. —
From the Baron von Hammer Purgstall.

On a New Magnetic Instrument for the Measurement of the Inclina-
tion and its Changes. By the Rev. Humphrey Lloyd. 8vo.
Dublin, 1842. — From the Author.

Ueber den Galvanismus als chemisches Heilmittel gegen ortliche
Krankheiten, von Dr. Gustav Crusell. Mit einem Schreiben von
M. Markus. 8vo. St. Petersburg, 1841. — From the Author.

Memoires de l'Academie Imperiale des Sciences de Saint Peters-
bourg. VIme. Serie. Premiere Partie, Sciences Mathematiques
et Physiques. Vol. II. Parts 5 & 6. 4to. St. Petersburg, 1840.
From the Academy.

Memoires de l'Academie, &c. Seconde Partie, Sciences Naturelles.
Vol. III. Parts 5 & 6, & Vol. IV. Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. 4to.
St. Petersburg, 1840-41. — From the same.

Memoires de l'Academie, &c. Sciences Politique, Histoire et Phi-
lologie. Vol. IV. Part 6, & Vol. V. Parts 1, 2, 3 & 4. 4to.
St. Petersburg, 1840-41. — From the same.

Memoires de l'Academie, &c. Memoires par Divers Savans, et lus
dans ses Assemblies. Vol. IV. Parts 3 & 4. 4to. St. Peters-
burg, 1841. — From the same.

Recueil des Actes de la Seance Publique de l'Academie Imperiale des
Sciences de Saint Petersbourg, tenue le 29 Decembre, 1840. 4to.
St. Petersburg, 1841. — From the same.

Institut Royal de France. Rapport du Secretaire Perpetuel de l'Aca-
demie Royale des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres, etc. Lu le 14
Janvier, 1841. Paris, 1841. — From the Institute.

Tijdschrift voor Natuurlijke Geschiedenis en Physiologic Uitgege-
ven door J. Van der Hoeven en W. H. de Vriese. Vol. IX. Part
1. 8vo. Leyden, 1841. — From the Editors.

Case, and Opinion of P. S. Du Ponceau and A. Davezac, Counsellors,
on the Contested Seat of the Hon. David Levy. 8vo. Alexan-
dria, D. C, 1841. — From Mr. Du Ponceau.

FOR THE CABINET.

Specimens of Wood taken from a beam out of the Ruins of Uxmal,
Central America. This wood is derived from a tree called zapo-
dillo, and is said by the natives to be insusceptible of decay. —
From Mr. James MlKennan.

176

A Specimen of Sponge, and Nineteen Specimens of Shells, from Cen-
tral America. — From the same.

Prof. Bache read a paper, entitled " Observations of the
Magnetic Dip in the United States, Fourth Series, by Elias
Loomis, Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in
Western Reserve College, Ohio," which was referred to a
Committee.

Professor Loomis begins this paper by giving the results of further
experiments to test the accuracy of the axle of his dipping needle,
namely, a series made by Mayer's method; these proved satisfactory,
the individual results presenting some discrepancies, but the mean
agreeing very nearly with the dip previously obtained. The mean of
observations hitherto made with this needle by the usual method, and
by the series in different azimuths and by Mayer's method combined,
differed but 0.1', correction having been made to reduce the observa-
tions to the same epoch.

Prof. Loomis then gives the magnetic dip observed by the ordinary
method at the following named places, as follows:

Brooklyn, Ohio, April 23, 1841, lat. 41° 30' N., long. 81° 43' W.,
Dip 73° 16'.3.

Tallmadge, Ohio, April 26, lat. 41° 06' N., long. 81° 27' W.,
Dip 72° 55'.2.

Tallmadge, Ohio, Oct. 13, lat. 41° 06' N., long. 81° 27' W.,
Dip 72° 51 .5.

Cleveland, Ohio, August 12, lat. 41° 30' N., long. 81° 41' W.,
Dip 73° 04'.3.

Monroe, Michigan, Aug. 14, lat. 41° 55' N., long. 82° 28' W.,
Dip 73° 19'.0.

Ypsilanti, Michigan, August 16, lat. 42° 14' N., long 83° 38' W.,
Dip 73° 18'.8.

Ann Arbor, Michigan, Aug. 16, lat. 42° 18' N., long. 83° 45' W.,
Dip 73° 16 V..

JMroit, Michigan, Aug, 17, lat. 42° 19' N., long. 83° 03' W.,
Dip (mean of four series at three stations) 73° 35'. 3.

M.ckinac, Michigan, Aug. 21, lat. 45° 51' N., long. 84° 41' W.,
Dip (mean of four series ;it tun stations) 76° 38'. 9.

Fort Brady, Michigan, Aug. 25 & 27, lat. 46° 30' N., long. 84°
24' W., Dip (moan of three series nt three st.-itimis) 77° 29'.7.

Cms Cap, Canada, Aug. 26, lat. 46° 32' N., long. 84° 43' W.,
Dip 77° 05'.8.

177

South Manitou, Michigan, Aug. 31, lat. 45° 05' N., long. 85° 38'
W., Dip 75° 59.3.

Chicago, Illinois, September 2, lat. 41° 53' N., long. 67° 44' W.,
Dip (mean of two series at two stations) 72° 47'.7.

Galena, Illinois, September 4, lat. 42° 28' N., long. 90° 13' W.,
Dip (mean of two series at two stations) 73° 02'. 1.

Galena, Illinois, September 13, lat. 42° 28' N., long. 90° 13' W.,
Dip 73° 03.0.

Mineral Point, Wisconsin, Sept. 6, lat. 42° 51' N., long. 89° 58'
W., Dip 73° 23.2.

Mineral Point, Wisconsin, Sept. 10, lat. 42° 51 N., long. 89° 58'
W., Dip 73° 23.0.

Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, Sept. 7, lat. 43° 00' N., long. 89° 36'
W., Dip 73° 34'.9.

Madison, Wisconsin. Sept. 8, lat. 43° 03' N., long. 89° 11' W., Dip
(mean of two series at two stations) 74° 06'.5.

Campbell's, Wisconsin, Sept. 9, lat. 43° 01' N., long. 89° 26' W.,
Dip 73° 28'.1.

Hickok's, Wisconsin, Sept. 9, lat. 42° 58' N., long. 89° 47' W.,
Dip 73° 39'.5.

Platteville, Wisconsin, Sept. 11, lat. 42° 43' N., long. 90° 14' W.,
Dip (two series at two stations) 73° 17'. 4.

Peru, Illinois, Sept. 16, lat. 41° 23' N., long. 89° 05' W., Dip
(two series at two stations) 71° 51 '.1.

Pekin, Illinois, Sept. 18, lat. 40° 35' N., long. 89° 36' W., Dip
71° 13.2.

Copperas Creek, Illinois, Sept. 18, lat. 40° 30' N., long. 89° 48'
W., Dip 71° 04'.0.

Alton, Illinois, Sept. 22, lat. 38° 54' N., long. 90° 04' W., Dip
(two series, at two stations) 69° 34'.8.

Upper Alton, Illinois, Sept. 22, lat. 38° 55' N., long. 90° 03' W.,
Dip (two series, at two stations) 69° 45'. 7.

Edwardsville, Illinois, Sept. 23, lat. 38° 50' N., long. 89° 53' W.,
Dip 69° 57'.7.

Bunker Hill, Illinois, Sept. 24, lat. 39° 04' N., long. 89° 53' W.,
Dip 69° 49'.1.

Monticello, Illinois, Sept. 25, lat. 38° 57' N., long. 90° 05' W.,
Dip 69° 38'.9.

St. Louis, Missouri, Sept. 29, lat. 38° 38' N., long. 90° 04' W.,
Dip 69° 25'.5.

178

Vincennes, Indiana, October 1, lat. 38° 43' N., long. 87° 29' W.,
Dip (two series, at two stations) 69° 52 '.8.

Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 5, lat. 39° 06' N., long. 84° 27' YV\, Dip
70° 27.7.

Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 7, lat. 39° 57' N., long. 83° 03' W., Dip
71° 03.7.

Hebron, Ohio, Oct. 8, lat. 39° 59' N., long. 82° 29' W., Dip
(two stations) 71° 10. 1.

Frazersburgh, Ohio, Oct. 9, lat. 40° 09' N., long. 82° 08' W.,
Dip (two stations) 71° 48'.7.

Dover, Ohio, Oct. 11, lat. 40° 33' N., long. 81° 30' W., Dip
72° 19' .2.

Fulton, Ohio, Oct. 12, lat. 40° 55' N., long. 81° 38' W., Dip
72° 38'.9.

Clinton, Ohio, Oct. 12, lat. 40° 58' N., long. 81° 40' W.. Dip
72° 44'.0.

Hudson, Ohio, Oct. 27, lat. 41° 15' N., long. 81° 27' W., Dip
72° 4b'.7.

Hudson, Ohio, November 13, lat. 41° 15' N., long. 81c 27' W.,
Dip 72° 48'.7.

Prof. Bache also read a note by Prof. Loomis, as a supple-
ment to his paper on the Storm of December 20, 1S36, which
was referred to a Committee.

These supplementary meteorological observations include the
height of the barometer, and are from the journals of Mr. J. N.
Nicollet, at Fort Snelling, lat. 44° 53' N. and long. 93° 12' W., and
of P. of. Joseph Ray, at Cincinnati. They are important, as showing
that the coincidence of the period of minimum of the barometer and
of the change of wind to the N. W. was not general, and lead to
an increased curvature in the lines of barometric minimum in the
north-western part of the United States. The conclusion which Pro-
fessor Loomis draws is, that " the atmospheric wave in latitude 45°
travelled with warly twice the velocity it did in latitude 30°. The
entire range of the barometer at Fort Snelling, was .67 inch, about
half what it was in longitude 72° in the same parallel. At the same
rate, the oscillation would be reduced to about one-third of an inch in
the neighbourhood of the Rocky Mountains."

Mr. Walker read a paper, entitled " Astronomical Observa-
tions made at various Places in the United States, by J- N.
Nicollet," which was referred to a Committee.

179

This paper contains a list of Observed Transits of Mercury, Solar
Eclipses, and Occultations of fixed Stars, chiefly by Mr. Nicollet and
Prof. Verot.

-

Date.

«;

1824.

1

June 26

2

„ 26

1832.

3

May 4

4

» 4

5

» 4

6

July 7

7

„ 26

8

n 26

9

„ 26

10

„ 26

11

Nov. 28

1834.

12

Mar. 12

13

Sept. 14

14

Nov. 9

15

„ 30

16

„ 30

17

» 30

18

„ 30

1ft

„ 30

20

„ 30

1835.

21

May 3

22

Nov. 7

23

» 7

1836.

24

May 14

2o

„ 14

1838.

26

June 30

27

Sept 18

38

„ 18

2'J

„ 18

30

» 18

31

„ 18

32

„ 18

33

» 18

34

„ 18

1839.

35

July 6

3G

Nov. 20

1841.

37

June 5

Phase.

Begin, solar eel.
End

Em. Merc. I. L.
,, centre
„ II. L.

Im.y Libreed.l.

Begin, solar eel.

End

Begin.

End

Im.y Capri, d. 1.

Im. r Piscium
Im. -^ Capricorni
Im. y Aquarii
Begin, solar eel.
End „

Begin. „
Begin, tot. dark.
End „

End solar eel.

Im. 4 Geminor.

Em. Merc. cent.

ILL.

Begin, solar eel.
End „

Im. a, Virginia
Begin, solar eel.
Form, ring ,,
Rupt.ring „
End „

Begin. „

End „

Begin. „

End „

Em. » Tauri
Im. „

Im. <r Sagittarii

Place.

Fort Charlotte

St. Mary's College
Baltimore

Milledgeville, Ga.

Baltimore

Red Pipe Stone Quarry
Baltimore

TiTankaTaminan

Lake
Newport, Mo.

Coteau du Missouri
St. Louis

Newport, Mo.

Mean Time.

h. m. s.

6 7 1.00

7 13 19.20

22 28
22 29
22 30
10 0
18 47
20 31
18 47
20 31
6 12

37.20
33.90
46.60
4.63
35.95
48.05
48.95
35.07
10.25

7 26 50.00

8 13 41.00
5 43 0.00
0 51 58.80
3 31 31.20

0 15 7.00

1 42 36.70
1 43 52.00
3 5 28.10

10 27 45.00
0 27 12.00

0 28 8.00

*18 53 45.00
*21 19 32.00

10 43 7.28

3 7 22.00

4 25 33.00

4 30 54.00

5 40 41.00
Notobserv'd

4 18 6.85

1 53 16.77
4 40 42.22

15 49 35.50

6 12 14.70

15 40 7.94

Observer.

Ferguson.

Nicollet.

Verot

Nicollet.

Verot.

Nicol'et.

Verot

Nicollet.
Verot.

Nicollet.

>>
Goebel.

»

Nicollet.
>»

Goebel.

* Nos. 24 and 25 are clock time, the rest are mean time of the place of
observation.

180

Nos. 1 & 2, by Mr. James Ferguson, Astronomer to the American Commis-
sion for determining the Northern Boundary. Dollond, 2J feet,
power 60. Latitude 473 58' 34"; long. oh. 59m 58s.O West of Green-
wich.

Nos. 3 — 5, by Mr. Nicollet, at St. Mary's College, Baltimore. Lat 39= 17'
55" ; long. 5A Gm 30s. Dollond, p. 100. Nos. 4 & 5, very correct.
Time recorded by the Rev. Mr. A. Verot, Professor of Mathematics
and Natural Philosophy, in St. Mary's College.

Nos. 6 — 11, good observations. No. 7, with power 75; No. 8, power 100;
Nos. 9 & 10, power 30. Time noted by Professor Ducatel; No. 11,
power 100.

Nos. 17—19, by Mr. Nicollet, at Milledgeville State House- Senate Hall.
Lat. 33° 4' 30" ; long. 5A 33m 20s. The telescope was procured by
Mr. Nicollet of Dr. Milton Antony. Mr. Nicollet was assisted by
Drs. Dugas and Ford, of the Medical College of Augusta.

Nos. 24 & 25, time by chron. Therm. 55°,

7h 5m 9s, by obs. sun's centre alt. 25° 42' 32. "7.
8 39 39 43 52 35.1.

Correction of index error additive 15" to sun's alt.

No. 26, by Mr. Nicollet, at the " Red Pipe Stone Quan-y," on the " Coteau
des Prairies," Sioux Indian Country, Iowa Territory. Latitude 44°
0" 52"; long. 6A 25m 17s ; assisted by Lieut. Charles Tremont, of the
U. S. Topographical Engineers.

No. 32, by Mr. Nicollet, power 100, Dollond, clear sky, on the east shore of
Ti Tanka Taminan Lake, Lahontan River, Sioux Country, Iowa
Territory. Lat. 44° 16' 41" ; long. 6A 13m 23.s0.

Nos. 33 & 34, by Dr. Goebel, at his residence near Newport, Franklin Coun-
ty, Missouri, power 40. Lat. 38° 33' 58" ; long. 6A 4m 28 s6.

No. 35, by Mr. Nicollet, at his encampment on the " Coteau du Missouri,"
Tanktonan Indian Country. Lat. 44° 51' 11" ; long, ti/i 30m 18s.

No. 36, by Mr. Nicollet, at the garden of the Cathedral, St. Louis, Missouri.
Lat. 38° 37' 28" ; long. 6/t lm 0.s7.

Prof. Bache read a communication from Lieut. J. M. Gilliss,
U. S. N., director of the Magnetic Observatory at Washington,
containing a description of the Observatory and of the declina-
tion instrument, with the means of the observations for 1840,
at the different magnetic hours. This communication was re-
ferred to a Committee.

Dr. Hare communicated orally an experiment, showing that
foggy air is not a conductor of electricity.

!!<■ adverted to the well known influence of moisture in paralyzing
the efficacy of electrical apparatus. When the dew point is so high
as to deposite moisture on the walls within doors, the most powerful
machines were found Incompetenl to generate electrical excitement

Dr. J. K. Mitchell having expressed the opinion, founded on some

181

facts by him noticed, that this deterioration was not the consequence
of the direct conducting power of the mixture of air and aqueous va-
pour, within which the apparatus was situated, but of the adjacent
solid surfaces thereby moistened, Dr. Hare determined to ascertain
by experiment, whether the view taken by Dr. Mitchell was correct,
being the more encouraged to expect an affirmative issue, from the co-
pious evolution of electricity which had been recently ascertained to
take place during the condensation of high steam.

Dr. Hare proceeded to describe his experiment. A cup of hot wa-
ter, to supply vapour, was placed within a large bell glass, having an
open neck of above three inches in diameter; so that the centre of the
neck might be immediately under the positive conductor of a large
electrical machine. A knob, communicating with the negative con-
ductor, was supported in the centre of the bell glass. Next a red-hot
rod of iron, terminating in a knob, was suspended by a wire from the
positive conductor, so as to descend, concentrically, through the neck,
until within striking distance of the knob above mentioned.

It will be perceived that, in consequence of the high temperature of
the rod, and the heat radiating from it to the neck of the bell glass,
no moisture could condense upon either, so as to impair the power of
the former to give sparks, or of the latter to act as a non-conductor.

The apparatus being thus prepared, and the machine in operation,
sparks were found to pass through the foggy air occupying the cavity
of the bell glass, as if no moisture had been present.

Dr. Hare conceived that the fact that the aqueous vapour does not
impair the insulating power of air, must justify some important me-
teorological inferences. It was well known that pith balls and other
light bodies separate when under the effect of electrical excitement,
and it had been justly assumed that the circumambient air must be
similarly affected. Thus, when, by its condensation, aqueous vapour
evolves electricity, as it does not destroy the insulating power of the
air, the aerial particles must be surcharged with that fluid. But, since
charging with electricity must cause, in those particles, a disposition to
remove from each other to a greater distance, the air must occupy a
greater bulk, in proportion as it is more highly charged : in other
words, it must be rarefied, and rendered specifically lighter. Hence
it will rise to a greater elevation than its temperature, unassisted by
electrical reaction, would enable it to reach. It -follows that a sudden
discharge of electricity, such as is productive of lightning, by causing
a sudden augmentation of gravity, may induce a descent of the mass
x

182

of aeriform matter aDd moisture thus discharged. Hence might arise
the squalls which accompany electrical storms.

Moreover, large masses of moist air, being thus rendered pretema-
turally light by electrical excitement, may be made to rise to a situa-
tion sufficiently cold to cause the congelation of their moisture; and a
simultaneous discharge of electricity ensuing, by a species of reaction
the aqueous particles may tend to coalesce with an accelerated force,
acting oppositely to that by which they had been kept unduly asun-
der, and thus be aggregated into the lumps of ice called hail.

In many cases, a reciprocal action between thunder clouds had
been noticed, and had been explained by supposing them to be differ-
ently electrified. This supposition was rendered now reasonable by
the fact that, perse, moisture does not destroy the insulating property
of air, as demonstrated by the experiment described in the commence-
ment of this communication.

Dr. Hare made a further oral communication, in relation to
the fusibility of iridium and rhodium.

He stated his impression that neither iridium nor rhodium, two of
the metals accompanying the native grains of platinum, had hereto-
fore been fairly fused. By the colossal battery of Children, a globule
of fused iridium is alleged to have been obtained; but both the admit-
ted porosity and specific gravity of that specimen furnished objections
to its being considered as pure. Of both the metals in question, by
means of his hydro-oxygen blowpipe, within a few months previous,
Dr. Hare had succeeded in fusing specimens of unquestionable purity.
He had also fused the osmiuret of iridium, as existing in the native
spangles, associated with platinum ore. This alloy was found much
more difficult of fusion than pure iridium. Both iridium and rhodium
became more fusible by continued and repeated fusion. Both appear-
ed to evolve some volatile matter, and did not become completely
solid until after being repeatedly fused.

Mr. Walker informed the Society, that Prof. Loomis had
succeeded in observing Encke's comet, at its late return, with
a five feet Equatorial, by Simmes, belonging to Western Re-
serve College. Mr. W. further Btated, that Professor Loomis
had made some interesting observations on a tornado, which
had recently passed over a district in the north of Ohio, and
that the phenomena tended to confirm the theory of a rotary
motion.

183

Dr. Hays called the attention of the Society to an abstract,
recently published, of a paper read by Prof. Owen to the Geo-
logical Society of London, relative to Mr. Koch's collection of
mammalian remains.

Prof. Owen, it is stated, by a series of comparisons of the lower
jaws in that collection, has " arrived at the conclusion, that the Te-
tracaulodon of Godman is the immature state of both sexes of the
Mastodon giganteum, and that it loses these distinctions in the mature
state of both sexes, by the loss of one tusk in the male, and by the
loss of both in the female."

Prof. O. conceives, that these views are supported by analogies, and
he refers to the Dugong and Narwhal as examples. In the former,
in both sexes, the lower jaw is provided, at its deflected extremity,
with six incisors, which disappear in the mature animals, one or two
abortive remnants at most being occasionally discovered hidden in
the irregular cancellous sockets. In the male Dugong the upper in-
cisors are protruded, scalpriform, and of unlimited growth; while in
the female they are concealed, cuspidate, and solid at their base,
which is expanded.

In the Narwhal, the young of both sexes have a single incisor
equally developed on each side of the upper jaw; one of which grows
rapidly in the male, constituting the well-known spirally twisted tusk,
while the other remains stationary ; and both continue rudimental
in the female.

Dr. Hays awarded to Prof. Owen's theory the merit of being very
ingenious, of embracing all the facts presented by the collection of
Mr. Koch, and of explaining several difficulties which had hitherto ex-
isted; still he conceived that it was founded on too limited observa-
tions to challenge our implicit credence. A complete series of jaws
of both sexes and of all ages, which is necessary to settle this ques-
tion, has never yet been brought to light, and Dr. H. could not, there-
fore, refer the Society to any specimens which refuted the above the-
ory ; but still he would invite the attention of the Society to some,
which, at least, created strong doubts of its entire correctness.

Dr. H. then exhibited two casts, one representing the chin and
right side of a lower jaw, belonging to the museum of the University
of Virginia, figured in Vol. IV. N. S. pi. XXVII, of the Society's
Transactions; the other, the left side of a lower jaw, in the Wistar
Museum, and figured in Trans. Vol. IV. N. S. pi. XXI. Both of
these had appertained to animals of the same age and adolescent
(having two molars only left, the ultimate and penultimate ones) ; yet

184

the first had had two tusks of the largest size, whilst the second had
none, or any trace of alveolus. Two lower jaws in the cabinet of the
Society, of nearly the same age, (described and figured in the Trans.
Vol. IV. Plates XXIV. and XXV.) were also destitute of tusks, or al-
veoli for them.

Dr. H. examined the analogies adduced by Prof. Owen in support
of his theory, and expressed the opinion that they were very remote;
and as the extensive knowledge of that distinguished naturalist had
not furnished him with closer ones of the desired character, it was
clearly presumable that none could be adduced.

A much closer analogy, Dr. H. observed, was to be found in the
Dinotherium, a very nearly allied animal; but so far as its remains,
hitherto obtained, enabled us to decipher its history, it was furnished
with two tusks in the lower jaw.

On the whole, Dr. H. saw little reason to change the opinion first
expressed by him (see Trans. Vol. IV. p. 318.) that " it is impossible
in the existing state of our knowledge, and with our present materials,
either to confirm or positively refute the suggestion," that the tusks
in the lower jaw are a mere sexual character. The honour of esta-
blishing this point is yet to be reaped. Should the suggestion, how-
ever, prove correct, Dr. H. believed it would be found that the male
had two tusks in the lower jaw, instead of one, as supposed by Prof.
Owen ; and that the jaw in Mr. Koch's collection, containing a single
tusk, is to be considered an anomaly.

Stated Meeting, May 20.

Present, twenty-three members.
Dr. Patterson, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Letters were read: —

From M. Alexis de Tocqueville, dated Paris, 7th April,
iv 12, acknowledging the honour done him by his election as
B member of this Society: — also from Dr. Locke, of Cincin-
nati, dated L2th May, L842, accompanying a donation, pre-
sented through Mr. Dobson.

Tin: following donations were announced: —

185

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Quarterly Summary of the Transactions of the College of Physicians
of Philadelphia. No. 2. For Feb. March and April. 8vo. Phil-
adelphia, 1842. — From the College.

The American Medical Library and Intelligencer. By R. Dunglison,
M.D. New Series. Vol. I. No. 10. For April. 8vo. Phila-
delphia, 1842. — From the Editor.

Report upon the Standards of the Liquid Capacity Measures, &c.
&c. with Description of a New Original Barometer, and of the Ba-
lance for adjusting the Half-bushels by their Weight of Distilled
Water. By F. R. Hassler. Senate Document, No. 225. 2d
Session, 27th Congress. — From the Author.

Tabular View of the Scholastic Institutions in the Russian Empire.
4to. St. Petersburg, 1838. — From the Imperial Academy of
Sciences of St. Petersburg.

Case, and Opinion of P. S. Du Ponceau and A. Davezac, Counsellors,
on the Contested Seat of the Hon. David Levy, Delegate from
Florida. — From the Hon. David Levy.

FOR THE CABINET.

A Collection of Casts of Fossils, chiefly of Western Rocks. — From
Prof. John Locke.

The Committee, consisting of Prof. Bache, Mr. Nicollet
and Dr. Patterson, to whom was referred the paper of Prof.
Loomis, entitled, " Observations of the Magnetic Dip in the
United States, Fourth Series," reported in favour of its publi-
cation in the Transactions of the Society ; and the publication
was ordered accordingly.

The same Committee reported in favour of publishing in
the Transactions, Professor Loomis's Supplementary Observa-
tions on the Storm which occurred about the 20th of Decem-
ber, 1836; and its publication was ordered accordingly.

The Committee, consisting of Mr. Walker, Dr. Patterson
and Prof. Kendall, to whom was referred the paper of Mr.
Nicollet, entitled, "Astronomical Observations made at various
Places in the United States," recommended the same for pub-
lication in the Society's Transactions, and the recommendation
was adopted.

186

Mr. Walker read a paper, entitled, "Observations of Encke's
Comet in March and April, 1842, at the High School Observa-
tory, with the 9 feet Fraunhofer Equatorial, by Sears C. Walker
and E. Otis Kendall;" which was referred to a Committee.

The true right ascensions and declinations of the stars of compari-
son, on the evenings of observation, are stated in the paper as follows:

0 = l 46 11.18,
„ 1 46 11.28,
b = 1 46 10.55,
c = 1 49 25.88,
„ 1 49 25.51,
d = 1 49 41.70,
f = 2 1 4.60,
g=\ 59 6.71, g' =
„ 1 59 6.51, „
„ 1 59 6.01, „
h = 2 3 52.90,
i = 2 17 18.20,
k = 2 31 58.31,
„ 2 31 58.10,

1 = 2 32 46.87,
M 2 32 47.35,

a' = + 16 46 26.04, #9

„ 16 46 31.26, 9

16 41 24.72, 9

16 46 1.69, 8

16 46 8 32, 8.9

16 52 32.70, 10

17 15 12.90, 10
17 16 29.60, 7.8
17 16 33.80, 7.8
17 16 29.60, 7.8
17 16 51.50, 10
17 17 0.70, 9.10
15 0 18.69, 8.9
15 0 20.83, 8.9
14 57 48.28, 9
14 57 51.90, 9

V =

c' =

»
d' =

/' =

h' =

k' =

V =

Mag., Bessel's Zone, No. 394.
„ Lalande H. C, p. 192.

„ Bessel's Zone, No. 394.

»> >> >i

Lalande, H. C, p. 192.
Anonym. Approx.

>> i>

Bessel's Zone, No. 394.

?) J) >) do.£

Piazzi

Anonym. Approx.

>> »

Bessel's Zone, No. 394.

)> >> n 141.
>> n >i 141.

The measures and transits observed with the Filarmicrometer were
reduced by the formulae of Bessel in the Astr. Nachr. No. 69, and
in the Konigsberg Observations, Vol. XV. p. 22. Those of the same
star were referred to a common epoch, by means of Encke's Ephe-
meris. The probable errors were computed in the usual manner.
The true places of the comet in right ascension and declination, were
obtained free from aberration, parallax and refraction.

Sidereal

Comet's place freed from Aberration, Parallax,

"So

time it

and Refraction.

.E »

Date.

Philadel-

phia.

- X

M

* = Comet's true R. A.

J = Comet's true dec.

55

1842

h m s

m s s

March 27

: i :

a-f 0 |-.:;> . u.n,.

a'_ | ■_>:...:- ^-l'.j

3

„ 27

7 59 2]

b + 0 20.404 ± 0.60

b'+ 3 99.28 ±43

3

,, 28

7 37 55

c -f 0 39,279:4: 0.16

f' + 7 i:i \\> -t 2.1

5

M

7 50 54

d-j-0 22.790 d= 0.03

</'+ 1 20.91 ±0.3

•J

„ 31

/ — o 7.86 .19

y_ i 16.13 £1.6

4

n 81

8 36 34

e+\ 56522 db 0.66

X-f-0 3H.14!»ri

3

April 1

7 50 -I

A'— ii -..M ±0.4

3

., 5

- 19 19

i 4. o 45 1 08

t — 11 a

1

,. 11

B 53 36

k — ] 41,595 ; 0 19

4

>, 11

- i i

/ —2 29.715 ±0.28

4

187

By applying the places of the known stars in the above collection,
the final iesults are found as follows :

Sidereal

Comet's true R. A. and

X

a

time at
Philadel-

Dec.from Observation.

Encke's Ephemeris.

a
o

Authority for

Date.

phia.

o

Star's Place.

a.

<r

Cos i Ax

A<T

1842.

h m s

h m s o /

s.

Mar. 27

7 54 57

1 46 29.54 +16 44 56.7

+ 0.57

+ 5.4

3

Bessel's Zones.

„ 27

1 46 29.64+16 45 1.9

+ 0.67

+10.6

3

Lalande H. C.

„ 27

7 59 21

1 46 30.95 +16 44 54.0

-+-1.30

+ 0.9

3

Bessel's Zones.

,, 28

7 37 55

1 50 5.16+16 53 44.9

+ 2 75

+ 2.6

5

„ 28

1 50" 4.79+16 53 51.5

+ 2.40

+ 9.3

5

Lalande H C.

„ 31

8 36 34

2 1 2.83

+ 0.33

3

Bessel's Zones.

„ 31

2 1 2.23

— 0.24

3

Piazzi.

April 11

8 53 36

2 30 16.67

— 1.85

4

Bessel's Zones.

„ 11

8 54 1

2 30 17.40

— 1.16

4

» ii

Mean of 33 results, cos J,A*= + Os.65 ± 05.32.

„ 19 „ A«r = + 5".8 ±1".2.

Dr. Hare laid before the Society various specimens of fused
iridium, osmiuret of iridium, and of rhodium.

The largest mass of iridium weighed sixty-seven grains; that of
rhodium ninety grains. The former leaned towards the pale brilliant
white of antimony, the latter towards the ruddy hue of bismuth. Both
metals had a pre-eminent disposition to crystallize. The rhodium, in
congealing from the state of a globule as fluid as mercury, became
studded all over its surface with crystalline facets, excepting the por-
tion in contact with the support. A portion of the interior of a globule
of iridium ran out during congelation, coating the outside partially
with crystalline facets. This excessive propensity to crystallize ren-
dered it difficult to obtain regular globules of this metal. This pro-
pensity was displayed in a higher degree by the native osmiuret. Dr.
Hare suggested that the greater difficulty of fusing this alloy might
be ascribed to the infusibility of osmium, which might resemble car-
bon in forming a volatile oxide, and in being infusible per se.

Dr. Hare made some remarks respecting the cause of the per-
sistence of clouds between certain elevated levels.

He said that, in the last number of the Society's " Proceedings," a
brief mention had been made of some observations and an explana-

188

tion advanced by him respecting the suspension of clouds. He had,
however, to regret that the most essential parts of his communication
had not been reported. With the permission of the Society, he would
recapitulate his communication, in order that the readers of the " Pro-
ceedings," and members who were not present when he spoke on the
subject in question, might not have an erroneous impression. He
would also add some suggestions which had recently occurred to him.

It is well known that, although there were occasionally two differ-
ent sets of clouds pertaining severally to different currents of air, one
above the other, — usually, in fair weather, there was but one set. In
either case all the clouds belonging to one current are seen to be
situated somewhere between two levels. Above the space, included
between these levels, none are seen to rise ; nor are any observed to
sink below its lower boundary. It was conceived that the causes of
this persistence of the clouds between two horizontal planes, of which
the lower one is usually more than a mile in height, had never been
satisfactorily assigned.

Agreeably to the prevalent impression that clouds are enduring
masses of condensed aqueous vapour, their specific gravity ought to
be much greater than that of the subjacent cloudless air, over which
they swim; since the little watery bubbles of which they are formed,
consist, not only of the air with which they are inflated, but also of a
liquid 840 times as heavy. But he had of late years observed that
clouds are not as durable as generally supposed. On the contrary,
like the steam condensed in escaping from boiling water, they are in-
cessantly forming by the condensation of aqueous vapour, and disap-
pearing in consequence of its being vaporized again. A cloud may
appear to cling to the brow of a mountain, sometimes for more than
an hour; when, on closer examination, it may be discovered that, as
one portion appears, another vanishes, and that the apparent dura-
bility is due to the equality of the causes of condensation and re-vapo-
rization. Dr. Hare had enjoyed a fine opportunity of verifying this
view of the subject, when involved within a cloud on the summit of
the Rhigi, last summer. It was then quite evident, that what might,
at a distan taken for an enduring mass of condensed mois-

ture, such as is railed a cloud, was really due to a current of air, sa-
turated with aqueous vapour, which was rushing up the mountain
side. As this current reached a level, at which the temperature was
below its dew point, the contained vapour was converted l>y conden*
sation into a cloud; but as it attained a higher level, where the dew
point w;is sufficiently low to compensate for the cold, the moisture
was made to resume the aeriform state.

189

As in condensing, steam relinquishes as much heat as would make
it red-hot, if retained while under sufficient pressure to keep it in the
liquid state, it follows that, as the cloud is formed, the temperature of
the air with which it is associated is raised so much as to produce a
buoyancy which enables it to float or even to ascend;* but as soon
as it reaches a point where the air is so devoid of aqueous vapour as
to permit it to be revaporized, a proportionable refrigeration and in-
crease of density ensues. Thus the buoyancy produced at one level,
is compensated by a commensurate opposite influence at another. Of
course, the clouds are always seen to occupy an interval between two
horizontal planes, one above the other. As soon as the aqueous va-
pour of the air rises above the lower plane it condenses; before the
cloud thus produced can get beyond the upper one it is reconverted
into vapour.

When the causes of condensation are more potent than those of re-
vaporization, rain ensues ; when the opposite is the case, there must
be a tendency to fair weather.

Although of opinion that in hurricanes and other violent rain
storms, there must be an exchange of position between the lower and
upper strata of the air, it was conceived that showers, unaccompanied
by gales or squalls, were to be explained as above suggested.

Dr. Hare had conceded that there might be more than one cause
for the buoyancy of clouds. Dr. Thomson, in his treatise respect-
ing Heat and Electricity, suggests electricity as a cause. The fact
demonstrated by the experiment, the results of which had been com-
municated to the Society at their last meeting in April, that moisture
does not render air a conductor of electricity, gives support to this
view of the subject; especially since it has been discovered, that in
condensing, steam becomes highly electrified. It seems inevitable
that the aqueous globules, of which clouds are constituted, must sepa-
rate from each other, as pith balls are seen to do when similarly ex-
cited ; and that the particles of air with which they are associated
must be similarly actuated: hence a cause of rarefaction, and of
course of buoyancy. Another cause might co-operate. It is known
that the radiation of heat, which causes dew and sometimes hoar-
frost, is so completely checked by clouds, that the last mentioned phe-
nomenon never takes place when the sky is overcast. Moreover, it is
known that the solar rays pass through the air without imparting heat,

* See a verbal communication of Dr. Hare, made July 3d, 1840, and pub-
lished in the " Proceedings" for that time.
Y

190

until intercepted by solids or liquids. It follows that the air in which
clouds are situated, will be warmer than that above and below them.

Thus radiant heat and electricity may promote their buoyancy;
nevertheless their persistency between two levels must be ascribed to
the process noticed on the summit of the Rhigi.

Mr. Espy had the merit of drawing the attention of meteorologists
more strongly to the fact, previously made known by Dalton,* that,
although cold is produced by the rarefaction of air containing vapour,
yet the reduction of temperature is less, whenever the vapour is
condensed, than it would have been in air free from vapour.

In adopting the explanation above given, Dr. Hare had been
prompted by his knowledge of Mr. Espy's suggestions founded on
those of Dalton, so far as a superior temperature had been ascribed
to the air containing a recent cloud.

Mr. Boye made an oral communication relative to a white
crystalline mineral, which occurs three or four miles to the
south of West Chester, Pa., and which encloses corundum and
several other mineral species.

The specimen was handed to him for examination by Mr. Nuttall,
several years since, and, proving to be a silicate closely allied to a
felspar, he subjected it to analysis, in conjunction with Prof. Booth,
in order to compare it with the several felspars previously investigated
by them.

It forms a white translucent mass composed of densely aggregated
crystalline grains, and might be mistaken, at the first glance, for a
moderately coarse-grained marble, did not its hardness indicate a to-
tally different substance. Its specific gravity is 2.612.

The analysis was performed in the manner mentioned in the Pro-
ceedings of the Society for May, 1841, and gave the following results:

Oxygen.

Silica,

. .

.

67.72

35.18

Alumina, with

a trace of

iron,

20.54

9.593

Magnesia,

.

.

0.34

0.131

Lime,

.

.

0.7M

0.219

Soda,

.

.

io.<;r>

2.724

Potassa, .

0.16

0.027

100.1!*

B Nicholson's Journal, vol. ni. p. [60, or Manchester Momoirs, vol. v.
P 515.

191

This composition approaches nearest to that of albite, excepting in
a deficiency of silica, in which respect it resembles the albite from
the vicinity of Wilmington, otherwise corresponding to it closely in
composition, and agrees also with an albitic felspar from Pennsyl-
vania, analyzed by Redtenbacher, in Prof. Rose's laboratory at Ber-
lin, (Poggendorff's Annalen, Vol. LI I. p. 469,) as shown by the fol-
lowing comparative table.

ALBITE.

Six miles N. W. of

Wilmington, Del.

Booth <$• Boye.

Pennsylvania.

Locality not stated.

Redtenbacher.

Grtinular Var'y.

West Chester, Pi

Booth if Boye.

Silica,

65.46

67.20

67.72

Alumina, .

20.74

19.64*

20.54

Sesquioxide of

iron, 0.54

a trace.

Magnesia,

0.74

0.31

0.34

Lime,

0.71

1.44

0.78

Soda,

9.98

9.91

10.65

Potassa, .

1.80

1.57

0.16

99.97

100.07

100.19

On motion of Dr. Hays, it was resolved that a set of casts
of fossil remains, made at the expense of the Society, be pre-
sented to Prof. Kaup, for the Museum of Darmstadt.

On motion of Mr. Booth, it was resolved, that the Curator^
have authority to permit Dr. Locke, of Cincinnati, to take
casts from such specimens of fossils, as in their judgment may
not be injured thereby, provided that the moulds be left with
the Society and become their property.

Stated Meeting, June 17.

Present, twenty-nine members.

Dr. Chapman, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Letters were read: —

From E. D. Ingraham, Esq., dated 10th June, 1842, asking
permission to make a transcript of Mr. Breck's unpublished
memoir on the Continental Money of the United States, now
in the Society's Archives: —

From the Secretary of the Committee of Physics of the

* Redtenbacher states that the alumina contained titanic acid.

192

Royal Society of London, dated 5th April, 1842, transmitting
the first number of the Proceedings of that Committee: — and

From Mr. William Vaughan, of London, dated 7th May,
1842, announcing the transmission by him of donations from
the Royal Society to the library of this Society.

The permission asked by Mr. Ingraham was granted.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Report of the Eighth Meeting of the British Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science, held at New Castle in August, 1838. 8vo.
London, 1839. — From the Association, through Col. Sabine.

Report of the Tenth Meeting of the British Association, held at Glas-
gow, in August, 1840. 8vo. London, 1841. — From the same.

Report of the Eleventh Meeting of the British Association, held at
Plymouth, in July, 1841. 8vo. London, 1842. — From the same.

Proceedings of the Royal Astronomical Society. Vol. V. No. 21.
8vo. London, 1842. — From the Society.

A Comprehensive History of the Iron Trade throughout the World,
from the earliest Records to the present Period. By Harry Scri-
venor. 8vo. London, 1841. — From Mr. Jacob Snider, Jr.

Sixth Census, or Enumeration of the Inhabitants of the United States.
Folio. Washington, 1841.— From the Hon. G. W. Toland.

Public Documents. Senate, No. 225. House of Representatives,
No. 176, No. 683. — From the same.

The American Medical Library and Intelligencer. By R. Dungli-
son, M.D. New Series. Vol.1. No. 11. For May. 8vo.
Philadelphia, 1842— From the Editor.

Onzicme Rapport Annuel sur les Travaux de la Socicte d'Histoire
Naturelle de Pile Maurice. Par M. Louis Bouton, Secretaire.
8vo. Maurice, 1841. — From the Society.

Memoires de la Socicte des Antiquaires de l'Amt;ri(jue du Nord.
Partie Linguistique. Par M. Gallatin. Paris, 1842. — From Mr.
Du Ponceau.

The Twenty-sixth Report of the Directors of the American Asylum,
at Hartford, for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb- 8vo.
Hartford, L842. — From tin Director*.

ml Bulletin of the Proceedings of the National Institution for the
Promotion of Science. Prom March, 1H41, to February, 1842.
i. Washington, l- 12. — From the Institution.

193

Arsberattelse om Framstegen i Fysik och Kemi afgifven den 31
Mars, 1839; af Jac. Berzelius. 8vo. Stockholm, 1840. — From
the Royal Swedish Academy.

Kongl. Vetenskaps-Academiens Handlingar. For ar 1839. 8vo.
Stockholm, 1841. — From the same.

Arsberattelse om Technologiens Framsteg. Till Kongl. Vetenskaps-
Academien afgifven den 31 Mars, 1839; af G. E. Pasch. 8vo.
Stockholm, 1840. — From the same.

Tal af Academiens Praeses, Grefve M. Rosenblad. 8vo. Stockholm,
1840. — From the same.

Journal of the Franklin Institute. Third Series. No. 6. For June.
Philadelphia, 1842. — From Dr. Patterson.

Proceedings of an Indian Council, held at the Buffalo Creek Reserva-
tion, State of New York. Fourth Month, 1842. 8vo. Balti-
more, 1842. — From Mr. G. M. Justice.

Professor Henry, of Princeton, presented the record of a se-
ries of experiments on induction from ordinary electricity, as
the fifth number of his Contributions to Electricity and Mag-
netism, which was referred to a Committee. Of these experi-
ments he gave a verbal account, of which the following is the
substance.

In the third number of his Contributions he had shown on this sub-
ject: 1. That the discharge of a Leyden battery through a conductor
developed, in an adjoining parallel conductor, an induced current,
analogous to that which, under similar circumstances, is produced by
a galvanic current. 2. That the direction of the induced current, as
indicated by the polarity given to a steel needle, changes its sign with
a change of distance of the two conductors, and also with a change
in the quantity of the discharge of electricity. 3. That, when the in-
duced current is made to act on a third conductor, a second induced
current is developed, which can again develope another, and so on
through a series of successive inductions. 4. That, when a plate of
metal is interposed between any two of the consecutive conductors,
the induced current is neutralized by the adverse action of a current
in the plate.

The direction of the induced currents in all the author's experi-
ments was indicated by the direction of the polarity given to steel
needles inclosed in a spiral, the wire of which formed a part of the
circuit. But some doubts were reasonably entertained of the true in-
dications of the direction of a current by this means; since M. Savary

194

had published, in 1826, that, when several needles are placed at dif-
ferent distances above a wire through which the discharge of a Ley-
den battery is passed, they are magnetized in different directions, and
that by constantly increasing the discharge through a spiral, several
reversions of the polarity of the contained needles are obtained.

It was, therefore, very important, before attempting further advances
in the discovery of the laws of the phenomena, that the results ob-
tained by M. Savary should be carefully studied; and accordingly the
first experiments of the new series relate to the repetition of them.
The author first attempted to obtain them by using needles of a larger
size, Nos. 3 and 4, such as he had generally employed in all his pre-
vious experiments; but, although nearly a thousand needles were
magnetized in the course of the experiments, he did not succeed in
getting a single change in the polarity. The needles were always
magnetized in a direction conformable to the direction of the electri-
cal discharge. When, however, very fine needles were employed,
he did obtain several changes in the polarity in the case of the spiral,
by merely increasing the quantity of the electricity, while the direc-
tion of the discharge remained the same.

This anomaly, which has remained so long unexplained, and which
at first sight appears at variance with all our theoretical ideas of the
connection of electricity and magnetism, was, after considerable study,
satisfactorily referred by the author to an action of the discharge of
the Leyden jar, which had never before been recognised. The dis-
charge, whatever may be its nature, is not correctly represented (em-
ploying for simplicity the theory of Franklin) by the single transfer
of an imponderable fluid from one side of the jar to the other; the
phenomena require us to admit the existence of a principal dis-
charge in one direction, and then several reflex actions backward
and forward, each more feeble than the preceding, until the equili-
brium is obtained. All the facts are shown to be in accordance with
this hypothesis, and a ready explanation is afforded by it of a num-
ber of phenomena which arc to be found in the older works on elec-
tricity, but which have, until this time, remained unexplained.

The Batne action is evidently connected with the induction of a
current on its own conductor, in the case of an open circuit, such as
that of the Leyden jar, in which the two ends of the conductor arc
separated !>y the thickness of the glass. And hence, if an induced
current could be produced in this case, one should also he obtained in
that of a second conductor, the ends of which are separated ; and

195

this was detected by attaching to the ends of the open circuit, a quan-
tity of insulated metal, or by connecting one end with the earth.

The next part of the research relates to a new examination of the
phenomena of the change in the direction of the induced currents
with a change of distance, &c. These are shown to be due to the
fact that the discharge from a jar does not produce a single induced
current in one direction, but several successive currents in opposite
directions. The effect on the needle is principally produced by two
of these: the first is the most powerful, and in the adverse direction
to that of the jar ; the second is less powerful, and in the same di-
rection with that of the jar. To explain the change of polarity, let
us suppose the capacity of the needle to receive magnetism to be
represented by ±10, while the power of the first induced current to
produce magnetism is represented by — 15, and that of the second by
-f 12; then the needle will be magnetized to saturation or to — 10,
by the first induced current, and immediately afterwards all this mag-
netism will be neutralized by the adverse second induction, and a
power of +2 will remain; so that the polarity of the needle in this
case will indicate an induced current in the same direction as that of
the jar. Next, let the conductors be so far separated, or the charge
so much diminished, that the power of the first current to develope
magnetism may be reduced to — 8, while that of the second current
is reduced to +6, the magnetic capacity of the needle remaining the
same. It is evident, then, that the first current will magnetize the
needle to — 8, and that the second current will immediately after-
wards neutralize 6 of this ; and consequently the needle will retain a
magnetism of — 2, or will indicate an induced current in an opposite
direction to that of the jar.

In extending the researches relative to this part of the investiga-
tion, a remarkable result was obtained in regard to the distance at
which inductive effects are produced by a very small quantity of elec-
tricity ; a single spark from the prime conductor of the machine, of
about an inch long, thrown on the end of a circuit of wire in an up-
per room, produced an induction sufficiently powerful to magnetize
needles in a parallel circuit of wire placed in the cellar beneath, at a
distance of thirty feet perpendicular, with two floors and ceilings,
each fourteen inches thick, intervening. The author is disposed to
adopt the hypothesis of an electrical plenum, and from the foregoing
experiment it would appear, that the transfer of a single spark is suf-
ficient to disturb perceptibly the electricity of space throughout at
least a cube of 400,000 feet of capacity; and, when it is considered

196

that the magnetism of the needle is the result of the difference of two
actions, it may be further inferred, that the diffusion of motion in this
case is almost comparable with that of a spark from a flint and steel
in the case of light.

The author next alludes to a proposition which he advanced in the
second number of his Contributions, namely, that the phenomena of
dynamic induction may be referred to the known electrical laws, as
given by the common theories of electricity ; and he gives a number
of experiments to illustrate the connection between statical and dyna-
mical induction.

The last part of the series of experiments relates to induced cur-
rents from atmospheric electricity. By a very simple arrangement,
needles are strongly magnetized in the author's study, even when the
flash is at the distance of seven or eight miles, and when the thunder
is scarcely audible. On this principle, he proposes a simple self-
registering electrometer, connected with an elevated exploring rod.

Dr. Hare made an oral communication, in continuation of his
remarks, made at the last meeting, on platinum and the metals
accompanying its native grains.

He stated that, agreeably to trials made by Mr. J. R. Eckfeldt, of
the mint, and Mr. Boyc, both possessing balances of exquisite accu-
racy, and being eminently skilful in the use of them, the specific gra-
vity of a fused globule of iridium of sixty-seven grains in weight, ob-
tained from a warranted specimen of iridium, purchased of Johnson
and Cocke, of London, was inferred to be 21.80. Agreeably to this
result, and likewise the previous observations of Breithaupt upon cer-
tain specimens of native iridium, this metal, cither in this state, or as
obtained in purity by chemical skill and consolidated by fusion, must
be allowed that pre-eminence in density over all other bodies, which,
until of late, was conceded to platinum. .In fact, as contrasted with
platinum, obtained by fusion without subsequent hammering, the dif-
ference would be more than one-tenth. Specimens of hammered pla-
tinum which weighed 21.23, on fusion were reduced to 19.70.

An important inference from these results was, that, as iridium is
the only impurity in standard platinum, a high specific gravity indi-
Deither a superior degree of purity nor malleability. A piece of
standard malleable platinum, of a very fine white colour, presented to
J)r. Hare by liis excellency Count Cancrine, the Russian minister of
finance, as of the best quality of Russian platinum, proved, according
to Bckieldt, to have a specific gravity of 21.31; when u specimen.

197

purified from iridium agreeably to the instructions of Berzelius, and
which had been found pre-eminently susceptible of being beaten into
leaf, weighed only 21.16.

On its first fusion, Dr. Hare found the specific gravity of rhodium,
11; precisely what, on examining his books, it was ascertained to have
been made by Wollaston. But after it had crystallized superficially,
as above described, it was by a magnifier discovered to be minutely
porous under the facets. In this state its specific gravity was found
by Eckfeldt to be 10.8.

The Committee appointed on the 29th of April, to whom
were referred the reports of the Committee of purchase and
sale, and of the Committee having charge of the Museum pro-
perty, presented a report, the consideration of which was post-
poned to an adjourned meeting, to be held on the first of July
next

Dr. Harlan mentioned that the moulds of the Megalonyx
bones, belonging to the Society, cannot now be found, and re-
quested that permission may be accorded to him to have new
moulds made at his own expense, under the superintendence
of the Curators. On motion, the request of Dr. Harlan was
granted.

Adjourned Meeting, July 1.

Present, ten members.

Rev. Dr. Bethune in the Chair.

In consequence of the smallness of the meeting, owing to the
inclemency of the weather, the Society was adjourned, to meet
on Tuesday evening, the 5th instant.

Adjourned Meeting, July 5.

Present, thirty-six members.

Dr. Chapman, Vice-President, in the Chair.

The report of the Committee appointed on the 29th of April
was read ; whereupon, on motion, the Committee was dis-
z

198

charged from the further consideration of the subjects referred
to them.

On motion of Mr. S. C. Walker, it was resolved that a Com-
mittee of five members be appointed to inquire, and report at
the next meeting, concerning the proper course to be pursued
for the protection of the principal and accumulation of the
trust funds of the Society. Committee, Mr. Walker, Mr.
Williams, Mr. T. I. Wharton, Mr. Kuhn, and Mr. G. M.
Wharton.

On motion of Dr. Patterson, it was resolved that the Com-
mittee on the Museum property be instructed to inquire into
the course which, in their judgment, it may be most advisable
to take with regard to that property, and that they report to
the Society at as early a meeting as practicable.

Stated Meeting, July 15.

Present, thirty members.

Dr. Patterson, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Letters were read —

From Prof. Zantedeschi, of Venice, dated 27th July, 1841,
transmitting a copy of his treatise on the Electrotype, and
requesting a correspondence with the Society: —

From Laurentius Blanco, of Naples, dated March, 1842,
transmitting a copy of his work on the Papyri of Hercula-
neum.: —

From D. F. Van der Pant, dated 10th May, 1842, present-
ing Vol. VIII. Part 2, of the Transactions of the Society of
Experimental Philosophy of Rotterdam, and giving notice of
certain deficiencies in the series of the Transactions of this So-
ciety, now in the Library of the Rotterdam Society: — and

From Dr. C W. Short, of Louisville, K\\, dated 85th May,

1842, stating that he had forwarded a parcel, containing dried
specimens of plants of Kentucky, for the Cabinet of the So-
ciety.

199

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Delia Elettrotipia. Memorie di Francesco Zantedeschi. 4to. Ve-
nice, 1841. — From the Author.

An Engraved Portrait of Mehemet Ali, from a plate produced by the
galvanic process. — From Prof. F. Zantedeschi.

Astronomical Observations made at the Royal Observatory, Edin-
burgh. By Thomas Henderson, F. R. S. Vol. IV. for 1838.
4to. Edinburgh, 1841 — From the Royal Society of London.

Proceedings of the Royal Astronomical Society. Vol. V. No. 22.
8vo. London, 1842. — From the Society.

Discourse delivered before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania,
February 21, 1842, on the Colonial History of the Eastern and
some of the Southern States. By Job R. Tyson. 8vo. Phila-
delphia, 1842. — From the Author.

The Impropriety of Capital Punishments : or the Report of a Com-
mittee on Dr. Cuyler's Sermon, &c. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1842. —
From Job R. Tyson, Esq.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
Nos. 11, 12, 13 & 14. For February, March, April & May.
8vo. Philadelphia, 1842. — From the Academy.

Instructions pour l'Observation des Phenomenes Periodiques. Par
A. Quetelet. 8vo. Brussels. — From the Author.

Bulletin de l'Academie Roy ale de Bruxelles. Vol. VIII. Nos. 10,
11 & 12, and Vol. IX. Nos. 1 & 2. 8vo. Brussels, 1841-42.
From the Academy.

Nouveau Catalogue des Principales Apparition d'Etoiles Filantes.
Par A. Quetelet, Secretaire perpetuel de l'Academie Royale de
Bruxelles, &c. 4to. Brussels. — From the Author.

Annuaire de l'Observatoire Royale de Bruxelles. Par A. Quetelet,
Directeur de cet Etablissement. 1842. 9me Annee. 12mo.
Brussels, 1842. — From the Author.

Annuaire de l'Academie Royale des Sciences et Belles Lettres de
Bruxelles. 8me Annee. 12mo. Brussels. — From the Acade-
my.

Bulletin of the Proceedings of the National Institution for the Pro-
motion of Science. Vol. I. No. 1. 8vo. Washington, 1841. —
From the Institution.

Address delivered at the Anniversary Meeting of the Geological So-
ciety of London, on the 18th of February, 1842. By R. I.

200

Murchison, F. R.S., President of the Society. 8vo. London,

1842. — From the Author.
Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Vol.

VIII. Part 2. 8vo. Philadelphia. — From the Academy.
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Edited by Isaac

Hays, M.D. New Series, No. 7. For July. 8vo. Philadel-
phia, 1842. — From the Editor.
Nieuwe Verhandelingen van het Bataafsch Genootschap der Proefon-

dervindelijke Wijsbegeerte te Rotterdam. Vol. VIII. Part 2.

4to. Rotterdam, 1842. — From the Society.
Epitome dei Volumi Ercolanesi del Cav. Lorenzo Blanco. 12mo.

Naples, 1842. — From the Author.
Abhandlungen der Mathematisch-Physikalischen Classe der Konig-

lich Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Vols. I. & II.

and Vol. III. Parts 1 & 2. 4to. Munich, 1832-37-40.— From

the Academy.
Astronomische Beobachtungen angestellt auf der Konigl. Sternwarte

zu Bogenhausen von dem ordentlichen Mitglicde der Akademie

der Wissenschaften I. Soldner. Parts 2, 3, 4 & 5. 4to. Mu-
nich, 1835-36-37-38. — From the same.
Observationes Astronomical in Specula Regia Monachiensi institute,

et Regio Jussu publicis impensis edita1 a J. Lamont. Vols. \ I.

VIH. & IX. 4to. Munich, 1834-36-41.— From the same.
Ueber das Magnetische Observatorium der Konigl. Sternwarte bei

Munchen. Von Dr. J. Lamont. 4to. Munich, 1841. — From

the Author.
Rede zum Andenken an lgnaz Dollinger Dr. in der zur Feier des

Allcrhochsten Namens-und Geburtstages Sr. Majestat des Konigs

am 25 August, 1841, gehaltenen Sffentlichen Sitzungder Konigl.

Bayerischen Academic der Wissenschaften vorgctragen von 1 )r.

Ph. l-'r. v. Walthcr. 4to. Munich, 1*41. — From the Author.
Journal of the Franklin Institute. Third Series. Vol. IV. No. 1.

For July. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1842.— From Dr. Patterson.

FOR THE CAIUNKT.

A Collection of Dried Plants, made in the State of Kentucky, con-
taining some species, not included in any of the parcels formerly
sent by the donor. — From Dr. Charles H . Short.

Dr. Patterson Stated that he had learned from Mr. Brown,
Dragoman to the U.S. legation at Constantinople, that no com-

201

munication had been received by him in acknowledgment of a
donation of coins which he had made to the Society; where-
upon, on motion, it was resolved that a duplicate of the usual
letter of thanks be transmitted by the Secretaries to Mr.
Brown.

The Committee, consisting of Dr. Patterson, Prof. Bache,
and Prof. Park, to whom was referred the paper of Prof. Ken-
dall, entitled " Observations on Encke's Comet," &c, reported
in favour of its publication in the Society's Transactions; and
the publication was ordered accordingly.

Mr. S. C. Walker communicated to the Society the follow-
ing extract from a letter of Prof. S. Alexander, dated Prince-
ton, N. J., July 14th, 1842, containing the Professor's theory
for explaining the remarkable appearance presented by total
and annular eclipses of the sun. Prof. A. had taken this early
opportunity of laying his views before the Society on a subject
which will doubtless cause much speculation in Europe, owing
to the occurrence of the remarkable total eclipse of the 7th in-
stant. Prof. A. intended, at some future meeting, to exhibit
his reasons in full for the conclusions here announced.

1. If the moon be surrounded by any substance, which can with
propriety be termed an atmosphere, the limit of its sensible action
upon light will be reduced, in consequence of a permanent terrestrial
and anti-terrestrial tide, which will be subject to moderate oscillations
of about the same extent with the moon's librations ; which tide, how-
ever, will preserve a continual accumulation of atmosphere near the
point which seems to be the centre of the moon's disc, and that which
is diametrically opposite. The elevation of the zone of atmosphere
which, in such case, would surround the edge of the disc, must, in con-
sequence, be invariably less than that of almost any other portion.
The force of the earth's gravity, tending to produce a tide at the
moon's surface, would be more than twenty times as great as that of
the moon at the earth's surface, and owing to the feeble gravitation of
the moon at her own surface, the same force there would raise a tide
some six times as high as at the earth's surface. So that an atmos-
phere similar to ours would have a tide from the action of the earth
about 158 times as high as our atmospheric tides from the action of
the moon.

2. Whatever be the constitution of the substance or substances at

202

the surface of the moon, they exercise an action which at some points
deflects, at others inflects, light, producing what (were it not that it
cannot at present be asserted that any part of it is due to reflection)
might be termed a lunar mirage. In accordance with this general
law of action are observed, — the broken cusps, the dark lines, the
isolated spots of light of red or other colour, in total and annular
eclipses of the sun, — the occasional distortion of planets, the projec-
tion of stars upon the moon, and the fact that some of those bodies
are not visible at the edge of the moon's disc at emersion, but are first
seen at some little distance from it: all of which have been observed
in occultations.

3. This action of the moon upon light is specific; being more in-
tense in the case of the red ray. Hence many of the phenomena are
more readily discernible, when a screen of that colour is employed ;
though not altogether invisible, if the colour of the screen be differ-
ent. Hence, also, the isolated spots of light, seen during a total eclipse
of the sun, are red ; and red stars seem to be more frequently projected
upon the moon's disc than others.

4. The corona which surrounds the moon during a total eclipse of
the sun exhibits —

(a) An interior bright edge, which may be due to the action of the
moon.

(b) Just before the emersion, a well defined portion, which seems
to mark a comparative vacuum surrounding the sun.

(c) A second portion of more decided density.

(d) A rarer portion, exhibiting in some cases decided radiations,
which, as has sometimes been supposed, may be the central part of the
substance which produces the zodiacal light.

Mr. Boye mentioned, that Mr. Clark Hare had communi-
cated to him, that, in conjunction with Messrs. Channing and
Gibbs, he had succeeded in producing the perchlorate of the
oxide of methule, by the same process which Mr. Hare and
Mr. Boye himself had employed for producing the perchlorate
of the oxide of ethule; namely, the distillation of the dry sul-
phomethylate of baryta and perchlorate of baryta.

Thia compound resembles, in its general properties, the perchlorate
of the oxide of ethule, being a colourless liquid, hi avier than water,
and exploding with great violence <>n 1 »* ■ i 1 1 ^ touched by an ignited
body. The force •■fits explosion seemed, however, less than that of
the corresponding compound of ethule; nor did it appear capable of

203

being ignited by friction or percussion. It was sweet to the taste, but
possessed a pungency which in a short time became painful, and at-
tacked the skin of the tongue, so as to destroy the power of tasting,
and to leave the surface white for several days afterwards.

Mr. Boye remarked that, when the perchlorate of ethule was dis-
covered, the quantity of permanent gases generated by its explosion,
and the extreme force with which it scattered the pieces of the vessel
in which it was contained, had suggested to him the idea of employ-
ing it as an explosive agent, and he had designed making some expe-
riments on this subject, by mixing it with small portions of other sub-
stances; but finding it perfectly unmanageable, he had abandoned the
attempt. The fact that the perchlorate of methule is not explosive
spontaneously, or by friction or percussion, suggested a similar idea;
principally as this substance contains more oxygen than is necessary
for its own combustion, and, therefore, would probably permit still
better the admixture of other combustible liquids, so as to control its
explosive force, and abate it so far as to render it applicable to pur-
poses of projection. The advantages of such a liquid over common
gunpowder would be, in the first place, that it would yield a much
greater amount of gaseous matter; secondly, being a liquid, the whole
mass would explode at once, while in common gunpowder a portion
of the grains are thrown out without being ignited; and, thirdly,
being entirely convertible into gases, it would leave no solid residue,
which is a great inconvenience with ordinary gunpowder.

Mr. B. further remarked that, in their paper on the perchlorate of
ethule, Mr. Clark Hare and himself had expressed the opinion, that,
in explosive violence, it was not equalled by any substance known in
chemistry ; for, although they had never had occasion to compare it
directly with the chloride of nitrogen, there was one point in which
it evidently much surpassed that substance ; namely, the great dis-
tance to which its explosion was perceptible, and the force with which
it projected the fragments of the containing vessel. Minute pieces of
glass might be seen, where it struck the glass plates of the screen, to
have been converted into minute heaps of a compressed powder, pro-
truding above the surface of the glass, under which, on removing the
powder, a dent appeared. In order to form a more distinct idea of
its power, Mr. B. had calculated the volume of gas given off by the
perchlorates of ethule and methule, by chloride of nitrogen, and by
gunpowder; from which it appears, that, when the temperature to
which the gases are raised by the explosion is assumed to be 1000°
centigrade, or 1832 Fahrenheit, which is a little lower than the heat

204

in the white part of flame, the perchlorate of ethule will yield a vol-
ume of gas 2§ times as great as that yielded by an equal weight of
gunpowder, and 2 J times the amount yielded by chloride of nitrogen;
while, if the explosion be supposed to take place in a vessel of the
exact capacity of the substance, and strong enough to withstand the
pressure exercised against its sides, this pressure would be with gun-
powder 1566 atmospheres, with chloride of nitrogen 2852, and with
perchlorate of ethule (the specific gravity of this latter being assumed
to be 1.4) 5648; or the latter would be 3§ times that of gunpowder,
and twice that of chloride of nitrogen.

Gunpowder

Chloride of
nitrogen

Perchlorate
of methule

Perchlorate
of ethule

S c

■ o*

.§»§

~ - 2

■ .2.0

3 O «

°>,s

8

oc ^ <—

t, seo

8.

ur S

go

-30 u

O

>

35.5

330

371

55.8

682

49.7

868

o_o

;■= .E a

|| g-

Eo-2

3 vol. Carb. acid,
1 ,, Nitrogen.

3 vol. Chlorine,

1 „ Nitrogen.
'2 vol. Carb. acid,

2 „ Steam,

2 „ Chlorohyd. acid,
.1 » Oxygen.

4 vol. Carb. oxide,
4 „ Steam,

2 ,, Chlorohyd. acid.

1.39
2.07

1.41

0.89

33-8

"3 **!!

1536
1726

3170
4034

§^5

1566|
2852

4438§

.v,i--;

B i
g a

- -

1.
1.8

2.8
3.6

"The steam is here, for convenience, considered not to condense, but to
contract regularly from 100° to 0° as a permanent gas.

t This number also expresses the pressure in atmospheres at the moment of
explosion.

X Gunpowder is here assumed to have the specific gravity of 1.02, as given
in Ure's Dictionary, and to have the usual composition of 75 per cent, of nitre.
An experiment with Dupont's best Eagle powder, when well shaken together
by tapping on the outside of tho vessel, gave the specific gravity of 1 .<'.">5. An
analysis of it yielded nitre 77.28, carbon 12..r>8, sulphur 10.14. It lost by desic-
cation, in vacuo over sulphuric acid, 0.86 per cent, of hygroscopic moisture,
and yielded 0 87 per cent, of ashes, of a bright reddish colour from its carbon.

§ The ipecific gravity <>f the perchloratei of the oxides <>f methule and ethule
is unknown, but is assumed to be 1.1, as they arc much heavier than water.

205

The differences will be still more striking, if it be further assumed,
that the projective force is not only dependent on the pressure at the
time of the explosion, but also on the specific gravity of the gases, or
what may be termed their energy; and that, in regard to gunpowder,
this effect is considerably lessened by the fact, that, when the explo-
sion takes place in a vessel that yields before the maximum force is
attained, a considerable proportion of the powder is thrown out be-
fore it can act or be ignited ; while, with liquids, the ignition of the
whole mass is instantaneous. Mr. B. had no doubt that, in this re-
spect, the force of the perchlorate of the oxide of ethule might be
considered more than ten times as great as that of gunpowder. It
would also be evident from these considerations, that, in this same
respect, the chloride of nitrogen, although considerably inferior to the
perchlorates, still greatly surpasses gunpowder ; and that a prevalent
opinion to the contrary must be founded in a deception, probably
arising from the smallness of the quantities of this dangerous sub-
stance which can be employed with safety in experiments.

The Committee appointed at the adjourned meeting of the
5th of July, to report in relation to the proper course to be
pursued for the protection of the trust funds of the Society,
made a report, which was recommitted to the same Commit-
tee, with instructions to report at an adjourned meeting, to be
held on Friday evening next.

The following gentlemen were elected members of the So-
ciety:—

Petty Vaughan, of London.

Frederick Fraley, of Philadelphia.

Adjourned Meeting, July 22.

Present, thirty -five members.

Dr. Patterson, Vice-President, in the Chair.

The report of the Committee on the Museum property,
under the resolution passed at the adjourned meeting of the
5th of July, was read, and the Society adopted the recommen-
dations contained therein; namely, that the several instru-
2 A

206

merits of writing, indicated in the report as necessary for car-
rying into effect the purchase of the Museum property, and for
concluding with the Philadelphia Museum Company and with
Nathan Dunn, the agreements relative to the occupation of
parts of the Museum building, be executed by the President
in due form.

On motion of Mr. T. I. Wharton, the Committee on the
trust funds of the Society was continued.

Prof. Bache read a communication, in relation to the balance
due by the Society for the expenses of the Magnetic Observa-
tory. This communication was referred to the Committee on
the trust funds.

PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Vol. II. AUGUST, SEPT. & OCT., 1842. No. 23.

Stated Meeting, August 19.

Present, twenty-seven members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Mr. Fraley, a member elect, was presented to the President,
and signed the laws.

Letters were read: —

From the Baron de Ladoucette, dated Paris, 19th March,
1842, acknowledging the honour of his election as a member: —

From the Baron de Ladoucette, dated Paris, 5th May, 1842,
Count Graberg de Hemso, dated Florence, 30th May, 1842, —
the Hon. J. R. Ingersoll, dated Washington 13th July, 1842,
and the Dutch Society of Sciences at Harlem, dated 28th July,
1842, severally announcing the transmission of donations to
the Library: —

From Dr. Harlan, dated 19th Aug. 1842, announcing the re-
turn of the fossil bones of the Megalonyx, borrowed by him
from the Society some time since, and requesting that his paper
on the Orycterotherium Missouriense might be returned to
him: — and

From Mr. Picot, consul of France, dated 19th Aug. 1842,
inviting the Society to attend the funeral services in honour of
H. R. H. the late Duke of Orleans, on the 26th instant.

On motion, the request contained in Dr. Harlan's letter was
granted.

The invitation to attend the funeral services in honour of the
Duke of Orleans was accepted.
2 B

208
The following donations were announced:

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Catalogue of the Officers and Students in Yale College, 1841-2.

Svo. New Haven, 1841. — From the College.
Quarterly Summary of the Transactions of the College of Physicians

of Philadelphia, for May, June and July, 1842. Vol.1. No. 3.

8vo. Philadelphia, 1842. — From (he College.
The American Medical Library and Intelligencer. By Robley Dun-

glison, M.D. New Series. Vol. I. No. 12. For June, 1842.

8vo. Philadelphia, 1842. — From the Editor.
Ueber die Himjaritische Sprache und Schrift von Dr. Wilhelm

Gesenius. 8vo. 1^41. — From the Author.
Address delivered by B. A. Bidlack,on the 22d Feb. 1839, at Wilkes-

barre, Penn. 8vo. Washington, 1842. — From the Author.
Statistics of the United States of America. Collected under the Thir-
teenth Section of the Act for taking the Sixth Census. Published

by Authority. Folio. Washington, 1841. — From the Hon.

J. R. Ingersoll.
Bulletin de la Societe de Geographic Second Series. Vol. XVI.

8vo. Paris, 1841. — From the Society.
Journal de Pharmacie et de Chimie. New Series. Vol. I. Nos. 2,

3, 4 & 5. Svo. Paris, 1842— From the Editors.
Annales des Mines. Third Series. Vol. XX. No. 5. 8vo. Paris,

1841. — From the Council of Mines.
Journal Asiatiquc, ou Recueil de Memoires, d'Extraits et de Notices

relatifs a l'Histoire, a la Philosophic, etc. Third Series. Vol.

XII. No. 69, and Vol. XIII. Nos. 70 & 71. Svo. Paris,

1841-42. — From the Soci(t;/.
Fables de J. C. F. Ladoucctte. Seconde Edition. 8vo. (Two copies.)

Paris, 1842. — From the Author.
Notice sur la Vie et Bur les Travaux de M. le Baron de Ladoucette,

depute de la Moselle. 8vo. Paris, 1842. — From the Huron de

Ladoucette.
Recueil des Travaux de la Society d'Amateurs des Sciences, de

['Agriculture et des Arts, a* Lille. Annies 1810, 1820, 1821,

1822, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1826, el Ler Semestre de L827. Four

volumes. Hvo. Lille. — From the Society*
Seances Publiques de la Societe d'Amateurs des Sciences et des Arts,

209

a Lille. No. 4, 1811, & No. 5, 1819. 8vo. Lille.— From
the Society.

Memoires de la Societe Royale des Sciences, de PAgriculture et des
Arts, a Lille. 2e Semestre de 1827, et Annees 1828, 1829, 1830,
1831, 1832, 1833, 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840,
et 1841. Fourteen volumes. 8vo. Lille. — From the Society.

Observations Authentiques sur la Peste du Levant, et sur la Vertu
specifique de PHuile d'Olive contre cette effrayante Maladie.
Par J. Graberg de Hemso'. 8vo. Florence, 1841. — From the
Author.

Notice sur la Race de Dromadaires existant dans le Domaine de San
Rossore, pres de Pise en Toscane. Par Jacques Gr&berg de
Hemso. 8vo. Paris, 1840. — From the Avthor.

Degli Ultimi Progressi della Geografia Sunto Letto pel Conte Cava-
liere Jacopo Graberg da Hemso, Dottore di Filosofia e Belle Let-
tere, &c. 8vo. Milan. 1841. — From the Author.

Relazioni Commerciali delPEgitto dell'Isola di Candia, e della Siria
coi Porti dell'Italia e principalmente con quello di Livorno. 8vo.
Florence, 1841. — From Count Graberg de Hemso.

Sunto della Litteratura Svezzese in questi Ultimi Anni cioe fino all'
Epoca, del Viaggio del Sig. Marmier gia'dettato nell'anno 1833,
ma ora reveduto, corretto, e formito di giunte dal Conte Cav. Dot-
tore Jacopo Graberg da Hemso. 8vo. Florence, 1841. — From
the Author.

The Ninth Annual Report of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Soci-
ety. 8vo. Falmouth. 1841. — From the Society.

Natuurkundige Verhandelingen van de Hollandsche Maatschappij der
Wetenschappen te Haarlem. Vol. I. Part II. 4to. Harlem,
1841. — From the Society.

Journal of the Franklin Institute. Third Series. Vol. IV. No. 2.
8vo. Philadelphia, 1842. — From Dr. Patterson.

Principles of General and Comparative Physiology. By William B.
Carpenter, M.D. 8vo. London, 1841. — From the Author.

Principles of Human Physiology, with their chief Application to Pa-
thology, Hygiene, and Forensic Medicine. By William B. Car-
penter, M.D. 8vo. London, 1842. — From the Author.

Tic Douloureux, or Neuralgia Facialis, and other Nervous Affections;
their Seat, Nature and Cause: with Cases illustrating successful
Methods of Treatment. By R. H. Allnatt, M.D. 8vo. London,
1841. — From the Author.

Academic Royale des Sciences de Turin. Programme des Prix fon-

210

des par M. le Comte Pillet-Will, associe corresponduni de L' Aca-
demic Turin. — From the Academy.

Accademia Reale delle Scienze di Torino. Classe delle Scienze Mo-
rali, Storiche e Filologiche, Programma. Turin. — From the
Academy.

Public Documents (Senate). Second Session, Twenty-seventh Con-
gress, No. 336. Invention for preventing Explosion of Steam-
boilers. Washington. — From Prof. Walter R. Johi son.

Notizie sulla Moltiplicazione in Firenze negli anni 1837, 1838, 1839,
dell'Uccello Americano Paroaria Cucullata chiamato volgarmcnte
Cardinale. Da ( lo Passerini. Folio. Florence, 1841. — From
the Author.

£loge Historique de M. Livingston. Par M. Mignet. Lu a l'lnstitut
Royale de France, a la Seance publique du 30 Juin, 1838. 8vo.
Paris, 1838. — From Mr. Du Ponceau.

FOR THE CABINET.

A Fac Simile of the engrossed Copy of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence.— From the Department of State, through the Hon. J.
R. Ingersoll.

Dr. Bache, Reporter, announced the publication of Nos. 21
and 22 of the Proceedings of the Society.

Dr. Patterson announced the death of Professor John Patton
Emmet, of the University of Virginia, a member of the Socie-
ty, on the 13th of Aug. 1S42, aged 46 years, and gave a brief
notice of his character and services.

The Committee on the Museum property presented the seve-
ral papers and documents, necessary to carry into effect the
purchase of the property, duly executed under the instruc-
tions of the Society, given at the last meeting.

On motion, it was resolved, that the Committee on the trust
funds be charged with the duty of conferring with the Commit-
tee of Councils, in relation to the advance made by the city to
a fund for constructing an Astronomical Observatory.

211

Stated Meeting, September 16.
Present, thirty-five members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were read: —

From the Imperial Academy of Naturalists at Moscow, dated
8th May, 1842, and the Literary and Philosophical Society of
Manchester, dated 24th May, 1842, announcing the transmis-
sion of donations to the Library: —

From the Prince of Canino, dated Florence, 29th July, 1842,
referring to the meeting of scavans to be held at Lucca in 1843,
and to other matters of scientific interest.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

American Medical Library and Intelligencer. By Robley Dungli-
son, M.D. New Series. Vol. I. No. 13. Supplement. 8vo.
Philadelphia, 1842.— From the Editor.

Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester.
Second Series. Vol. VI. 8vo. London, 1842. — From the So-
ciety.

Twenty-fifth Annual Report of the London Provident Institution, to
the 20th Nov. 1841. London. — From William Vavghan, Esq.

Classification of the Trades, Occupations, Business and Callings of
the Depositors of the London Provident Institution. London. —
From the same.

Proceedings of the Royal Astronomical Society. Vol. V. Nos. 23
& 24. 8vo. London, 1842. — From the Society.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Nos. 1 to 12 in-
clusive, and Nos. 19 & 20. 8vo. Edinburgh. — From the So-
ciety.

Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Vol. XV. Part II.
4to. Edinburgh, 1842. — From the Society.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. For
the Year 1842. Parti. 4to. London, 1842. — From the Society.

Proceedings of the Royal Society. Nos. 50, 51, 52 & 53. Lon-
don, 1841-42. — From the Society.

Royal Society. Proceedings of the Committee of Physics, including
Meteorologv. Nos. 1, 2 & 3. London. — From the Society.

212

Catalogue of the Miscellaneous Literature in the Library of the Royal
Society. 8vo. London, 1841. — From the Society.

An Address on the early Settlement of the Valley of Pequea. By
Redmond Connyngham. Delivered at the Lyceum Celebration,
4th July, 1842, at Paradise. — From the Author.

Statistics of the United States of America, as collected under the Thir-
teenth Section of the Act for taking the Sixth Census. Published
by Authority. Folio. Washington, 1841. — From the Hon. G.
W. Toland.

Some Remarks on the Ancient Peruvians. By S. G. Morton, M.D.
From the Author.

Remarks on the so called Pigmy Race of the Valley of the Missis-
sippi. By S. G. Morton, M.D. — From the Author.

Description of some new Species of Organic Remains of the Creta-
ceous Group, &c. By S. G. Morton, M.D. — From the Author.

An Inquiry into the Distinctive Characteristics of the Aboriginal Race
of America. Read at the Annual Meeting of the Boston Society
of Natural History, April 27, 1842. By S. G. Morton, M.D.
8vo. Boston, 1842. — From the Author.

Catalogue of Skulls of Man and the Inferior Animals, in the Collec-
tion of S. G. Morton, M.D. — From Dr. Morton.

Description of some new Terrestrial and Fluviatile Shells of North
America. By Thomas Say. 8vo. New Harmony, 1840. —
From the same.

Descriptions of New Species of Quadrupeds inhabiting North Ameri-
ca. By J. J. Audubon and the Rev. John Bachman, D.D. —
From the Authors, through Dr. Morion.

Compendium of the Enumeration of the Inhabitants and Statistics of
the United States, from the Returns of the Sixth Census. To
which is added an Abstract of each preceding Census. Prepared
at the Department of State. Folio. Washington, 1841. — From
the Hon. J. R. Ingcrsoll.

Bolctin Enciclopedico dc la Sociedad Economics de Amigos del Pais.
No. 7. 8vo. Valencia, 1842. — From the Society.

Iconogrsfis dells Fauns [tslics <li Carlo Luciano Bonaparte, Principe
ili Canino <■ Musignano. Parts XVI. to XXIX. inclusive. Folio.
Rome, 1886—40. — From tin Author.

Bulletin de Is Society [mp6riale des Naturalistes de Moscou. Vol.
\l\. v. . 2, 3.4 i, andVol.XV. No. 1. s\". Moscow,
i-U-12.— Fr»m the Society.

213

Revue des Fossils du Gouvernment de Moscou. Par G. Fischer de
Waldheim. 8vo. Moscow, 1842. — From the Avthor.

Journal de Pharmacie et de Chimie. Third Series. Vol. I. No. 6.
8vo. Paris, 1842. — From the Editors.

Journal of the Franklin Institute. Third Series. Vol. IV. No. 3.
8vo. Philadelphia, 1842. — From Dr. Patterson.

Prof. Bache read a paper, entitled " Observations on the
Magnetic Dip, made in the United States in 1841, by J. N.
Nicollet," which was referred to a Committee.

Mr. Lea exhibited specimens of rock masses, brought by
Lieut. Rich of the U. S. Navy, from Payta in Peru, and from
the Bay of Coquimbo in Chili.

Mr. Lea drew the attention of the Society particularly to the for-
mer, which was interesting chiefly from the fact of its tending to il-
lustrate the theory of " existing causes." The rock from which this
specimen was taken is a compact sandstone, composed of minute
grains of quartz, cemented by carbonate of lime, and perforated by
Lithodomi or Boring Mollusca, being identical with the species now
inhabiting the neighbouring sea coast, and consisting of Petricola so-
lida, P. denticulata, Lithophagus dactylus, &c. The included
shells are in nearly a perfect state.

The elevation above the level of the sea from which this specimen
was taken, as stated by Lieut. Rich, is nearly two hundred feet, which
is remarkable, as the elevation of the coast by the earthquake of 1822,
as mentioned by Mrs. Graham, was but a few feet, and that of 1835,
as stated by Capt. Fitz Roy, being but about eight feet.

From the appearance of the specimen there can scarely be a doubt
but that it formed part of the shelving shore of the sea in a softer
state, into which the Lithodomi made their requisite foramina.

The second specimen consists chiefly of a single valve of a large
Ostrea, probably from the lower tertiary, and remarkable for its
great size, its length being about twelve inches, and its breadth eight
inches.

Mr. Kane announced the decease of Mr. Isaac Rand Jack-
son, a member of this Society, at Copenhagen, on the 27th of
July, at the age of thirty-seven.

On motion of Mr. S. C. Walker, Mr. Kane was requested to
prepare an obituary notice of the deceased.

214

Dr. Bache announced the decease of Baron Larrey, a mem-
ber of this Society, on the 24th of July, 1842, aged seventy-six.

On motion of Dr. Patterson, Mr. Kuhn was appointed on the
Committee of Finance, to fill the vacancy caused by the death
of Mr. Nicklin.

Stated Meeting, October 7.

Present, twenty-nine members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were read : —

From Mr. Petty Vaughan, dated London, 2d Sept. 1842, ac-
knowledging the honour done him by his election as a mem-
ber of this Society: —

From the Zoological Society of London, dated 2d July,
1842, and the Linnean Society of London, dated ISth July,
1842, severally acknowledging the reception of copies of the
Transactions and Proceedings of this Society: —

From the Society of Antiquaries of London, dated 21st June,
1842, announcing the transmission of the twenty-ninth volume
of the Archaeologia: —

From Major Graham, dated Washington, 28th August, 1S42,
presenting a series of maps and charts, illustrating the demar-
cation of a portion of the boundary between the United States
and Texas, and a chart of the entrance of the river Sabine: —

From Mr. William Cogswell, Corresponding Secretary of
the Northern Academy of Arts and Sciences, of Hanover, N. H.
dated ISth Dec. 1841, requesting the donation of the publica-
tions of this Society: — and

From Colonel Todd, American minister at St. Petersburg,
dated 13th April, 1S42, enclosing a letter received by him from
his Kxcellency Count Cancrinc, Minister of Finances of Rus-
sia, placing at Colonel Todd's disposal, two copies of Kupffer'fl
work on weights and measures, one of which he presents to
ibis Society.

On motion, the Society directed that a copy of the Proceed-

215

ings be regularly sent to the Academy of Arts and Sciences at
Hanover, and that acknowledgments be made by the Secretary
to Colonel Todd and Count Cancrine for the donation, received
this evening, of Kupffer's work on Weights and Measures.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Travaux de la Commission pour fixer les Mesures et les Poids de
l'Empire de Russie. Rediges par A. Th. Kupffer, Membre de
cette Commission et Academicien. Two volumes, quarto, with
a folio volume of Plates. St. Petersburg, 1841. — From his Ex-
cellency Count Cancrine, Russian Minister of Finances^ through
Colonel Todd, American Minister at St. Petersburg.

Archoeologia, or Miscellaneous Tracts relating to Antiquity. Pub-
lished by the Society of Antiquaries of London. Vol. XXIX.
4to. London, 1842. — From the Society.

The Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. Vol. XIX.
Part I. 4to. London, 1 842. — From the Society.

List of the Linnean Society. 1842. — From the Society.

Proceedings of the Linnean Society. No. 14. — From the Society.

Proceedings of the Geological Society of London. Nos. 77 to 83 in-
clusive.— From the Society.

Proceedings of the Royal Society. No. 54. — From the Society.

Astronomical and Magnetical and Meteorological Observations, made
at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, in the Year 1840: under
the direction of George Biddell Airy, Esq. M.A., Astronomer
Royal. 4to. London, 1842. — From the Royal Society.

Transactions of the Zoological Society of London. Vol. III. Part I.
4to. London, 1842. — From the Society.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. Nos. 96 to 107
inclusive. 8vo. London, 1841. — From the Society.

Reports of the Council and Auditors of the Zoological Society of Lon-
don, April 29, 1842. London, 1842. — From the Society.

Transactions of the Society instituted at London for the Encourage-
ment of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Vol. LIII. Part II.
8vo. London, 1841. — From the Society.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
Nos. 15 & 16. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1642.— From the Academy.

Ueber die Lais, Sequenzen und Leiche. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte
der Rhythmischen formen und Singweisen der Volkslieder und
2 c

216

der Yolksmassigen Kirchen-und Kunstlieder im Mittelalter. Von
Ferdinand Wolf. 8vo. Heidelberg, 1841. — From the Author.

Notice sur I'Eurypterus dc Podolie et le Chirotherium de Livonie, par
G. Fischer de Waldheim, Dr. en Philosophic, etc. 4to. Mos-
cow, 1-39. — From the Author.

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Edited by Isaac
Hays, M.D. New Series. No. 8. For October, 1842. 8vo.
Philadelphia, 1842.— From the Editor.

Academic Royale des Sciences. Rapport sur un Memoire de M.
Costa, etc. 4to. Paris, 1826. — From Mr. D. B. Warden.

Academie Royale des Sciences. Rapport sur un Memoire de M. Se-
rullas, etc. 4to. Paris, 1-2!). — From the same.

Academie Royale des Sciences. Expose des Recherches pour deter-
miner les Forces elastiques dc la Vapeur d'Eau a de hautcs
Temperatures. 4to. Paris, 1830. — From the same.

Academie Royale des Sciences. Rapport sur un Memoire de M. le
Baron de Morogucs, etc. 4to. Paris, 1832. — From the .same.

Comparison des Formes crystallines de la Strontianc carbonatee avec
cedes de l'Arragonite. Par M. Ilaiiy. 4to. Paris. — From the
same.

Nouvellcs Observations sur la Faculte conservatrice de l'Electricite
1'aide du Frottcment. Par M. Ilaiiy. 4to. Paris. —
From tlu same.

Observations sur la Simplicite des Lois auxquelles est soumise la
structure des Cristaux. Par M. Hauy. Paris. — From the tame.

Description d'une Nouvelle Variete d'Amphibole. Tar M. Hauy.
4to. Paris. — From the same.

Sur les Cymophanes des Etats-Unis. Par M. Hauy. Paris. — From
tin same.

Sur I'Usage des Caracte'res physiques des Mineraux, pour la distinc-
tion des Pierres pr&cieuses qui ont ete taillees. Par M. Hauy.
Uo. Paris — From the same.
it Royal de Prance. Annual re, 1842. 12mo. Paris, 1S42.

From tin same.

Expedition au P6le Antarctique des < lorvettes I' Astrolabe el la /dee,
le Commandement de M. Dumont d'Urville. Svo. Pans,

1 - III. — From tin same.

Rapporl Bur les Travaux de la Societ6 Royale el Centrale d'Agricul-
ture, Seance publique de 26 Avril, I - 1 1 . Par M. Sou-

lange Bodin. 8vo. — From the same.

1 1. i lu M'-U/.r (Pinu£ larix), d'apres des Observations

fa.it) .-—From th< sanu ■

217

Conseils aux Nouveaux Educateurs de Vers a Soie. Par M. Frede-
ric de Boullenois. 8vo. Paris, 1842. — From the same.

Rapport sur une Proposition faite au Gouvernement par M. de Las-
teyrie. Par le Secretaire perpetuel, G. Cuvier. ler Fevrier,
1813. Folio. — From the same.

A lithographic plate, entitled "Mosa'fque decouverte le 24 Octobre,
1831, dans une Maison de Pompei, dite la Maison du Faune." —
From the same.

Map of the River Sabine from Logan's Ferry to 32d degree of North
Latitude, showing the Boundary between the United States of
America and the Republic of Texas between said Points. — From
Major Graham, U. S. Topog. Engineers.

Part of the Boundary between the United States and Texas, from Sa-
bine River, northward, to the 36th mile Mound. — From the
same.

Part of the Boundary between the Lnited States and Texas, North
of Sabine River, from the 39th to the 72d mile Mound. — From the
same.

Part of the Boundary between the United States and Texas, North
of Sabine River, from the 72d mile Mound to Red River. — From
the same.

Sabine Pass, and Mouth of the River Sabine in the Sea. Surveyed,
under the direction of Major J. D. Graham, U. S. Topog. Engi-
neers, by Lieut. T. J. Lee, Topog. Engineers, and Capt. P. J.
Pillans, Texan Army. — From the same.

Map of the River Sabine, from its Mouth on the Gulf of Mexico, in
the Sea, to Logan's Ferry, in Latitude'310 58' 24" north. Show-
ing the Boundary between the United States and the Republic of
Texas. — From the same.

Mr. Kane, pursuant to the order of the Society at its last
meeting, presented an obituary notice of the Hon. Isaac Rand
Jackson.

Mr. Jackson was born at Newburyport, Massachusetts, where his
family had resided for many years. After receiving an education in
the public schools of Massachusetts, to which he added largely by as-
siduous private study, he engaged for a short time in merchandise.
His health, however, led him to visit Europe soon after he had reach-
ed manhood, and he spent some years there in the cultivation of the
refined tastes by which he was afterwards distinguished. On his re-
turn, he studied law under Chief Justice Cranch of the District of Co-

218

lumbia, and was admitted to the bar of Washington and that of Phi-
ladelphia.

But the law was for him an accomplishment, rather than a profes-
sion. He devoted himself more fully to general science and ele-
gant literature, and found congenial relaxation in the study of the
arts. An ample fortune facilitated these pursuits. He surrounded
himself with choice pictures and statuary, a fine cabinet of medals
and coins, a collection of minerals more extensive perhaps in the num-
ber of specimens than any other in the United States, and an exceed-
ingly valuable library.

He was not, however, a mere collector. His books, though re-
markable some of them for their antiquity and rarity, wore not things
for show. To the standards of English and continental literature, he
added all the latest productions of value as they issued from the press:
he received these regularly, and sifted them himself before assigning
them a place on his shelves. The descriptive catalogue of his mine-
rals, which includes more than 12,000 specimens, classified upon the
basis of Cleaveland's system, each compared with the original type
and its characteristics indicated, is a monument of his scientific la-
bour. The preparation of it engaged his leisure, between midnight
and two o'clock, for several years.

fndeed, all his habits showed the man of regulated industry. Al-
most engrossed occasionally by the cares of his estate during the day, —
sharing zealously and effectively in the political discussions of the
times, — mastering successively the French, Italian, Spanish, and • rer-
man languages, — and keeping himself in the advance among tin* stu-
dents of natural science, — he had always his hours of leisure for an
enlarged correspondence, and for ample hospitality.

I le becan e a member of the Society in April, L841. He had short-
ly before accepted from General Harrison the post of Charge d' Af-
faires at Copi nhagen, and in August of that year he sailed for Den-
mark. He had scarcely become domiciliated in his diplomatic resi-
dence, and was jusl renewing some researches which he had ;
at home into the antiquities of the North, when death mel him on the
■.'"ill of July, L 842, at the early age of thirty-seven.

Dr. Patterson read a paper on the " rntegration of Irrational
Functions, by Pike Powers," which was referred to a Com-
mits

\ paper, consisting of extracts from a mathematical common-
place hook, was nad. and referred to a Committee.

219

Dr. Hare communicated to the Society, a summary of his
objections to the arguments in favour of the existence, in the
amphide salts, of compound radicals analogous to cyanogen.

Dr. Hare stated, that the success which had been conceived to at-
tend the inferences lately made, respecting the existence of compound
radicals in various interesting organic substances, had led some dis-
tinguished chemists to suppose that the salts heretofore believed to
consist of acids and bases, might consist of a compound halogen body
or " salt radical," with a metal or with hydrogen.

Having given to the facts and arguments advanced in favour of
this new doctrine the most sedulous consideration, Dr. Hare declared
himself to have arrived at the conviction that it was susceptible of
being refuted.

Accordingly, he had prepared an essay which it was hoped would
be found to justify the view of the question which he had taken. He
did not, however, deem it proper to take up the time of the Society
by entering into the subject fully in a verbal communication; he
would only submit a summary of the opinions which he hoped to
justify in the essay which he intended to publish.

(a) The community of effect, as respects the extrication of hydro-
gen by contact of certain metals with aqueous solutions of sulphuric
and chlorohydric acid, is not an adequate ground for an inferred ana-
logy of composition ; since it must inevitably arise that any radical
will, from any compound, displace any other radical, when the forces
favouring its substitution preponderate over the quiescent affinities: —
(6) But if, nevertheless, it be held that the evolution of hydrogen
from any combination, by contact with a metal, is a sufficient proof
of the existence of a halogen* body, simple or compound, in the com-
bination, the evolution of hydrogen from water, by the contact with
any metal of the alkalies, must prove oxygen to be a halogen body ;
also the evolution of hydrogen from sulphydric, selenhydric, or tellu-
hydric acids, by similar means, would justify an inference that sul-
phur, selenium and tellurium, as well as oxygen, belong to the halo-
gen or salt radical class : —

(c) The amphigen bodies being thus proved to belong to the halo-
gen class, oxides, sulphides, selenides, and tellurides, would be haloid
salts, and their compounds double salts, instead of consisting of a
compound radical and a metal: —

* The epithet halogen is applied to bodies whose binary compounds with
metals are deemed sails, and which are consequently called haloid salts.

220

(d) The argument in favour of similarity of composition in the
haloid and amphide salts,* founded on a limited resemblance of pro-
perties in some instances, is more than counterbalanced by the ex-
treme dissimilitude in many others: —

(c) As, in either class, almost every property may be found which
is observed in any chemical compound, the existence of a similitude,
in some cases, might be naturally expected : —

(f) As it is evident that many salts, perfectly analogous in com-
position, are extremely dissimilar in properties, it is not reasonable to
consider resemblance in properties, as a proof of analogy in compo-
sition : —

(g) No line of distinction, as respects either properties or compo-
sition, can be drawn between the binary compounds of the amphigen
and halogen bodies, which justifies that separate classification which
the doctrine requires; so that it must be untenable as respects the
one or be extended to the other: —

(A) The great diversity, both as respects properties and composi-
tion of the bodies called salts, rendering it impossible to define the
meaning of the word, any attempt to vary the language and theory
of Chemistry, in reference to the idea of a salt, must be extremely
pernicious: —

(i) There is at least as much mystery in the fact that the addition
of an atom of oxygen to an oxacid, should confer an affinity for a
simple radical, as that the addition of an atom of this element to such
a radical, should create an affinity between it and an oxacid: —

(j) If one atom of oxygen confer upon the base into which it en-
ters, the power to combine with one atom of acid, it is quite consistent
that the affinity should be augmented, proportionably, by a further
accession of oxygen : —

(k) It were quite as anomalous, mysterious, and improbable, that
there should be three oxyphosphions, severally requiring for satura-
tion one, two, and three atoms of hydrogen, as thai three isomeric
states of phosphoric acid should exist, requiring as many different
equivalents of basic water': —

(I) The attributes of acidity alleged to be due altogether to the pre-
sence of basic water, are nol seen in hydrated acids, when holding

water in that form onlj ; oor in such as are, like the oily acids, inca-

" An amphide s;ilt is one consisting of an acid and :i base, each containing
an amphigen bodj . either oxygen, sulphur, selenium, or tellurium, oa its elec-
tro-negative ingredient .

221

pable of uniting with water as a solvent. Further, these attributes
are admitted to belong to salts which, not holding water as a base,
cannot be hydrurets or hydracids of any salt radical: and while such
attributes are found in compounds which, like chromic and carbonic
acid, cannot be considered as hydrurets, the^ do not exist in all that
merit this appellation, as is evident in the cases of prussic acid and
oil of bitter almonds : —

(ni) It seems to have escaped attention, that if SO4 be the oxysul-
phion of sulphates, SO3, anhydrous sulphuric acid, must be the oxy-
sulphion of the sulphites; and that there must, in the hyposulphites
and hyposulphates, be two other oxysulphions ! —

(n) The electrolytic experiments of Daniell have been erroneously
interpreted ; since the electrolysis of the base of sulphate of soda
would so cause the separation of sodium and oxygen, that the oxy-
gen would be attracted to the anode, the hydrogen and soda being
indirectly evolved by the reaction of sodium with water; while the
acid deprived of its alkaline base, would be found at the anode in
combination with basic water, without having been made to act in
the capacity of an anion : —

(o) The copper, in the case of a solution of the sulphate of this
metal and a solution of potash, separated by a membrane, would, by
electrolyzation, be evolved by the same process as sodium, so long
as there should be copper to perform the office of a cathion ; and
when there should no longer be any copper to act in this capacity,
the metal of the alkali, or hydrogen of water, on the other side of the
membrane, would act as a cathion ; the oxygen acting as an anion
from one electrode to the other, first to the copper, and then to the
potassium : —

(p) The allegation that the copper was deposited from the want
of an anion (oxysulphion) to combine with, is manifestly an error;
since, had there been no anion, there could have been no discharge,
as alleged, to hydrogen as a cathion, nor any electrolysis : —

(5) The hydrated oxide precipitated on the membrane came from
the reaction of the alkali with the sulphate of copper ; the precipitated
oxide of this metal from the oxygen of the soda acting as an anion ;
and the deposite of metallic copper from the solutions performing,
feebly, the part of electrodes, while themselves the subjects of elec-
trolyzation : —

(r) The so called principles of Liebig,* by which his theory of

* Traite de Chimie Organique, torn. 1, page 7.

222

organic acids is preceded, are mainly an inversion of the truth ; since
they make the capacity of saturation of hydrated acids dependent on
the quantity of hydrogen in their basic water, instead of making
both the quantity of water, and, of course, the quantity of hydrogen
therein, depend on their capacity : —

(s) All that is truly said of hydrogen would be equally true of any
other radical; while the language employed, would lead to the belief
that there is a peculiar association between capacity of saturation,
and the presence of hydrogen.

Prof. Bache drew the attention of the Society to the neces-
sity of providing means for continuing the observations now
making under the direction of the Society at the Magnetic Ob-
servatory, or of closing the Observatory: whereupon, on mo-
tion of Dr. Patterson, a special Committee was appointed, to
report in regard to providing means for the continuation of the
observations. Committee, Dr. Chapman, Dr. Patterson, Dr.
Wood, Mr. Fraley, and Mr. Kane.

On motion of Mr. F. Peale, permission was granted to Mr.
Justice, to have casts made from certain medals in the cabinet
of the Society, under the direction of the Curators.

...^ced Meeting, Oct. 21.

Present, thirty-nine members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were read: —

From Fletcher Webster, Esq. Acting Secretary of State,
dated Washington, 7th Oct. 1842, announcing the transmission
to the Society of a number of volumes of Public Documents: —

From tli«' Secretary of the Imperial Society of Naturalists
of Moscow, dated 13th July, 1842, announcing that the Bul-
letin of the Moscow Society for 1842, had been forwarded to
this Society : —

From the Secretary of the Botanical Society of London,
dated 1st July, 1842, and the Secretary of the Royal Geogra-
phical Society of London, dated 12th Jan. 1842, severally ac-

223

knowledging the receipt of numbers of the Society's Proceed-
ings:— and

From Mr. Jacob Snider, Jr. dated Philadelphia, 21st Oct.
1842, presenting to the Society a bust of the late John
Vaughan, Esq.

On motion of Mr. Kane, it was resolved that the donation
of Mr. Snider be accepted, and that the bust of Mr. Vaughan
be placed as desired in Mr. Snider's letter.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

The United States' Almanac, or Complete Ephemeris, for the Year

1843. By John Downes. 8vo. Philadelphia. — From the Au-
thor.
Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania. Third

Series. Vol. IV. No. 4. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1842.— From

Dr. Patterson.
Bulletin de la Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou. Vol.

XV. No. 2. 8vo. Moscow, 1842. — From the Society.
Catalogus Coleopterorum in Sibiria Orientali a Cel. Gregorio Silide

Karelin collectorum, auctore G. Fischer de Waldheim. 8vo.

Moscow, 1842. — From the Author.
Executive Documents, Second Session, Twenty-sixth Congress.

Vols. I. to VI. inclusive. 8vo. Washington, 1840-41. — From

the Department of State.
Reports of Committees, Second Session, Twenty-sixth Congress.

8vo. 1840-41. — From the same.
House Journal, Second Session, Twenty-sixth Congress. 8vo.

1840-41. — From the same.
Index to the Executive Documents and Reports of Committees of the

House of Representatives, commencing Dec. 1831, and ending

March, 1839. 8vo. — From the same.
House Journal, First Session, Twenty-seventh Congress. 8vo.

1841. — From the same.
Senate Documents, Second Session, Twenty-sixth Congress. Vols.

I. to V. inclusive. 8vo. 1840-41. — From the same.
Senate Documents, First Session, Twenty-seventh Congress. 8vo.

1841. — From the same.
Senate Journal, Second Session, Twenty-sixth Congress. 8vo.

1840-41. — From the same.
2 D

224

Senate Journal, First Session, Twenty-seventh Congress. 8vo.
1- 11. — From the same.

.rive Documents, and Reports of Committees, First Session,
Twenty-seventh Congress. 8vo. 1841. — From the same.

Resolutions, Laws and Ordinances, relating to the Pay. Half-pay,
Commutation of Half-pay, Bounty Lands, and other Promises
made by Congress to the Officers and Soldiers of the Revolution,
&c Twenty volumes. 8vo. 1838. — From tin same

Report from the Secretary of the Navy, communicating a Report on
the Second Invention of Thomas S. Easton, for preventing Ex-
plosions of Steam-boilers. 8vo. 1842. — From the same.

Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumberland,
Durham, and Newcastle upon Tyne. Vols. I. 6: II. 4to. New-
castle, 1831 — 1838. — From the Society.

Account of the Magnetical Observatory of Dublin, and of the Instru-
ments and Methods of Observation employed there. By the Rev.
Humphrey Lloyd, D.D. 4to. Dublin, 1842. — From the Au-
thor.

The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
No. 13. 8vo. London, 1842. — From the Society.

Proceedings of the Geological Society of London. Vol. III. Part II.
Nos. 84, 85 & 86. 8vo. London, 1841-42 From the So-
ciety.

Poesies Choisies de Jean-Simon Chaudron, suivies de l'Oraison Fu-
nebre de Washington, par le meme Auteur. 8vo. Paris, 1841.
From Mr. Du Ponceau.

The paper, entitled ''Extracts from a Mathematical Common
Place Book," read at the last meeting, was, with the consent of
the Society, withdrawn by the author.

Mr. Lea read a continuation of his paper on new fresh
water and land shells, which was referred to a Committee.

This paper contains the following species: —

l in,, inn iii, i in n it a.-,. Testa triangulari, compressa, insequilaterali, postice
angulata, ad latera planulata,; valvulis craasis; natibua prominentibus ; epi«
dermide lutea, valde radiata , dentibas cardinalibus crassis; lateralibua cra>sis
margarita alba. Ilnl*. Coosa diver, Ala, — l>r. Brumby.

i in,, l lull mini- 'l, 'i elliptica, subinflata, insquilaterali ; valvulis subten-

uilius ; natibua prominulia, ad apicem undulata,; epidermido tenebroso-fuscs,,

striata; dentibua cardinalibus magma, compresaia; lateralibua longia aubcur-

margarita alba ol irideacente. //»/'. Mississippi River, 30 miles

above New Orleans. Jotiah Hale, M l>

225

Unio Dariensis. Testa oblonga, subinflata, inaequilaterali, postice perangu-
lata, ad latera planulata, valvulis subcrassis, natibus prominulis; epidermide
luteo-fusca ; dentibus cardinalibus compressis; lateralibus longissimis lamella-
tisque ; margarita alba. Hub. Near Darien, Georgia. J. H. Covj/cr, Esq.

Jinodonta Dunlapiana. Testa elliptiea, inflata, subcylindracea, transverse
vittata; valvulis tenuibus ; natibus prominulis, undulatis; epidermide nitida,
luteola, obsolete radiata ; margarita alba et iridescente. Hab. South Caro-
lina.— Mrs. Dunlap.

Dr. Hare laid on the table some copies of an essay published
in Silliman's Journal for July, entitled "Additional Objections
to Redfield's Theory of Storms," for the use of such members
as might take an interest in meteorological discussions.

In addition to the errors previously enumerated as existing in the
opinions and allegations, advanced in favour of that hypothesis, he
had, in the essay now submitted, adverted to the following : —

Attributing winds to the rotary or orbitual motion of the earth,
when by those forces no corresponding currents are produced in the
ocean.

Alleging that, by a conflict with an island, or concentration by
cliffs, a trade wind could be so accelerated and deflected, as to whirl
with the fury of a hurricane.

Supposing that, if a whirlwind could be so induced, it could endure
and could even receive an accession of force from a conflict with
extraneous bodies; when, owing to the centrifugal force consequent
to the gyration, the momentum must be rapidly communicated to the
surrounding fluid, and thus be dissipated in a quantity of matter, in-
creasing with the square of the distance from the centre.

The inconsistency of the characteristics of whirlwind storms, as
made out by certain alleged " reliable facts and observations" of
Mr. Redfield; such storms being represented as heaping up the air
on the border of the centrifugal force, while, at the same time, carry-
ing it, and other bodies, towards the centre, to be discharged at "one
extremity of the axis of rotation."

The contradiction in representing the barometric column as sink-
ing when first exposed to the advanced portion of a whirlwind, and
rising when under the rear portion ; when it is admitted that, by the
centrifugal force, an aerial accumulation must take place on all sides
towards the border.

The inconsistency of representing the diameter of the most violent
zone in storms, as usually much exceeding a hundred miles, the
storm advancing twenty-seven miles per hour ; and yet that an ob-

226

server, over whom the centre should pass, after exposure to the
greatest violence of the whirl on one side, could be suddenly exposed
to an equally violent but contrary w ind on the opposite side.

The discordancy of the whirlwind theory (agreeably to which a
storm, travelling towards the north-west and whirling to the left,
must have it- greatest velocity in a south-easter on the north-eastern
limb, where the tangential velocity coincides with the progressive mo-
tion), with the fact stated by Edwards, and admitted by Redfield, that
on the limb alluded to, in the storms alleged so to move, there is the
least violence.

The obvious consequence, that if our north-eastern gales be due to
a whirlwind, moving along the coast of the United States at the rate
of twenty -seven miles nearly per hour, whirling to the left, the gyra-
tory velocity on the south-eastern limb must be more than fifty miles
per hour greater than on the north-western limb; so that a much
more violent gale from the south-west, at sea, must be simultaneous
with the prevalence of every north-eastern gale along the coast; all
of which is contrary to experience.

The palpable inconsistency of representing tornadoes as generated
by the conflict of winds, arising from the earth's motion, with islands,
and yel as ensuing in a calm, where there arc no active currents to
meet each othi

To this list of errors, the following, since detected, might be sub-
joined : —

In opposition to the "long cherished theory of calorific rarefac-
tion" entertained by the modern meteorological school, Mr. Redfield
ascribes all winds to a rotative movement, arising from rotary or
nrbitual motion of the earth, and conflicts between trade winds and
islands, and yel denies that he has advanced any theory of storms
upon assumed scientific principles.

He repeats thai the general winds would be more uniform, brisk,

* If tornadoes originate in culms, where there arc " vo currents to meet tack
other,' and if the; be attended by vertical currents abonl the axis, this must
of necessity be productive of centripetal currents, which will probably gyrate
from their obliquity. But whal other cause can be productive of the upward
current under inch circumstances, if it. be ""i an inferior pressure over a cen-
tral ip

Redfield's account "t" whirlwinds excited by fire demonstrates, thai ■ cause
producing an upward currenl in the atmosphere, may, under favourable cir-
cumstances, be productive of tornadoes and concomitant electrical discharges,
s.c Billiman's Journal, for 1839, VoL WW I page 50.

227

and constant, than at present, were the temperature uniform all over
the globe, and yet denies that he represents the agency of heat as
unnecessary to the existence of winds.

As if affording support to his hypothesis, he continues his effort to
show that there has been gyration during certain tornadoes, after it
has been demonstrated that such gyration, being attended, as he has
admitted, by an upward current about the axis, and an acceleration
of velocity towards the centre of motion, is irreconcilable with whirl-
winds arising from the causes to which he has referred, and which
have been inconsistently admitted by him to be productive of a cen-
trifugal force, determining the air towards the circumference.

Founding an accusation of error, upon a mistake of his own, in
alleging that, when a storm travels from south-west to north-east,
whirling to the left, the progressive motion will not conspire with
that of the whirl on the south-eastern limb, so as to be productive of
a south-wester of pre-eminent fury : whence this inference, that Mr.
Redfield cannot perceive one of the most palpable and inevitable con-
sequences of his own doctrine, even after it has been pointed out to
him.*

Subsequently to the preparation of his second essay respecting the
errors of Redfield, Dr. Hare had found, in Dove's essay on the law
of storms, other errors, of which he would now give a sketch.

Treating it as sufficient to show a cause of gyration in a wind blow-
ing towards the equator, without assigning any cause for the pecu-
liar violence of the wind, which, being thus made to whirl, is converted
from a moderate trade wind into a furious hurricane.

Not perceiving that whatever bends the wind from a straight course,
must cause a loss of some portion of its velocity; so that gyration
must have the inverse effect of contributing to the unexplained acces-
sion of .violence which accompanies the transformation alluded to :
and further, that a travelling storm, as every whirlwind is represented
to be, cannot be sustained unless the causes of violence travel with it;
since any momentum, locally acquired, must soon be expended; and

* Agreeably to the observations collected by Loomis, the storms, in which
the well known sudden change from south-west to north-west occurs, travel
from north-west to south-east. But a change from the latter to the former di-
rection can only take place in a whirlwind in travelling from south-west to
north-east. Besides, as such storms have to cross the Alleghany mountains,
is it not inconceivable that they should whirl? See Transactions, A. P. S.
Vol. VII.

Can any mass of air be imagined to rotate, while a range of mountains is so
situated as to cut it nearly in twain?

228

the more rapidly, on account of the centrifugal force causing a colli-
sion with inert portions of the atmosphere beyond the zone, at which
the generating fora s ma) have been applied.

The centripetal theory assumes that an ascending column about the
centre of a storm, causes an aillux of wind from opposite qua
Professor Dove alleges that such winds must neutralize each other,
their intensity lessening inure and mere, as they approach their place
of meeting. This shows that he does not understand the theory which
he baa undertaken to refute; since it must be quite evident, that, in
rushing towards an ascending column, the velocity must become
greater as the space within which the affluent air has to huh
comes

It is also inferred by this negligenl reasoner, that the sudden change
of wind from one direction to another directly opposite, for which hur-
ricanes are notorious, and in proof of which he adduces additional
evidence, is inconsistent with the centripetal theory, upon the erro-
neous inference above noticed ; when tins suddenness of change has
been shown to be irreconcilable with the idea that hurricanes are
whirlwinds. In that case the wind would blow comparatively with
little force within a large ••, rjtral area, which, at the rate of travelling
admitted by him, would require several hours to pass over an observer,
so situated as to be successivel) exposed to opposite winds.

That an upward current, ha\ i n -r a bast- of 1 0,01X1 feet, or two miles
nearly, would require more wind to supply it (if of equal velocity)
than Hill of the largest tornadoes ever known to take place in the I id-
led States. It was believed thai no tornado had been observed to have
a focal area over 500 feet,* which would beonly one-twentieth of the
diameter above assumed, and of course the areas would be as loo
to l.

According to Professor Dove, storms travel at the rate of thirty
miles an hour. At this rate a focal area of 10,000 feel would require
less than two minutes to pass over an observer, so as to Bubject him
to winds blow ing directly opposite to i ach other.

* Thi thin which the •■■■ .lump' the f ;> tornado

over the river near Provide in Vugust i • timated by Mr Allen

500 t'<-et would ba\ e I" en i«r« xln. live
rnado nearly three tirrn the square of 5 t" that of 3, or ns

Journal for 1840, \ ol. XXXVIII. p. 77, < I u tioni,
\ P 8 Vol VI

d that the ■pace, within which the wat la the

ending column.

229

Dr. Hare had prepared a communication for the Ann rican Journal
of Science, in which he hoped to justify his summary statement of
em »rs.

Prof. Henry communicated, orally, an extension of the expe-
riments, which he had previously brought before the Society,
on electro-dynamic induction. He had succeeded in magneti-
zing needles b\ the si condary current in a wire more than two
hundred and twenty feet distanl from the wire through which
the primary current was passing, excited hy a single spark
from an electrical machine.

Mr. Lea called the attention of the Society to two specimens
of coal, taken from the large anthracite coal bed in the Pine
Grove district.

One of the specimens was remarkable for its regular rhombic form,
in which all the angles were 70 and 1 10°, the cleavage "I'1 ach plane
\ nearly perfect. The other was part of a large specimen of car-
bon, scarcely changed from its condition as charcoal, the loose fibrous
structure being nearly perfect, and die whole having very thin lamina;
of pure anthracite, parallel with the- fibre.

A portion only (2 or 3 feet) of this large hod, die dip of which is
about. 35°, pn .' .i'' d the oblique cl< (reserving that character

throughout as far as could 'be observi d.

Mr. Lea then made some observations on the disturbed condition
of the whole of the- southern coal field, and read a portion of a
from the Athenaeum, addressed by Mr. Lyell to Dr. Pitton, when be
states that the conversion from the bituminous to the anthracite con-
dition is "most complete where the beds have- he-en most disturbed."

Mr. Lea did not think this was the case throughout this coal field;
for Mr. Lyell seemed to have overlooked the feet, as shown in the
sections of Mr. Taylor's reports on that part which passes through
the county of Dauphin, arid known generally to our geologists, that
this, like the coal field of .South W i nsibly graduates into bi-

tuminous coal. Such is the fact, as we proceed westward in the
southern coal field of Pennsylvania, the- bitumen being yielded up in
the more eastern part, as stated by Mr. Taylor, Prof. Siiliman, and
other g(

ft is well known that the con;'1- and coal beds of Sharp

Mountain (the southern border of this coal field) are nearlj vertical
at Tamaqua, Pottsville, Pineg G G p, Rauch Gap, Yel-

low Spring Gap, and Rattling Run Gap; but there is a great differ-

230

ence in the debituminization in these different districts; the eastern
group varying from 5 to 7 per cent, in the proportion of volatile mat-
ter, while the western group has a much larger proportion, and varies
from 9 to 17 per cent., differing but 1 or 2 per cent, from that of
Blossburg, Queen's Run, Ralston and Cumberland, Md.; all these be-
ing on the eastern part of the great western coal field.

The attention of the Society having been called by the Li-
brarian to the state of the manuscripts in the Library, it was,
on motion of Mr. Kane, resolved that a Committee be appoint-
ed to consider the present condition of the manuscripts in the
possession or custody of the Society, and that they report
whether any and what action may be proper for their secure
preservation, and for facilitating their usefulness. Committee,
Mr. Ord, Mr. Kane and Mr. Frazer.

The following gentlemen were elected members of the So-
ciety : —

Rev. George Peacock, F.R.S., of Cambridge, England.

J. I. Clark Hare, Esq., of Philadelphia.

Prof. Benjamin Peirce, of Harvard University.

PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Vol. II. NOVEMBER & DECEMBER, 1842. No. 24.

Stated Meeting, Nov. 5.

Present, twenty-seven members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were read: —

From Mr. Clark Hare, acknowledging the honour done him
by his election as a member of the Society: —

From M. Quetelet, Secretary of the Royal Academy of Sci-
ences of Brussels, dated 7th May, 1842, acknowledging the re-
ceipt of copies of the Transactions and Proceedings of the So-
ciety:— and

From Mr. C. N. Bancker, transmitting to the Society, three
works of Mr. George Field, of Isleworth, England, as a dona-
tion to the Library.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Reply to Dr. Hare's further Objections relating to Whirlwind

Storms, &c. By W. C. Redfield. 8vo. New Haven, 1842.—

From the Author.
Nouveaux Memoires de l'Academie Royale des Sciences et Belles-

Lettres de Bruxelles. Vol. XV. 4to. Brussels, 1842. — From

the Academy.
Annales de l'Observatoire Royal de Bruxelles, publiees, aux Frais de

l'Etat, par le Directeur, A. Quetelet. Vol. II. 4to. Brussels,

1842. — From the same.
Bulletins de l'Academie Royale des Sciences et Belles-Lettres de
2e

232

Bruxelles. Annee 1842. Vol. IX. Nos. 3, 4, 5 & 6. 8vo.

Brussels, 1842. — From the same.
Quarterly Summary of the Transactions of the College of Physicians

of Philadelphia. For Aug. Sept. & Oct. 8vo. Philadelphia,

1842. — From the College.
Collections of the Georgia Historical Society. Vol. II. 8vo. Sa-
vannah, 1842. — From the Society.
Annates des Mines. Redigees par les Ingenieurs des Mines.

Troisieme Serie. Vol. XX. 8vo. Paris, 1841. — From the

Engineers of Mines.
Journal Asiatique, ou Recueil de Memoires, etc. etc. Publie par la

Societe Asiatique. Troisieme Serie. Vol. XIII. Nos. 73 & 74.

8vo. Paris, 1842. — From the Society.
Memoires du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle. Vol XIV. No. 7. 4to.

Paris, 1827. — From the Professors of the Museum.
Archives du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, publiees par les Profes-

seurs-administrateurs de cet Etablissement. Vol. I. Parts 2, 3

& 4, 1839, and Vol. II. Parts 1 & 2, 1841. 4to. Paris.—

From the same.
The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London. Vol. XI.

Part 2. 8vo. London, 1841. — From the Society.
Address to the Anniversary Meeting of the Royal Geographical So-
ciety. By William Richard Hamilton, F. R. S. &c, President.

8vo. London, 1842. — From the same.
Chromatics; or an Essay on the Analogy and Harmony of Colours.

By George Field. 4to. London, 1817. — From the Author.
Chromatography ; or a Treatise on Colours and Pigments, and of

their Powers in Painting. By George Field. 8vo. London,

1841. — From the Author.
Outlines of Analogical Philosophy: being a Primary View of the

Principles, Relations and Purposes of Nature, Science and Art.

By George Field. Two volumes. 8vo. London, 1839. — From

the Author.

The Committee, consisting of Dr. Hays, Mr. T. R. Pcale
and Mr. Ord, to whom was referred, at the last meeting, the
paper of Mr. Lea on new fresh water and land shells, re-
ported in favour of its publication in the Transactions; which
was ordered accordingly.

Mr. Onl communicated part of a letter which he had re-
ceived from a very eminent European naturalist, expressing

233

the deep interest felt abroad in the researches of the late Ant-
arctic expedition.

The writer had understood, that the gentlemen who composed the
corps of scientific explorers had ceased to be in the service of the
United States; and he referred in strong language to the wrong which
would be done to science, as well as to the parties immediately con-
cerned, if the task of arranging and describing the specimens they
had collected, should be assigned to any but themselves. He spoke of
the practice of other governments who had directed similar explora-
tions in modern times — of the impossibility of securing exact fidelity
and consistency of narrative, where one was appointed to digest the
brief and hurried memoranda of another — and of the want of confi-
dence which must always and every where be felt in a scientific ac-
count of the labours of naturalists, to which they had not individually
contributed their personal recollections, and on their individual respon-
sibility.

Mr. Ord concurred fully in the views of his correspondent. He
reminded the Society of the agency which it had exerted, at the in-
stance of a former Secretary of the Navy, in defining the positions
and duties of the members of the scientific corps, in preparing the in-
structions under which they acted, and in digesting the requisitions
for their use. He adverted to the fact, that, at the interview of con-
sultation, which took place in the Society's Hall, between the gentle-
men of the corps and the Secretary, aided by a commission whioh he
had chosen from among the members of the Society, it was under-
stood on all hands, that the department assigned to each scientific
gentleman in the expedition, would be subjected to no other interfe-
rence or control than what the service might require ; and that each
would have secured to him, on his return, all the honours which
might be earned by his personal toil. Mr. Ord expressed a belief,
founded on his recollections of that interview, that these assurances,
by satisfying the minds of the members of the corps, had the effect
of disembarrassing the action of the Secretary from the questions of
rank and precedence which had arisen among them ; and he regret-
ted that the informal character of the interview had, perhaps, left the
circumstances which he mentioned, without a record among the files
of the Navy Department.

234

Stated Meeting, November 18.

Present, twenty-six members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were read : —

From Prof. Peirce, of Harvard University, dated 10th Nov.
1842, acknowledging the honour done him by his election as a
member of the Society: —

From Dr. Tidyman, dated Charleston, 12th Nov. 1842, in
relation to certain autograph letters presented by him to the
Society: — and

From Mr. Bossange, bookseller, of Paris, dated 10th Oct.
1S42, addressed to the Librarian, offering his services to the
Society.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.

Vol. I. Nos. 17, 18 & 19. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1842.— From

the Academy.
Seven Autograph Letters, addressed to Dr. Tidyman by distinguished

persons in Europe — From Dr. Tidyman.

Dr. Bache announced the decease, on the 26th ult., of Dr.
William R. Fisher, a member of the Society, aged 34 years.

Mr. Lea made some remarks on the form and structure of
those univalve shells, known as turbinated and discoid shells,
and exhibited various species.

He stated that lie was aware ten or twelve years since that some
of the German mathematicians were engaged in the investigation of
their forms, with a view i > determine species mathematically. Mr.
L. referred t'> the ingenious and [earned papers of Prof. Moscly,
in the Philosophical Transactions and Philosophical Magazine, on
Conchiliometry, proving the conchospiral to be the logarithmic spi-
ral. It would be difficult t<> denj the truth of Prof. Mosely's conclu-
sion, that "to each particular shell is annexed a characteristic num-
ber, being the rath. < >f tli<- geometric progression." A more accurate

235

verification can scarcely be imagined than that from the admeasure-
ment of Turbo duplicates.

Geom.

ratio,

1.18.

Calculated.

Measured

1.31 -

.

1.31

1.1098

.

1.12

.9401

-

.94

.7965

.

.8

.6747

-

.67

.5716

-

.57

.4842

-

.48

.4102

.

.41

Mr. Lea also exhibited to the Society a beautiful and nearly per-
fect specimen of an Ammonite, from the Oxford Clay, Chippenham,
England, recently described in the Magazine of Natural History,
and which presented, entire, the process extending from the aperture,
which he passed some remarks upon.

Mr. Justice stated that he had examined the appearance of
the moon, to verify the observations made at New Bedford,
and that the phenomena visible were perfectly explicable, with-
out supposing that any combustion was going on at the surface
of the satellite.

Professor Bache stated that his attention had recently been
particularly called^ by a letter from M. Quetelet, Secretary of
the Academy of Sciences of Brussels, to the general instruc-
tions for simultaneous observations of natural phenomena, issued
by the Academy. Co-operation in the system of observations
by observers in the United States being very desirable, Prof.
Bache asked leave to offer the following resolution:

" Resolved, That a Committee of five members be appointed, to
report to the Society what measures may be taken, most effectually
to secure co-operation, by observers in the United States, in the sys-
tem of observations of periodical natural phenomena, forming the sub-
ject of the instructions of the Brussels Academy of Sciences."

This resolution was adopted, and the following Committee
appointed: — Prof. Bache, Dr. Patterson, Mr. Frazer, Dr. Gris-
com and Mr. Lea.

Prof. Bache communicated observations which had been

236

made at the Magnetic Observatory, of the number of meteors
or "shooting stars," for three hours on the mornings of the
12th, 14th and 15th of November. The morning of the 1 3th
was cloudy. The eyes of the observer were directed to the
zenith and northward. The results are contained in the fol-
lowing table.

APPARENT MOTION OF METEORS.

1 liVi£i.

DOWNWARD.

UPWARD.

Day.

Hour.

Eastward.

Westward.

North.

Eastward.

Weitward.

Nov.
12th.

12 to 1 A. M.

1 to 2

2 to 3

4
4
4

1

8
4

O
1

1

1

14th.
15th.

12 to 1 A.M.

1 to 2

2 to 3

3
5

7

4

7

10

1
1

1

2

12^ tol A.M.

1 to 2

2 to 3

4
6

3

4

1

The greatest number observed in any one hour was 17, the least 4;
the average number per hour during the three hours on the 12th, was
10; on the 14th, 14; and on the 15th, 7.

Stated Meeting, December 2.
Present, twenty-five members.
Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.
The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE I.I UK A It V.

A Catalogue of the ( Officers and Students of Dartmouth College, for
the Academical Year 1842-8. 8vo. Concord, 1842. — From the
College,

237

Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania. Third
Series. Vol. IV. No. 5. Philadelphia, 1842.— From Dr. Pat-
terson.

FOR THE CABINET.

An Inkstand of a new construction, invented by Mr. George Bar-
nam. — From the Inventor, by the hands of Mr. Baldwin.

Mr. Lea mentioned that, by some inadvertence, he had used,
in his papers read before the Society, several specific terms
which were preoccupied. He proposed to change on that ac-
count

Melania rufa to Melania rvfescens.

M. striata to M. striatula.

M. l&vigata to M. Icevis.

M. corrugata to M. rugosa.

Mr. Lea also mentioned, that he proposed the provisional
name of pressus for a Unio which he called compressus in a
paper read before the Society, until it should be ascertained
whether or not the shell from the Tilgate beds (secondary for-
mation in England,) called by Mr. Sowerby, Unio compressus,
should prove to be a true Unio, of which he had great doubt.

Professor Bache communicated, orally, a description of a new
induction inclinometer, by Professor Lloyd, of Dublin, and
suggested a modification, by which the same instrument might
be used to measure changes of declination and inclination.

In this new instrument of Professor Lloyd, the magnetism deve-
loped by the earth in a soft iron bar, placed vertically, is made to act
upon a magnetic bar suspended in a horizontal position ; the changes
of inclination being deduced from the changes in the position of the
horizontal bar. The modification proposed by Prof. Bache would,
he conceived, be useful, when it was desirable to economize in the
outlay for instruments, and when the director or a skilful assistant
was the observer. Two pieces of soft iron are so placed on the op-
posite sides of the horizontal magnetic bar as not to change its posi-
tion, one of them occupying the place of the vertical bar of soft iron
in Professor Lloyd's instrument. By an obvious mechanical arrange-
ment, the position of one of the pieces of soft iron is changed in a
vertical line; so that a pole of different name comes into the horizon-
tal plane of the axis of the suspended magnet, which is now deflected

238

by the sum of the forces developed by the earth's magnetism in the
two vertical bars.

The practical question was whether the horizontal bar could be
brought to rest, or nearly so, in time to observe its new position ; the
copper rectangles used in the declination instrument being obviously
inadequate to produce this effect. Prof. B. stated that his first assist-
ant and himself had both found this result practicable, even with the
short intervals of term-day observations. This was effected by a
change in the position of the movable vertical bar producing half the
amount of deflection ; — by allowing the horizontal magnet to make one
excursion in the direction of the impressed force, and when in motion
for the return, checking it by completing the change of position of the
vertical bar.

Prof. Bache further proposed the use of tubes of sheet iron for the
temporary magnets, as they can be more readily annealed, and all
permanent magnetism may thus be more easily destroyed in them,
than in bars.

The Treasurer presented the annual report of the state of the
funds of the Society, which was referred to the Committee of
Finance.

Mr. Lea, chairman of the Publication Committee, presented
the annual report in relation to the Society's Transactions.

The number of subscribers to the Transactions is 107. The
number of copies distributed in exchange with other Societies, &c, is
71, and the number sold to non-subscribers since the last annual re-
port, has been 10. The balance of funds in the hands of the Com-
mittee is $283.32.

Stated Meeting, December 16.

Present, thirty-two members.

Dr. Bache in the Chair.

Letters were read: —

From the Academy of Sciences of Paris, dated .r>th August,
1842,— the Royal Acnlemy of Turin, dated 88th Oct 1842,—

the Society of Antiquaries of London, dated 18th Nov. 1842, —
the Auxiliary Society of National Industry of Rio Janeiro,

239

dated 2d Oct. 1S42, severally acknowledging the receipt of
copies of the Society's Transactions and Proceedings.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

The Literary Age. Vol. I. Nos. 1 & 2. Edited by Reynell Coates,

M.D. 4to. Philadelphia, 1842.— From the Editor.
Inventory of Philosophical Instruments, Experimental Apparatus,

Models, Books, and all other Property, placed under the Control

of the Building Committee of the Girard College for Orphans.

8vo. Philadelphia, 1842. — From the Building Committee of

Girard College.
A Treatise on the Diseases of the Eye. By W. Lawrence, F.R.S

&c. &c. From the last London Edition. With Numerous Ad

ditions, and sixty-seven Illustrations. By Isaac Hays, M.D. 8vo

Philadelphia, 1843. — From the Editor.
M. Accii Plauti Amphitruo et Aulularia. Ex Editione J. F. Gronovii

Accedunt Notse Anglicse. Cura C. K. Dillaway, A. M. 12mo

Philadelphia, 1842.— From the Editor.
An Attempt to unite the different Theories concerning Light, Elec

tricity, Galvanism and Magnetism. By C. Campbell Cooper

Part I. Identity of Caloric and Electricity. 12mo. Philadel

phia, 1842. — From the Author.

Mr. Clark Hare and Mr. George Bancroft, recently elected
members, were presented to the presiding officer, and took
their seats.

Dr. S. G. Morton read the first part of a paper, " On the
Form of the Head, and other Ethnographic Characters of the
Ancient Egyptians," which was referred to a Committee.

In this paper, Dr. Morton first took a view of those nations with
whom the Egyptians appear to have held intercourse, either for war
or commerce, in the early epochs of their history; and among those
whom he has been able to identify, from a comparison of the
heads figured in the work of Rosellini, are the Celts, the Scythians, the
Pelasgic and Semitic nations, the Hindoos, Arabs and Negroes. Dr.
M's ethnographic observations have been made on one hundred
crania of ancient Egyptians, obtained by Mr. G. R. Gliddon at
seven different sepulchral localities, from Memphis, in Lower Egypt,
2 F

240

to Deboud, in Nubia ; and the author has classed the whole series in
the following manner : —

1. Arcto-Egyptians ; under which designation are embraced the
purer Caucasian nations, as seen in the Semitic tribes of Western
Asia, and the Pelasgic communities of Southern Europe.

2. Austro-Egyptians, in which the cranium blends the characters
of the Hindoo and Southern Arab; which people, in the opinion of
the author, were engrafted on the aboriginal population of Ethiopia,
and thus gave rise to the celebrated Meroite nations of antiquity.

3. Negroloid crania, in which the osteological development cor-
responds to that of the Negro, while the hair, though harsh and some-
what wiry, is long and not woolly ; thus presenting that combination
of features which is familiar in the Mulatto grades of the present day.

4. Negro.

In many of the crania, the Arcto-Egyptian, Austro-Egyptian and
Semitic characters are variously blended; while a few of them also
present traces of Negro lineage, modifying the features of the pre-
ceding types. The author presented, in anticipation of another sec-
tion of his memoir, the following tabular view of the entire collection
of heads, in which each one is classed according to the preponder-
ance of national organic characters.

SEPULCHRAL LOCALITIES.

l!

a

< 60

H

3 fc
<3

f

'5
o

6

J3

3

e>
©

Necropolis of Memphis,

26

21

4

1

Maabdeh,

4

2 1

2

Abydos,

4

2

1

1

Catacombs of Thebes,

55

28

16

4

5

2

Ombos,

3

1

o

Philre,

4

2

1

1

Deboud,

4

I

inn

;,<;

28

6

7

1

2

It, therefore, appears that the ( -am-asiaii crania constitute nine-tenths
of the whole Dumber; that the Negroloid heads are about one in four-

241

teen; and that among them all there is but one unmixed Negro.
It will also be perceived, that the Austro-Egyptian conformation in-
creases in proportion as we ascend the Nile and enter Nubia.

The author refers the blending of the Arcto-Egyptian, Austral-
Egyptian, and other communities, to three principal periods of Egyp-
tian history, viz :

1. The conquest by the Hykshos or Shepherd kings, B. C. 2082,
when the Egyptians of all ranks were driven into Ethiopia for a pe-
riod of 260 years.

2. The Ethiopian dynasty of three kings, which lasted 40 years,
beginning B. C. 719.

3. The conquest by Cambyses, B. C. 525, when the distinctions of
caste and nation were comparatively disregarded for upwards of two
centuries, during which period the people of Asia, Europe and Ni-
gritia were freely admitted into Egypt.

Dr. Morton's ethnographical researches, conjoined with the evi-
dence of history and the monuments, have led him to draw the fol-
lowing conclusions :

1. That Egypt was originally peopled by the Caucasian race.

2. That the great preponderance of heads conforming in all their
characters to those of the purer Caucasian nations, as seen in the Pe-
lasgic and Semitic tribes, suggests the inference that the valley of the
Nile derived its primitive civilized inhabitants from one of these
sources ; and the greater proportion of this series of crania in Lower
Egypt may, perhaps, serve to indicate the seats of early colonization.

3. That the Austral-Egyptian or Meroite communities were in
great measure derived from the Indo-Arabian stock; thus pointing to
a triple Caucasian source for the origin of the Egyptians, when re-
garded as one people extending from Meroe to the Delta.

4. That the Negro race exists in the Catacombs in the mixed or
Negroloid character; that even in this modified type their presence
is comparatively unfrequent ; and that if Negroes, as is more than
probable, were numerous in Egypt, their social position was chiefly
in ancient times what it yet is, that of plebeians, servants and slaves.

Mr. Lea read a continuation of his paper on fresh water
shells, which was referred to a Committee.

In this paper Mr. Lea describes sixteen new species of the family
MelaniancB, viz., 12 Melania and 4 Anculosa; and also, 2 Palu-
dince. Mr. Lea's catalogue of Melania embraces 266 species, 44
fossil and 222 recent; of which latter 161 arc indigenous and 61

242

exotic. — 88 species, inhabiting this country, have been described by
Mr. Lea in his papers read before the Society. Besides these, his
list of Anculosce (separated from Melania by Mr. Say) embraces 33
species.

Mr. Lea proposed to change the following names used in his for-
mer papers, they being preoccupied.

Mdania plicatula, to M. Dcshaycsiana.

Melania plicata, to M. Meukiana.

Melania exarata, to M. arata.

Planorbis lens, to P. Brogniartiana.

The following aro descriptions of the new species embraced in this
paper.

Melania Vaniixemiana. Testa striata, obtuso-conica, solida, luteola, fasci-
ata ; spira breviuscula ; suturis impressis ; anfractibus senis, subconvcxis ;
columella superne incrassata ; apertura ovata, alba. llab. Alabama. — Dr.
Foreman.

Melania oralis. Testa striata, fusiformi, solida, lutea, fasciata ; suturis valde
impressis; anfractibus senis, subconvexis; apertura ovata, constricta, intus
albida. Hab. Alabama. — Dr. Foreman.

Melania Haysiana. Testa striata, subcylindracea, solida, luteo-fusca; spira
subelevata; suturis impressis; anfractibus planulatis ; apertura parva, ellip-
tica. Hab. Alabama. — Dr. Foreman.

Melania excisa* Testa striata, subfusiformi, subcrassa, luteola; spira ovato-
conica; suturis impressis; anfractibus planulatis; apertura superne excisa,
parva, elliptic!, alba. Hab. Alabama. — Dr. Foreman.

Melania Ordiana. Testa striata, pyramidata, crassa, tencbroso-fusca ; spira
exerti ; suturis valde impressis ; anlractibus planulatis; apertura rhombi for-
mam habente, parva, albida. Hab. Alabama. — Dr. Foreman.

Melania brer is. Testa striata, subcylindracea, Bubsolida, lutea; spira bre-
viuscula; suturis impressis ; anfractibus planulatis; columella superne incras-
sata ; apertura ovata, alba. Hah. Alabama. — Dr. Foreman.

Mdania oliva. Testa striata, elliptica, solida, fused : s]>ira breviuscula; su-
turis valde impressis; anfractibus convexis; columella incurvata, superne in-
crass at a . apertura. ovata, alba. Hab. Alabama. — Dr. Fun man.

Melania Foremani. Testa tubcrculata, pyramidata, Bubcrassa, luteo-fusca;
spira elevate, ; suturis onormitcr lineatis; anfractibus uovenia, planulatis;
apertur,1 products,, ad basim angulata ct canaliculate, intus albida. Hab.
Alabama. — Dr. Foreman

Melania torquata. Testa tuberculata,, subfusiformi, nitid.i, subtenui, lutea;
spira subelevata ; suturis impressis; anfractibus seplenis, subconvexiij apcr-

* Tbis species is remarkable fur a deep cut in the superior portion of the
lip, extending about one-fifth of the way round, resembling (he genus Plruro-
Inma. When the .animal shall he observed it may be found to he different
from that of Melania . in which rase Mr Left proposes the nami- of SdttsostO.

ma for it

243

tura products., ad basim angulata, intus albida. Hab. Tennessee. — Dr. Fort-
man.

Melania producta. Testa plicata, subfusiformi, subtenui, cornea; spira ob-
tuso-conica; suturis impressis ; anfractibus octonis, planulatis; apertura. ellip-
tica, albida. Hab. Tennessee. — Dr. Foreman.

Melania curvata. Testa obtuso carinata, subpyramidata, subcrassa; tene-
broso-cornea ; spira subelevata; suturis impressis; anfractibus octonis, con-
vexis; apertura parva, curvata, albida. Hab. Tennessee. — Dr. Foreman.

Melania cxpansa. Testa laevi, subfusiformi, subcrassa, luteola; spira obtuso-
conica ; suturis subimpressis; anfractibus quinis, subconvexis; apertura mag-
na, expansa, albida. Hab. Alabama. — Dr. Foreman.

Anculosa incisa. Testa lsevi, ovato-gibbosa, crassa, luteo-fusca; spira bre-
vis; anfractibus quaternis, planulatis ; columella superne incrassata ; apertura
magna, ovata, alba. Hab. Alabama. — Dr. Foreman.

Jlnculosu Foremani. Testa laevi, ovato-gibbosa, crassa, lutea, transverse
lineata ; spira brevissima ; suturis impressis ; anfractibus subplanulatis ; colu-
mella percrassa ; apertura submagna, elliptica, albida. Hab. Alabama. — Dr.
Foreman.

Jinculosa solida. Testa laevi, elliptica, subcrassa, luteo-fusca; spira exerta;
suturis impressis ; anfractibus planulatis ; columella, incurvata, superne et in-
ferne incrassata; apertura elongata, elliptica, alba. Hab. Alabama. — Dr.
Foreman.

Jinculosa flammata. Testa laevi, ovato-gibbosa, crassa, luteola, oblique flam-
mata ; spira brevissima; suturis impressis; anfractibus subplanulatis; colu-
mella superne percrassa; apertura submagna, elliptica, albida. Hab. Ala-
bama.— Dr. Foreman.

Paludina incrassata. Testa laevi, elliptica, subtenui, imperforate, tenebroso-
cornea; suturis subimpressis; anfractibus subconvexis; columella superne
incrassata ; apertura subrotundata, pajva, intus caerulea. Hab. Alabama. —
Dr. Foreman.

Paludina coarctata. Testa lsevi, ovata, coarctata, crassa, imperforata, oliva-
cea ; spira exerta ; suturis valde impressis; anfractibus planulatis; aperture
subparva, ovata, alba. Hab. Alabama — Dr. Foreman.

The Committee of Finance presented their report on the
Treasurer's Accounts, referred to them for examination at the
last meeting. The several appropriations recommended by
the Committee for the service of the year were passed by the
Society.

Mr. Lea, from the Publication Committee, announced the
publication of Part 2, Vol. VIII. of the Transactions of the So-
ciety, and laid a copy of it on the table for the examination of
the members.

On motion of Mr. Ord, it was ordered that the Proceedings
of this Society be sent to the Literary and Historical Society
of Quebec.

PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Vol. II. JAN. FEB. & MARCH, 1843. No. 25.

Stated Meeting, January 6.

Present, twenty-three members.

Dr. Chapman, Vice-President, in the Chair.

The judges of the annual election, held this day, reported

that the following officers had been chosen for the present

year: —

President.

Peter S. Du Ponceau, LL.D.

Vice Presidents.
Nathaniel Chapman, M.D.,
Robert M. Patterson, M.D.,
Franklin Bache, M.D.

Secretaries.
John K. Kane,

Alexander Dallas Bache, LL.D.,
Robley Dunglison, M.D.,
Joshua Francis Fisher.

Counsellors for Three Years.
Thomas Biddle,
Gouverneur Emerson, M.D.,
Isaac Lea,
Hartman Kuhn.

Counsellor for Two Years,
(In place of Philip H. Nicklin, deceased.)
Benjamin Dorr, D.D.

Curators.
Isaac Hays, M.D.,
Franklin Peale,
John Price Wetherill.

Treasurer.
George Ord.
2 G

246

Letters were read: —

From Rev. S. Wells Williams, dated Macao, 1st Sept 1842,
— Elliott Cresson, Esq., dated Philadelphia, 5th Jan. 1843, —
and from Mr. George W. Ridgway, dated Philadelphia, 19th
Dec. 1842, — announcing donations to the Society's library.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Proceedings of the Geological Society of London. Vol. III. Part 2.
Nos. 89, 90. 8vo. London, 1842.— From the Society.

Premier Voyage a la recherche des sources du Bahr-el-abiad ou Nil
Blanc, ordonne par Mohammed-Aly, &c. &c, sous le command-
ement de Selim Bimbachi. 8vo. Paris, 1842. — From M. Jo-
mard.

Accroissement de la collection Geographique de la Bibliotheque Roy-
ale en 1841. 8vo. Paris, 1841. — From the same.

The Pharmacopeia of the United States of America, by authority of
the National Medical Convention, held at Washington in 1840.
8vo. Philadelphia, 1842. — From the Revising Committee.

The Poets and Poetry of America, &c. By Rufus W. Griswold,
Third Edition. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1843.— From the Editor.

The Northern Lakes, a Summer Residence for Invalids of the South.
By Daniel Drake, M.D. 8vo. Louisville, Kentucky, 1842. —
From the Author.

Journal of the Franklin Institute. Third Series. Vol. 4. No. 6. —
From Dr. Patterson.

General Therapeutics and Materia Medica, &c. By Robley Dungli-
son, M.D. 2 Vols. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1843.— From the Au-
thor.
Early Lessons in Chinese, or Progressive Exercises, &c. ; especially
adapted to the Canton Dialect. By S. Wells Williams. 8vo.
Macao, 1842. — From the Author.

A Cycle of Eight Years in the Seasons of Britain. By Luke How-
ard, F.R.S., &c. 8vo. London, 1842.— From Elliott Cres-
son, Esq.

Account of the Induction Inclinometer, and of its Adjustments. By
the Rev. H. Lloyd, D.D., F.R.S. 8vo. London, 1842.— From
the Author.

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Edited by Isaac

247

Hays, M.D. New Series. No. 9. Jan. 1843. 8vo. — From
the Editor.
On certain Medical Delusions; an Introductory Lecture to the Course
of Institutes of Medicine in Jefferson Medical College of Philadel-
phia. By Robley Dunglison, M.D. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1842. —
From the Author.

Mr. Walker presented a communication from Mr. Simeon
Borden, describing the apparatus used by him in measuring
the base line for his survey of the State of Massachusetts; and
it was referred to a Committee, consisting of Mr. Walker, Dr.
Patterson, and Professor Kendall.

Dr. Morton read the second part of a paper "On the Form
of the Head, and other Ethnographic Characters of the Ancient
Egyptians:" and it was referred to a Committee, consisting of
Dr. Patterson, Dr. Dunglison, and Dr. Goddard, to whom the
first part of the same paper had been referred.

Professor Bache communicated to the Society, that in con-
sequence of the want of funds for the support of the Magnetic
Observatory, the bi-hourly observations, and those for maxima
and minima, had ceased with the first of the present year.* He
further stated, that it was his intention to keep up the term-day
observations, and also to have an observation of the magnetic
instruments made each day, to connect the indications of the
magnetometers from one term-day to another. Certain of the
meteorological observations were also to be continued.

Dr. Bache, late Reporter, announced the publication of Nos.
23 and 24 of the Society's Proceedings, which complete the
series for 1842.

The Secretaries reported, that Dr. Dunglison had been
charged with the office of Corresponding Secretary, and Mr.
Kane with that of Reporter, for the ensuing year.

* Subsequently resumed. — Reporter.

248

Stated Meeting, January 20.

Present, thirty-five members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were read: —

From the Societe de Geographie, dated Paris, 25th Aug.
1842, — the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, dated
10th Jan. 1843, — the Boston Society of Natural History, dated
1st September, 1842, — and the Royal Institution of London,
dated 6th Oct. 1842, — severally acknowledging the receipt of
donations from the Society.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Flora Batava; ou Figures et Descriptions de Plantes Bclgiques, par
J. Kops et F. A. W. Miguel, Livrn. No. 125. 4to. Amster-
dam.— From H. M. the King of the Netherlands.

Ancient Laws and Institutions of Wales, printed by command of His
late Majesty William IV., under the direction of the Commission-
ers on the Public Records of the Kingdom. Folio. London,
1841. — From the Commissioners on the Public Records.

Osservazioni sullo Stato della Zoologia in F.uropa, &c. &c, da Carlo
Luciano Bonaparte, Principe di Canino e Musignano. 8vo. Flo-
rence, 1842. — From the Prince of Canino.

Annales des Mines, 4me Ser. Tome I. 8vo. Paris, 1842. — From
the Engineers of Mini .:.

Proceedings < >f the Geological Society of London. Vol. III. Part II.
\ . 87, 88. 8vo. 1842.— From the Society.

Bulletin de la Societe de Geographic de Paris. 2me. Ser. Tome
XVII. 8vo. Paris, 1842. — From the Society.

Journal Asiatique, <>u Recueil de Memoires, &c. &c 8me. Sir.
Tome Mil. No. 75. Tome XIV. Nos. 76, 77. 8vo. Paris,
L842. — /•>"/// tin Asiatic Society of Paris.

The Boston Journal of Natural History. Vol. IV. No. 2. Boston,
1842. — From the Society of Natural History, Boston.

'I'd'' American Journal of Science ami the Arts. Bj Professor Silli-
man and B. Silliman, Jr. Vol. XI. IV. No. 1. 8vo. January,
l - [fi.—From i In Editors.

249

Exercises Pratiques d'Analyse, de Syntaxe, et de Lexigraphie Chi-

noise. Par Stanislas Julien, Professeur au College Royal, &c.

8vo. Paris, 1842. — From the Author.
Statement of Deaths, with the Diseases and Ages, in Philadelphia,

during the year 1841. Published by the Board of Health. —

From Mr. Samuel P. Marks.

Professor Bache announced the death of the Hon. Samuel
L. Southard, a member of the Society, on the 26th June, 1842,
aged 56.

Professor Bache described a dew-point hygrometer, the
principle of which he believed had not been before applied to
that instrument. A surface, of which the different points are
at different temperatures, some above, and others below the
dew-point, is exposed to the deposition of moisture; and the
dew-point is indicated on this, by the temperature of that point
at which the deposit ceases.

Several forms of the instrument were noticed. One for the pur-
poses of an observatory, consists of a steel bar, one extremity of
which fits into a tube passing through a metallic or a wooden box.
The bar is pierced at regular intervals from the box with small cylin-
drical holes, passing vertically downwards from the upper surface of
the bar to points below its axis, and intended to receive the bulb of
a delicate thermometer. The temperature of the end of the bar
within the box being reduced by cold water, ice, or a freezing mix-
ture, the heat is gradually drawn from the part without. When equi-
librium is attained, and the deposit of dew reaches a fixed position,
the temperature of the bar at the dew line is ascertained, either di-
rectly by the thermometer, if the dew line corresponds with the axis
of a cylindrical hole, or else by observing the temperatures of
the holes on each side, and thus obtaining the temperature of the
dew line, by a proportion. The intervals not being great, the curve,
whose ordinates would represent the temperatures, the abscissa? being
the distances from the extremity of the bar, may be taken as a straight
line. Or, if more minute accuracy is sought, the bar may be pushed
into the box until the section of deposition reaches the axis of a cy-
lindrical hole. A copper bar, with gilded surface, may be used with
advantage in certain cases, but does not present so beautifully defined
a line of dew as the steel bar. Professor Bache spoke of the import-

250

ance of being able to observe a phenomenon of equilibrium instead of
one of motion in taking the dew-point.

Another form of the hygrometer adapted to an observatory, or to
occasional observations, consists of a trough, containing mercury,
one face of which is of steel, or of gilded copper; the end being con-
nected, as before, with a box for containing the materials, to reduce
the temperature of the mercury in the trough. A deposit of dew
having appeared on the surface of the trough, and having become
stationary, so as to indicate that equilibrium is attained, a thermo-
meter plunged in the mercury is brought opposite to this point, and
indicates the temperature of the surface.

A very portable instrument of the same kind acting very rapidly,
and if deemed advisable by the motion of heat, consists of a cylinder
of small diameter, of copper, having a strip of gilding upon one side,
and containing mercury. A thermometer, fitting loosely into this
cylinder, has a slip of metal projecting downwards from the scale,
which terminating opposite to the centre of the bulb, shows the po-
sition of the bulb when this latter is immersed in the cylinder. The
temperature of the lower end of the cylinder being reduced below the
dew-point, a deposit takes place upon the surface; and by following
it as it advances, with the end of the projection from the thermome-
ter scale, which gives the position of the bulb, the dew-point is
readily ascertained.

Professor Bache gave further details in relation to these instruments,
and compared their qualities with those of other dew-point hygrome-
ters, and especially with the instrument of Professor Daniell. He
stated, that at a future meeting he hoped to show to the Society the
different forms of the instrument in action.

Mr. George Ord was elected Librarian of the Society for
the current year.

The following standing Committees were appointed for the
current year: —

Of Finance. — Messrs. C. C. Biddle, Patterson, Kuhn.

Of Publication. — Messrs. Lea, Hays, Fisher.

On the Halt. — Messrs. Campbell, Richards, G. W. Smith.

On the Library. — Messrs. Hays, Campbell, Penington.

The Committee on the trust funds reported upon the subject
of the claims of the City Councils, which had been referred to
them on the 19th August last, and presented certain resolutions
in relation thereto, which were laid on the table.

251

The Society proceeded to an election for members, when
the following persons were duly elected : —

His Imperial and Royal Highness, Leopold the Se-
cond, Grand Duke of Tuscany.

Louis Agassiz, of Neufchatel.

William W. Gerhard, M.D., of Philadelphia.

Lieut. Col. Reid, Governor of Bermuda.

Thomas P. Cope, of Philadelphia.

John Lenthall, of Philadelphia.

Solomon W. Roberts, of Philadelphia.

Ellwood Morris, of Philadelphia.

Charles Ellett, of Philadelphia.

Charles B. Trego, of Philadelphia.

The Cavaliere Mustoxidi, of Corfu.

Stated Meeting, February 3.

Present, thirty -one members.

Dr. Patterson, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Messrs. Roberts and Lenthall, members elect, were present-
ed to the presiding officer, and took their seats.

Letters were read: —

From Mr. Thomas P. Cope, Mr. John Lenthall, Dr. W. W.
Gerhard, Mr. Ellwood Morris, Mr. Charles B. Trego and Mr.
Solomon W. Roberts, severally acknowledging the honour of
their election as members: —

From the Corporation of the University in Cambridge, Mas-
sachusetts, dated 13th Jan. 1843, acknowledging the receipt of
donations from the Society: —

From the National Institute of Washington, being a circular
from the medical department thereof: —

From Mr. C. A. Lesueur, dated Havre, 20th Oct. 1842, pre-
senting certain fossils: —

From T. I. Wharton, Esq., attorney of Mr. J. Brown Par-
ker, dated 21st Jan. 1843, announcing his purpose to institute

252

certain legal proceedings affecting property of the Society;
which was referred to a special committee, consisting of Mr.
Fraley, Mr. Breck, Mr. Kuhn, and Mr. Williams.
The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Proceedings of the Geological Society of London. Vol. III. Part II.

No. 91. 8vo. 1843. — From the Society.
Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.

Nos. 20, 21. 8vo. 1842. — From the Academy.
The African Repository and Colonial Journal. Vol. XIX. No. 1.

8vo. Washington, 1843. — From the American Colonization

Society.
The President's Message to 27th Congress, 7th Dec. 1842. — From

the Hon. Joseph R. Ingersoll.
Investigation upon the Coast Survey and the Construction of Stand-
ards, &c. By F. R. Hassler. 8vo. 1843. — From Mr. Richard

Norris.

FOR THE CABINET.

A Case of Fossils collected by the donor in the environs of Havre,
France. — From Mr. Charles Alexandre Lesueur.

Professor Bache exhibited in action to the Society several
forms of the dew-point hygrometer described by him at the
last meeting.

On motion of Mr. Lea, ten copies of the Transactions were
placed at the disposal of the Committee of Publication, to be
distributed to the proprietors of such scientific and literary
journals as they may select.

Special Meeting, February 10.

Present, twenty-two members.

Dr. Chapman, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Mr. Fraley, on behalf of the Committee appointed at the
last meeting, made report; and on his motion, the Committee

253

was authorized to enter into negotiations with persons having
claims against the Society, arising out of the purchase of the
Museum property, and to conclude certain arrangements re-
specting the same.

Stated Meeting, February 17.

Present, twenty members.

Dr. Bache, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Letters were read: —

From the Geological Society of London, dated 3d Nov.
1842, — and the Royal Asiatic Society, dated 5th Nov. 1842, —
severally acknowledging the receipt of donations from this So-
ciety.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. New Series.

Vol. VIII. 8vo. Boston, 1843. — From the Society.
The African Repository. Vol. XIX. No. 2. 8vo. Washington,

1843. — From the American Colonization Society.
Third Annual Report of the New York Lyceum. 12mo. New

York, 1842. — From the Lyceum.
Journal of the Franklin Institute. Third Series. Vol. V. No. 1. —

From Dr. Patterson.
Report on the Geology of the State of Connecticut. By James G.

Percival. 8vo. New Haven, 1842. — From the Author.

On motion of Dr. Chapman, it was resolved, that a Commit-
tee of five members be appointed, to consider the expediency
of celebrating the centennial anniversary of the Society, in May
next: — and

Dr. Chapman, Mr. Kane, Dr. Dunglison, Dr. Ludlow, and
Mr. Fraley, were appointed.

The list of outstanding Committees was called over, and ac-
tion had in regard to them.
2 h

254

Dr. Hodge was relieved from the duty of preparing a notice
of the life and character of Dr. Dewees.

Stated Meeting, March 3.

Present, twenty-eight members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were read: —

From the Geological Society of London, dated 5th January,
1843, — the Royal Academy of Sciences of Berlin, dated 15th
August, 1842, — the Society of Arts, &c. dated London, 7th Nov.
1842, — acknowledging the receipt of the Transactions and
Proceedings, and announcing the transmission of donations to
the Library: —

From R. R. Gurley, Esq., dated Washington, 22d February,
1843, declaring his purpose to transmit to the Society the
numbers of the African Repository, as they shall be published:

And from Col. Hugh Mercer, dated Fredericksburg, ISth
Feb. 1843, stating that he had forwarded to the Society certain
valuable papers, illustrative of the public career of his father,
General Mercer.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

An Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of the United States,
for the Year 1841. 8vo. 1843.— From the Register of the
Treasury, U. S.

Abhandlungen der Koniglichen Akademie der Wissenchaften zu Ber-
lin, aus dem Jahre, 1840. 4to. Berlin, 1842. — From the Royal
Academy of Berlin.

Bericht iiber die zur Bokanntmnchung geeigneten Verhandlungcn
der Konigl. Acad, zu Berlin, 1841-1842. 8vo.— From the
same.

Proceedings of the Royal Astronomical Society of London. Vol. V.
Nos. 25, 26. 8vo. — Prom the Socit ty.

Industrie Franchise, Rapport sur lV.xposition de 1839, par J. B. A.
M. Jobard. 2 Vols. 8vo. Brussels and Paris, 1841, 1842.—
From the A uthor.

255

Reports of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane, &c. &c. By
Thomas S. Kirkbride, M.D. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1842.— From
the Author.

A Discourse on the Death of General Washington, delivered 22d
Feb. 1800. By James Madison, D.D., &c. &c. 8vo. Phila-
delphia, 1831. — From Col. Hugh Mercer, of Virginia.

Biographical Sketches of Gen. Hugh Mercer. — From the same.

Philadelphia Directory, for 1841. — From Mr. Du Ponceau.

Report from the Commissioner of Patents, showing the Operations
of the Patent Office, for 1842. — From Hon. J. R. Ingersoll.

Congressional Documents: Military Posts, U. S., 1842. — From the
same.

Prof. Bache referred to the formula of Prof. Apjohn, for
connecting the indications of the wet and dry bulb thermome-
ter with the dew-point, to show that its results might approxi-
mately be obtained by a sliding scale.

He had constructed a scale for that purpose, in which, by making
separate divisions on the moveable part for different heights of the
barometer, and for temperatures above and below the freezing point,
the correction for tbe barometer was applied to the scale at the same
time that the dew-points above and below 32° were calculated. Mr.
Charles M'Euen had very much simplified the original proposal, and
Prof. Bache presented a sliding scale made by that gentleman ; also
a circular turning scale, made according to a suggestion from Mr.
Lukens. Either scale is compact, and well adapted to use by obser-
vers who employ the wet bulb hygrometer. The approximation to
the numbers of the formula is close, the scale referring to a mean ten-
sion of vapour, between that at the evaporating point and dew-point,
while the corresponding term of the formula refers to the tension at
the evaporating point. Prof. Bache observed that in this discussion
it was necessary to assume that the formula itself is accurate.

The Committee, appointed at the last meeting, to consider
the propriety of celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the
Society, reported, and submitted the following resolutions: —

1. Resolved, That the American Philosophical Society will cele-
brate its centennial anniversary on the 25th of May next, and that
the members be specially summoned to attend on that day.

2. Resolved, That a member of the Society be selected to deliver

256

a discourse upon the occasion, on the objects of the Society, its history,
labours, and prospects.

3. Resolved, That a Committee of seven members be appointed,
to devise and carry into effect such arrangements as may be proper
for the centenary celebration.

The resolutions were adopted: and on motion of Dr. Chap-
man, Dr. Robert M. Patterson, one of the Vice-Presidents, was
unanimously chosen to deliver the anniversary discourse.

Dr. Chapman, Mr. Kane, Dr. Ludlow, Dr. Dunglison, Mr.
Fraley, Professor Bache, and Mr. G. W. Smith, were appoint-
ed the Committee under the third resolution.

Mr. Walker presented a letter, addressed to him by the City
Solicitor, on the subject of the claim made by the City against
the Society; which was referred to Mr. Kane, Mr. G. W.
Smith, and Mr. Fraley, with instructions to report the state of
facts of the case, and what action it is expedient for the Soci-
ety to take thereon.

Stated Meeting, March 17.

Present, twenty-seven members.

Dr. Bache, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Mr. Ellwood Morris, a member elect, was presented, and
took his seat.

Letters were read: —

From the Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow, dated
12/24 Sept., 1842, — the Cambridge Philosophical Society, dated
14th Nov. 1842, — and the New York Historical Society,
dated 7th March, 1843, — acknowledging the receipt of the
Transactions and the Proceedings of the Society: —

And from the Rev. William Cogswell, D.D., Corresponding
Secretary of the Northern Academy of Arts and Sciences, at
Hanover, N. H., dated 1 1th March, 1843, inviting an exchange
of publications between the Society and the Academy.

257

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Bulletin de la Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscow. 1842.

No. 3. 8vo. — From the Society.
Transactions of the Geological Society of London. Second Series.

Vol. VI. Part 2. 4to. London, 1842.— From the Society.
Transactions of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. Vol. VII.

Part III. 4to. Cambridge, 1842. — From the Society.
Report to the British Association for the Advancement of Science, on

the Nomenclature of Zoology, June 27, 1842. 8vo. London. —

From the Association.
Iconografia della Fauna ltalica di Carlo Luciano Bonaparte, Principe

di Canino e Musignano. Fasc. XXX. ed ultimo. Folio. Rome,

1841. — From the Author.
Researches in Physical Geology. By W. Hopkins, M.A., F.R.S.

First, Second, and Third Series. 4to. London, 1839—1842.—

From the Author.
Inaugural Address of the Hon. Albert Gallatin, LL.D., President of

the New York Historical Society. 8vo. New York, 1843. —

From the Society.
Constitution and By-Laws of the Northern Academy of Arts and

Sciences; and First Annual Report of Curators. 8vo. Hanover,

1842. — From the Academy.
Survey of the Ohio River. By George W. Hughes, U. S. Topogr.

Engrs. 8vo. 1843. — From the Author.
Instructions for Using Mr. R. W. Fox's Instrument for determining

the Magnetic Inclination and Intensity. Published by order of

the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. 8vo. 1842. — From

Mr. R. W. Fox.
Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania.

Third Series. Vol. V. No. 2. 8vo. Feb. 1843.— From Dr.

Patterson.
Spinal Diseases, their Causes and Treatment, &c. &c. By Usher

Parsons, M.D. 8vo. Boston, 1843. — From the Author.
The Literary Age. Reynell Coates, M.D., Editor. Published by

G. W. Ridgway. Nos. 3 to 15. 4to. Philadelphia, 1843.—

From the Publisher.
Annotazioni sul Veleno Viperino, del Cav. Conte Jacopo Gr&berg de

Hemso. 4to. — From the Author.

258

Degli Ultimi Progressi della Geografia, del Cav. Conte Jacopo Gra-

berg de Hemso. 8vo. Milan, 1S4'J. — From the same.
An Eulogium on William P. Devvees, M.D., &c. &c. By Hugh L.

Hodge, M.D. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1842. — From the Author.
Grammaire Egyptienne, ou Principes Generaux de l'Ecriture Saeree

Egyptienne, appliquee a la representation de la langue parlee.

Par Champollion le Jeune, &c. &c. Folio. Paris, 1836. — From

Professor John F. Frazer.

Mr. Peale presented a copy of the letter dated 16th Decem-
ber, 1785, which accompanied the donation from his father,
Charles Willson Peale, to the Society, of the portrait of Dr.
Franklin, now in the Hall. The portrait is by Mr. C. W.
Peale, from the original by Martin.

Prof. Henry D. Rogers submitted to the Society a brief ac-
count of the earthquake of the 4th of January of this year,
stating some general views at which he had arrived concerning
the direction and velocity of its transmission, and the nature of
the movement.

By a reference to the facts in his possession, he showed that the
earthquake was felt from beyond the Mississippi to the coast of South
Carolina, and northward at least as far as Ohio and Indiana; and
that this fortunate remoteness of the localities, both in latitude and
longitude, tends essentially to promote the accuracy of the inferences
deduced.

From a comparison of the observations at the different localities,
as contained in the best statements collected, he endeavoured to
show —

First. That the areas simultaneously disturbed were linear, or of
the form of very elongated narrow belts.

Secondly. That the earthquake was progressive, and moved from
west to east, the line of simultaneous disturbance shifting parallel t"
itself.

Thirdly. Thai il was thus propagated at the enormous velocity of
thirty miles />< r minute.

Fourthly. That the (acts of this earthquake lend decided counte*
nance t<> a tlcury "f the origin and nature of earthquakes, presented
by himself ami Prof. W. I'.. Rogers, in \ j > ri 1 last, n> the Association
Hi" American Geologists, which attributes tin- movement to an actual
billowy undulation on the surface of the liquid lava beneath the crust

259

of the earth, communicating to the latter its well known wave-like
oscillation.

In the course of these demonstrations it was shown, that a com-
parison of the respective times of the arrival of an earthquake at
three sufficiently distant places triangularly situated within the in-
fluence of the undulation, will enable us to calculate approximately
the path and velocity of the wave, in all cases where it has, as in the
instance before us, the form of a nearly straight line.

Major Graham had noticed the earthquake of the 8th of
February last, at his house in Washington, at the N. W. cor-
ner of F. and Twentieth street West, three squares west of the
Navy Department. The last and most severe shock which he
felt, occurred at ten minutes before ten in the morning, mean
solar time.

He felt the first agitation at about fifteen or twenty minutes before
10 o'clock, A. M. He was aroused from imperfect sleep, by a tremu-
lous motion of the bed, which he at once referred to a slight shock
of an earthquake. Having fallen into a doze again, he was a second
time aroused by a similar shock, quite evident, though not severe: it
caused the furniture in the room to shake. Soon afterwards he felt
a third shock, so intense as to produce some apprehension that if it
increased any in force, the house might fall. There was a sensible
oscillation or rocking motion of the bed from north to south, or trans-
verse to the direction in which he lay at that time. The furniture in
the room shook with some violence, and a looking-glass, which stood
upon a bureau, suspended within a square frame, standing in the
usual manner upon a pedestal with drawers, was set to oscillating
through an angle of about 50°, or 25° from a perpendicular in each
direction. This last shock occurred at 9h 50m, A. M., as observed
by Major G. in his room. Its severity caused him to rise and join
the other members of his family. On entering the room of one of
them, who was an invalid, in the second story of the house, and imme-
diately below the room occupied by himself, and on inquiring if the
shock was noticed, the reply was, that two distinct and evident shocks
had been felt, the last and most severe, at 10 minutes before 10
o'clock, as noted by a mantel clock which was in view at the time.
The bed in which the invalid lay was caused to undulate sensibly,
from north to south, or longitudinally of its direction. At the same
time, a bunch of keys, attached to a metallic ring, hanging by a

260

single key in the door of a wardrobe, was set in motion, so as to pro-
duce a distinct rattling. A similar rattling of the keys was noticed
by the invalid alluded to, two or three times in the night, between
3 and 5 o'clock, A. M., as nearly as recollected, when there was no
one moving in the house.

Dr. Patterson, recurring to some of the views taken by Prof.
Rogers, expressed a doubt whether the phenomenon of the
earthquake may not be more properly regarded as a motion
of the earth's crust, imparted to it directly from the originating
cause, \vithout necessary reference to the movement of the fluid
beneath; and he compared it to the vibrations of sounding bo-
dies, whether transverse or longitudinal.

Further remarks were made by Prof. Rogers, Prof. Frazer,
and Mr. G. W. Smith, on the same subject

Major Graham described a Reflecting Lantern and a Helio-
trope, used by him as meridian marks for great distances, in
1841, while tracing, in his capacity of U. S. Commissioner, the
due North line from the monument at the source of the River
St. Croix.

The lantern was constructed by Messrs. Henry N. Hooper & Co.,
of Boston, under Major G.'s directions. It was similar in form to the
Parabolic Reflector Lantern, sometimes used in lighthouses, but much
smaller, so as to be portable.

The burner was of the Argand character, with a cylindrical wick,
whose transverse section was half an inch in diameter, supplied with
oil in the ordinary manner. This was placed in the focus of a para-
bolic reflector, or paraboloid of sheet copper, lined inside with silver
about one-twentieth of an inch in thickness, polished very smooth
and bright. The dimensions were as follows: —

Inches.
Diameter of the base of frustrum of reflector, - - 16.

Distance of vertex from base, 3.75

Distance of focus from vertex, ..... 2.25

Diameter of cylindrical burner, .... .50

Diameter of a larger burner, which was never used, but

which by an adapting piece could be easily substituted, 1.25

The instrument answered the purpose for which it was intended,
admirably well, and was of great use in tracing the due north line.
While it occupied the station at Park's Mill, 15 feet above the surface
of the ground, or 829 feet above the sea, in the latter part of Septem-

261

ber, and early part of October, 1841, the light from it was distinct-
ly seen with the naked eye, at night, when the weather was clear,
from Blue Hill, whose summit, where crossed by the meridian line,
is 1071 feet above the sea; the intervening country averaging about
500 feet above the sea, and the stations being 36 miles apart.

The light appeared to the naked eye, at that distance, as bright
and of about the same magnitude as the planet Venus. Viewed
through the transit telescope, of 43 inches focal length, it presented a
luminous disc, of about 30 seconds of arc in diameter. From its
brilliancy at that distance, Major G. has no doubt that it would have
been visible to the naked eye at 50 miles, and through the telescope
at 100 miles, could stations free from interposing objects have been
found so far apart.

It was remarked, that the wick employed by Major G. was consi-
derably smaller than that usually made, even for parlour lamps; and
to this cause he attributed, in a great measure, the perfection with
which the parallel rays were transmitted from the reflecting parabolic
surface, so as to make them visible at so great a distance. Though
a greater quantity of light is generated by a larger wick, the portion
of rays reflected in a direction parallel to the axis, and which alone
come to the eye, is smaller as the flame transcends the focal limit.
The size of wick most advantageous for use, may easily be deter-
mined by experiment: Major G.'s impression is, that the smaller its
transverse section, provided it is only large enough to escape being
choked up by the charred particles, even one-third, or perhaps one-
fourth of an inch, the farther the light would be visible.

It has occurred to Major G. that lanterns of this description might
be used with great advantage as station marks, in extensive trigono-
metrical surveys requiring primary triangles of great length of sides.
A revolving motion might be given to the lanterns, so as to make
the light transmitted from them visible from many different stations
within short intervals of time. Their simplicity, and the ease with
which they are managed, would perhaps give them, for such pur-
poses, a great advantage over the Drummond or Bude lights, even
though they be not so brilliant as the latter.

The heliotrope, which he employed in the day time, was made by
order of Mr. Hassler, at the instrument shop of the coast survey of-
fice. It was a rectangular parallelogram of good German plate
glass, 1| by 1^ inch in size, giving an area of reflecting surface of
2^ square inches. This also was seen at the distance of thirty-six
miles.

2 r

262

Dr. Morton read a continuation of his paper "On Egyptian
Ethnography/' already referred to a Committee.

The Committee appointed at the last meeting on the letter
of the City Solicitor, reported at large; and it was thereupon
Resolved, That a Committee of three persons be appointed to
have charge of the interests of the Society which are involved
in the claim asserted by the City Councils.

Mr. Kane, Mr. G. W. Smith, and Mr. Fraley, were ap-
pointed the Committee.

PROCEEDINGS

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Vol. II. APRIL & MAY, 1843. No. 26.

Stated Meeting, April 7.

Present, thirty-five members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Letters were received and read: —

From the General, Chefd'Etat Major of the Engineers of
Mines of Russia, dated St. Petersburg, July, 1842, announcing
the transmission of donations to the Society, by the order of
Count Cancrine, Minister of Finances, &c. &c. : —

From the Secretary of the Royal Society of Sciences of Got-
tingen, dated 5th December, 1843, acknowledging the receipt
of the Transactions and Proceedings of the Society: — and

From the Local Committee of the American Association of
Geologists and Naturalists; informing the Society of the ap-
proaching meeting of the Association at Albany.

The following donations were announced: —

TO THE LIBRARY.

Annuaire Magnetique et Meteorologique du Corps des Ingenieurs des
Mines de Russie, ou Recueil d'Observations, &c, publiees par
ordre de S. M. I'Empereur Nicolas I. sous les auspices de M. le
Comte Cancrine, Chef du Corps, &c, par. A T. Kupffer : An-
nee 1840. St. Petersburg, 1842. 4to.— From H. E. Count
Cancrine, §*c. <Sfc.

Proceedings of the Royal Astronomical Society of London. Vol. V.
No. 27. Jan. 1843. London. 8vo.— From the Society.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
Vol. I. Nos. 22, 23. Jan. Feb. 1843. 8vo.— From the Aca-
demy.
2 K

264

The African Repository and Colonial Journal. March, 1*13. Wash-
ington. 8vo. — From the American Colonization Society.

Schriften der in St. Petersburg gestifteten Russisch-Kaiserlichen
Gesellschaft Fur die Gesammte Mineralogie. lr. Band. lite.
Abtheilung. St. Petersburg, 1842. 8vo.— From Mr. Charles
Cramer.

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Edited by Isaac
Hays, M.D. No. X. New Scries. April, 1843.— From the
Editor.

The Medical News and Library. Vol. I. No. 4. April, 1843. Phi-
ladelphia. 8vo. — From Messrs. Lea <$f Blanchard.

A New Universal Biography, dec. &c. By the Rev. John Platts.
London, 1825, 1826. 5 vols. 8vo.— From Mr. William S.
Young.

History of the Great Reformation of the Sixteenth Century in Ger-
many, Switzerland, &c. By J. II. Merle d'Aubigne. New York,
1842. 3 vols. 8vo. — From the same.

The History of the Inquisition in Spain from the Time of its Esta-
blishment to the Reign of Ferdinand VII: Abridged and trans-
lated from the original works of D. Juan Antonio Llorente. Lond.
1827. 8vo. — From the same.

Life of Thomas M'Crie, D.D., Author of the Life of John Knox, &c
&c. By his Son, Rev. Thomas M'Crie. Philadelphia, 1842.
12mo. — From the same.

Sketches of the Higher Classes of Coloured Society in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia, 1841. 12mo. — From the same.

Notice on the Beet SiiLrar. Translated from the works of Dubrun-
faut, De Domballe, and others. Northampton, 1837. 12 mo. —
From the same.

A Map of North America, from the French of M. D'Anville; improved,
with the back Settlements of Virginia and Course of the Ohio;
with Geographical and Historical Remarks. — From the Hon. C.
J. Ingersoll.

Dr. Hays invited the attention of the Society to the Reports
of three papers recently read to the Geological Society of Lon-
don relative to the Mastodontoid animals in the collection of
Mr. Koch.

The first of these papers was by Dr. Grant. This distinguished
naturalist, after n careful examination of Mr. Koch's collection, con*
eiders the genu Tetracaulodon, to be well (bunded. In his paper be

265

points out the general structure and peculiarities of the three princi-
pal Mastodontoid genera, — Mastodon, Tetracaulodon, and Dinothe
Hum, — and gives the dental formulas of each of them. For the de-
termination of those of the two first named genera, Dr. G. states that
he has relied entirely on the splendid collection of Mr. Koch, which
affords ample means for the purpose. The results of his investiga-
tions coincide precisely with those arrived at by the author of this
communication, and which were presented to this Society, in a paper
read twelve years ago. As each has obtained his results from the
examination of an entirely different series of specimens, they mutually
confirm each other.

The second paper is by Mr. Alexander Naysmith. This skilful
anatomist has made a microscopic examination of the structure of
the tusks of the Mastodon giganteum, Tetracaulodon Godmanii, T.
Kochii, T. tapiroides, and of the Missourium ; and he states that the
minute structure of all these five animals exhibit considerable varie-
ties. The peculiarities in the tusk of the Missourium, he adds, cer-
tainly indicate a distinct species. These results cannot but be re-
garded as extremely interesting, though it must be admitted, Dr. H.
remarked, that the actual value of these characters was yet to be de-
termined. Dr. H. reminded the Society of what he had stated on a
former occasion, that each tusk of the Missourium was in three pieces,
and that it was far from certain that they all had belonged to the same
animal, and therefore he must now express his regret that Mr. N.
had not examined a section of each of the three pieces, or at all
events had not stated in which piece the section he examined was
made, as the middle piece Dr. H. thought had been inserted, and that
to this was due the great length of the tusks and their peculiar curve.

The third paper was by Mr. Koch, and contains the results of this
gentleman's researches, which in his opinion fully prove the Tetra-
caulodon to be a distinct genus.

Dr. H. stated, that whilst he still conceives, as he has done from the
first, that the balance of evidence was in favour of the correctness of
that opinion, still it was due to truth and science, that false weights
should not be allowed a place in the scales, and therefore he felt it his
duty to correct one or two of the statements made by Mr. Koch, and
which are founded on careless observation.

Mr. K. asserts that the Mastodon in the Philadelphia Museum is a
male, according to the construction and size of the pelvis, and the
magnitude of the tusks in the upper jaw; yet there are no traces of

266

tusks in the lower jaw : and the specimen at Baltimore, which is con-
sidered to be indisputably a male, is also destitute of inferior tusks.

Now, Dr. H. remarked, if even we were sufficiently well acquaint-
ed with the osteology of the Mastodon to distinguish the male from
the female pelvis, which he thought we were not, still Mr. Koch's in-
ferences would be unfounded, because, 1st. the pelvis and the lower
jaw in the Baltimore skeleton belonged to different individuals: and
2d. the lower jaw in the Philadelphia one was of wood, modelled after
the former, whilst the pelvis belonged to a third individual.

Dr. H. then gave the following brief history of these skeletons.

That in the Philadelphia Museum, which is the most perfect, was
disinterred by Mr. C. W. Peale, in 1801, on the farm of John M -
ten, near Newburgh, New York. The Baltimore skeleton was ob-
tained by Mr. Peale, the same year, from a morass belonging to Cap-
tain Barber, eleven miles distant from Masten's. Both these skeletons
were incomplete, and many of their deficiencies were supplied by ar-
tificial imitations of corresponding parts in each other, or of coun-
terparts in themselves. The lower jaw, however, belonging to the
skeleton found at Masten's, had been broken to pieces in the attempt
to get it out, and the teeth and a few fragments only were preserved ;
and no lower jaw was discovered among the bones found at Captain
Barber's. To complete this part in the Baltimore skeleton, a lower
jaw was taken which had been dug up on the farm of Peter Millspaw :
whilst for the same object in the Philadelphia skeleton, a model of
this same jaw was made, and the teeth of the individual which had
been preserved were inserted therein. The tusks found at. Masten's
were too friable to support their own weight; models of tin m were
therefore made in wood, which were used in the construction of the
skeleton.

The upper part of the head was not discovered, and this part was
modelled after the cranium of the Elephant, an incorrect model, aa
has since been ascertained.

Prof. Bache communicated an extract of a letter from M.
Quetelet of Brussels, stating that hourly meteorological obser-
vations were made at some fifty stations in Europe at the pe-
riods of the equinoxes and solstices, the observers corres-
ponding with the Academy of Sciences of Brussels. M. Que-
telet expresses the wish thai the American Philosophical So-
ciety should become the centre of a Bimilar union for the new-
world, and urges that the attention of men of science should

267

be called to the subject ; he also enforces the necessity lor con-
formity to the plan laid down in the circular of the Academy: —

Also a letter from Mr. James C. Reid, of the Erie Academy;
containing the directions of the paths of thirty-eight meteors,
or "shooting stars," observed by him on the 10th of August
last, between 10 and IIP. M.

Prof. Bache also stated, that observations are making at
Cambridge, Mass., under the superintendence of Prof. Peirce,
and by an appropriation from the American Academy, for ob-
taining the directions of the paths of meteors. The observa-
tions are made on the first clear night of each week from dark
until 11 o'clock, and from 3 A. M. until daylight. The par-
ticulars recorded are the right ascension and declination of the
points of first and last appearance of the meteor, the magni-
tude, and the general circumstances of the motion.

Professor Rogers gave illustrations, in addition to those pre-
sented by him at a former meeting, to show that the lines of
simultaneous movement in the earthquake of the 4th of Janu-
ary last were nearly meridional, or from a little east of north to
a little west of south; the wave passing in succession from west
to east.

Prof. R. discussed the additional observations which he had pro-
cured in support of his conclusions; and comparing the action of this
earthquake with that of others on record, remarked upon its coinci-
dence with that going to produce great anticlinal flexures. He stated
that he was engaged in examining the phenomena and motion of the
earthquake of February the 8th ; the focal area of which appeared
to be an elongated ellipse.

Mr. Walker made an oral communication of the observations
made upon the Comet by Prof. Kendall and himself, first seen
at the High School Observatory on the 11th of March, and of
the elements of its orbit, as they had computed them.

The ephemeris calculated from their elements gives an error of
less than two minutes of space in the centre of the nebulous appear-
ance corresponding to the nucleus of comets generally. Mr. Walker
also noticed the observations and computations of Professor Loomis,
Professor Peirce, and others, and indicated the special difficulties pre-
sented by the computation of the orbit of this comet, which, with or-

268

dinary measurements, must render the computed elements very doubt-
ful. Mr. W. also remarked the general correspondence of its ele-
ments with those of the comet of 16S9.

Professor Bache informed the Society that he had received
a letter from the Hon. James M. Porter, Secretary of War.
through the bureau of Topographical Engineers, making an
allowance for the continuance of the observations at the mag-
netic observatory. In consequence of this liberal and well-
timed supply of means, he said, the series of observations was
resumed on the first of the present month.

The Society thereupon unanimously adopted a resolution,
tendering its thanks to the Hon. James M. Porter, Secretary
of War, for his judicious appropriation of means for the con-
tinued prosecution of the magnetic observations heretofore
conducted under the auspices of the Society: and

The Committee of the Magnetic Observatory was instructed
to communicate the resolution to the Hon. Secretary.

The Committee on the Centennial Celebration reported pro-
gress, and announced the measures which they had deemed
advisable to take for furthering the objects of their appoint-
ment.

Mr. Kane, Reporter, laid upon the table the 25th No. Vol.
II. of the Proceedings, for January, February, and March,
1S43.

Stated Meeting, April 21.

Present, thirty-eight members.
Dr. Patterson, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Mi. Charles B. Trego, a member elect, was presented, sub-
scribed the laws, and took his scat.

Letters were read: —

From the Secretary of tin- Massachusetts Historical Society,
.laird nth April, L843, inviting the Society's presence at the
second centennial celebration of the Confederation of the New
England Colonies on the 29th of May next: — and

269

From the Hon. John C. Spencer, inviting the attendance of
the members of the Society at a meeting of the scientific and
literary men of the United States, to be held in Washington,
on the first Monday of April, 1844, under the auspices of the
National Institution.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Kongl. Vetenskaps-Academiens Handlingar, for ar 1840. Stock-
holm, 1842. 8vo. — From the Royal Swedish Academy.
Arsberattelse om Framstegen I Fysik och Kemi, afgifven den 31
Mars, 1840; af Jac. Berzelius, K. V. A. Secret. Kemi, Mineralo-
gi, och Geologi. Stockholm, 1840. 8vo. — From the same.
Arsberattelser om nyare Zoologiska Arbeten och Upptackter, till
Kongl. Vetenskaps-Academien afgifne for Aren 1837 — 1840; af
C. J. Sundenwall. Stockholm, 1841. 8vo. — From the same.
Arsberattelse om Technologiens framsteg till Kongl. Vetenskaps-
Academien afgifven den 31 Mars 1840; af G. E. Pasch. Stock-
holm, 1841. 8vo. — From the same.
Arsberattelse om Framstegen I Fysik och Kemi, afgifven den 31
Mars, 1840; af Jac. Berzelius. Stockholm, 1841. — From the
same.
Tal om Jordbrakets narvarande tillstand inom faderneslandet, hind-
ren for dess forkofran och utsigterna for des framtig — Hallet I
Kongl. Vetenskaps-Academien vid Prsesidii Nedlaggande den 6
April, 1842; af August Anckarsw'ard, &c. &c. Stockholm,
1842. 8vo. — From the same.
Transactions of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. Vol.
III. Parts 3 & 4. Vol. IV. Part 1. 8vo. — From the Society.
Twelve Annual Reports of the Council of the Literary and Historical
Society of Quebec, from 1831 to 1843. 8vo. — From the same.
The African Repository and Colonial Journal. Vol. XIX. No. 4.

8vo. — From the American Colonization Society.
The American Journal of Science and Arts. Conducted by Prof.
Silliman and B. Silliman, Jr. Vol. XLIV. No. 2. April, 1843.
8vo. — From the Editors.
Report of the Select Committee relative to the Renewal of the State
Railways with Pennsylvania Cast-iron Rails : Mr. Trego, Chair-
man. April, 1843. 8vo. — From Mr. Ellwood Morris.
The Philosophy of Storms. By James P. Espy, A.M. Boston, 1841.
8vo. — From the Author.

270

Dr. Morton read a continuation of his paper on Egyptian
Ethnography ; which was referred to the Committee already
in charge of his former communications under the same title.

Mr. Walker mentioned, that Professor Kendall and himself
had computed anew the orbit of the comet of 1S43, but with-
out adding materially to the accuracy of the results obtained
by them before. The ephemeris computed from this orbit
gives the observed place from the 11th of March to the 10th
of April within two minutes of space, the differences being
sometimes positive and sometimes negative. . Mr. W. com-
pared the results obtained by different computers at home and
abroad. He had no doubt from the observatory records, that
the tail of the comet was first seen at the High School Obser-
vatory on the 25th of February.

Mr. Lea, on behalf of the Publication Committee, laid upon
the table the 3d part of Vol. VIII. of the Society's Transac-
tions, N. S.

On motion of Dr. Hays,

The Curators were authorized to have casts made of the
tooth of the Mastodon Chapmani in the Society's Cabinet.

The Society proceeded to an election for members : when
the following persons were duly elected :

Charles Wilkes, Lieut. U. S. N.

Charles M'Euen, of Philadelphia.

Staled Meeting, May 5.

Present, forty-two members.

Mr. Du Ponceau, President, in the Chair.

Messrs. Thomas P. Cope, Charles Ellct, Jr., ami Charles
M'Euen, members elect, were presented, subscribed the laws,
and took their seats.

Letters were received: —

From the Professors of the Museum of Natural History of
Paris, dated USth Feb. 1813, — the Corrcspondinu; Secretary of

271

the National Institution, dated Washington, 24th April, 1-843, —
the Acting Secretary of the London Society of Arts, &c, dated
London, 24th Jan. 1843, — the Proprietors of the Bowditch
Library, dated Boston, March, 1S43, — the Corresponding Se-
cretary and Librarian of the Northern Academy of Arts and
Sciences, dated Hanover, N. H., 27th April, 1843, — the Li-
brarian of the Massachusetts Historical Society, dated Boston,
28th April, 1843, — and the Corresponding Secretary of the
Lyceum of Natural History of New York, dated 25th April,
1S43, — severally acknowledging the receipt of recent numbers
of the Transactions and Proceedings of the Society: —

From the Corresponding Secretary of the Massachusetts
Historical Society; announcing that a delegation from that
body will be present at the centennial celebration of this So-
ciety:— and

From the Hon. J. M. Porter, acknowledging the receipt of
a letter from a Committee of the Society, communicating its
thanks for his intervention in sustaining the Magnetic Obser-
vatory.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

First Annual Report of the Secretary of the Commonwealth to the
Legislature, under the Act of March, 1842, relating to the Regis-
try and Returns of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, in Massa-
chusetts. Boston, 1843. 8vo. — From the Secretary of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Annales des Mines, Quatrieme Serie, Tomes I. II. 8vo. — From the
Ingenieurs des Mines.

Royal Astronomical Society of London : Proceedings, Vol. V. No.
29. March 10, 1843. 8vo. —From the Society,

The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London. Vol.
XII. Part 1. 1842. 8vo. — From the Society.

Journal Asiatique, ou Recueil de Memoires, &c. &c. 3e Serie.
Tome XIV. No. 78. Octobre, 1842. 8vo.— From the Asiatic
Society of Paris.

Boletin Enciclopedico de la Sociedad Economica de Amigos del Paiz.
Ano 4to. Tomo II. No. 1. Valencia, 1843. 8vo. — From the
Society.

Fifty-sixth Annual Report of the Regents of the University of the
2 L

27 'J

State of New York, March 1, 1843. Albany, 1843. 8vo

From the Regents of the University of New York.

Quarterly Summary of the Transactions of the College of Physicians
of Philadelphia, Feb. .March, April, 1843. 8vo.— From the Col-
lege.

London Provident Institution: Twenty-sixth Report. 20th Nov.
1842. — From Mr. William Vavghan.

An Account of the Yearly Receipts and Payments of the London
Provident Institution, from its Commencement, 22d July, 1816,
to 21st Nov. 1842. — From the same.

A Complete Index to the Companion to the Almanac; from its Com-
mencement in 1828 to 1843, inclusive. London, 1843. 12mo.
From Mr. Petty Vaughan.

Journal of the Franklin Institute of Pennsylvania. Vol. V. No. 4.
N. S. April, 1843. 8vo. — From Dr. R. M. Patterson.

Vindiciae Sinicae: derniere Reponse a M. Stanislas Julien; suivie
d'un Parallele de sa nouvelle traduction de Lao-Tsen avec une
traduction precedente: par G. Pauthier. Paris, 1842. 8vo. —
From the Author.

Simple Expose d'un Fait Honorable odieusement denature dans un
Libelle recent de M. Pauthier; par Stanislas Julien. Paris, Dec.

1842. 8vo. — From the Author.

The Medical News and Library. Vol. I. Nos. 1,2 & 5. Philadel-
phia. 8vo. — From Messrs. Lea if Blanchard.

Reports of the First, Second, and Third Meetings of" the Association
of American Geologists and Naturalists, at Philadelphia in 1-10
and 1841, and at Boston in 1842; embracing its Transactions
and Proceedings. Boston, 1843. 8vo. — From Prof. H. D.
Rogers.

Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts General
Hospital, for 1842. Boston, 1843. 8vo.— From Mr. John
Pickering.

Report of the Boston Committee, appointed by the Meeting, &c,
on the subject of procuring a Telescope of the first class, &C v\.-.

1843. 8vo. — From the sa/ne.

On the Determination of the Earth's Magnetic Force in actual Mea-
sure. By the Rev. Humphrey Lloyd, D.D. Dublin, 1843.
4to. — From the Author.

Mr. Walker made an oral communication relating to the
comet of 1813; tending to show that the elements of its orbit.

273

as computed from observations, differ more from one another,
than the more accurate of these differ from the elements of
the comet of 1689, as recomputed by Professor Peirce of Har-
vard from the data collected by Pingre. The differences of
the computed elements were, according to Mr. Walker, less
than those of the computations made from the observations of
Encke's comet in 1795. Mr. W. further submitted evidence
of the identity of the comets of 1689 and 1S43, drawn from
the appearances of the two, and dissented from the conclu-
sions of Professor Peirce, which make the latter identical with
the comet of 1668.

Special Meeting, May 12.

Present, twenty-six members.

Dr. Bache, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Dr. Chapman, as chairman of the General Committee on the
Centennial Celebration, and Professor Bache and Mr. Kane,
as the chairmen of sub-committees charged with the detailed
arrangements, severally communicated to the Society the fur-
ther steps which had been taken by them.

It was then, on motion of Mr. Kane,

Resolved, That the Society will hold a special meeting at
its Hall on Friday, the 26th instant, to receive communications
from the members and friends of the Society on topics of sci-
entific interest.

On motion of Dr. Chapman,

Resolved, That strangers may be admitted to the meeting
of the 26th instant, on introduction by a member of the So-
ciety.

It having been intimated, that some of the members were de-
sirous of receiving the correspondents and other friends of the
Society at the Hall, on the evening succeeding the Centennial
Discourse; it was, on motion of Mr. G. W. Smith, Resolved,
That on the afternoon and evening of the 25th, the Hall be ap-
propriated to that object, under the sanction of the Committee
of Arrangements.

214

Stated Meeting, May 19.

Present, thirty-two members.

Dr. Chapman, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Letters were received and read: —

From Lieut. Col. W. Reid, C.B., F.R.S., Governo- of Ber-
muda, dated 24th April, 1843, acknowledging the honour of
his election to membership: —

From the Corporation of Harvard University, dated 10th
May, 1843, — the Connecticut Historical Society, dated Hart-
ford, 9th May, 1843, — and the Secretary of the Linnean Soci-
ety, dated London, 3d Feb. 1843, — acknowledging the receipt
of recent numbers of the Transactions and Proceedings of this
Society: —

From Longman, Brown & Co., dated London, 2d April,
1843, in reference to a work on Ornithology by George Gray,
about to be published by them: — and

From Mr. J. B. Parker and his attorney, in reference to the
sale of the Museum buildings.

The following donations were announced: —

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. For
1842. Part II. London, 1842. 4to.— From the Society.

List of the Royal Society of London, 30th Nov. 1842. 4to.— From
the same.

Proceedings of the Royal Society, Nos. 54, 55, 1842. 8vo. — From
the same.

Revised Instructions for the Use of the Magnetic and Meteorological
Observatories, and for the Magnetic Surveys; prepared by the
Committee of Physics and Meteorology of the Royal Society.
London, 1842. 8vo. — From the same.

Tables for the Extemporaneous Application of Corrections for Tem-
perature to Barometric Observations; deduced from the Tables
published in the Report of the Committee of Physics of the R. S.
Ry S. Elliott Hoskins, M.I). Guernsey, 1M2. sVo.— From the
same.

Proceedings of the Royal Astronomical Society of London. Vol. V.
No. 28. Feb. l - 13. Bvo.— From the Society.

275

Observations on the Aurora Borealis, from Sept. 1834 to Sept. 1839.
By Robert Snow, Esq. Printed for Private Circulation. Lon-
don, 1842. 12mo. — From the Author.

On the Intimate Rationale of the Voltaic Force. By Alfred Smee,
F.R.S. London, Dec. 1842. 8vo. — From the Author.

Lecture on the Application of Science to Agriculture, delivered before
the Members of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, Dec.
9th, 1841. By Charles Daubeny, M.D., F.R.S. &c. London,
1842. 8vo. — From the Author.

On the Chemical Constituents of Crops. By Charles Daubeny, Pro-
fessor of Rural Economy in the University of Oxford. London,
1842. 8vo. — From the same.

On the Public Institutions for the Advancement of Agricultural
Science in other Countries, &c. &c. By Charles Daubeny, M.D.
F.R.S. London, 1842. 8vo. — From the same.

The African Repository and Colonial Journal. Vol. XIX. No. 5,
May, 1843. 8vo. — From the American Colonization Society.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
Nos. 24 & 25. 8vo. — From the Academy.

Szent Biblia, azaz : Istennek 6 es uj Testamentomaban foglaltatott
egesz Szentiras. Magyar Nyelvre fordittatott Karoli Gaspar al-
tal. Koszegen, 1842. 8vo. — From Mr. Charles Nagy, of
Pesth, in Hungary.

Professor Bache announced the death of H. R. H. the Duke
of Sussex, late President of the Royal Society of London, and
a member of this Society; who died on the 21st April, 1843,
aged seventy.

Mr. Walker mentioned that Professor Kendall and himself
had now succeeded in obtaining elements for calculating the
place of the Comet with great accuracy.

He said that the elements which he had presented at the last stated
meeting agree closely with those of M. Arago, just received, and pub-
lished in the Courier des Etats Unis ; but that he was satisfied from
his more recent researches, that the elements then presented, and
those also of M. Arago, led to unsatisfactory results; that the curve
traversed by the comet differed from the parabola, and is now shown
by the method of Gauss, to be a hyperbola. Mr. W. exhibited the
computations made by Professor Kendall, Mr. Downes and himself,
which threw the curve into the body of the sun. He said, that if
.sufficient reliance could be placed upon the normal places of the

276

comet from the High School observations, they would indicate that it
may possibly have touched the sun. He thought that there were
strong analogies between this comet and those of 1668 and 1689,
which would indicate a period of 21 £ years; but further researches
must be made before the question of the short period could be settled.

Professor Rogers suggested that in case of a contact or
shock of two such bodies, the sun as the more solid would dis-
place a portion of the comet, leaving the remainder to pass on;
a suggestion which gave rise to an extended conversation on
the subject of the comet, in which Dr. Patterson, Prof. Bache,
Prof. Rogers, and Mr. Walker took part.

Mr. Kane, from the General Committee on the Centennial
Celebration, and Prof. Bache, from one of the sub-committees,
reported the several arrangements which they had concluded
on the subjects referred to them.

On motion of Dr. Hays,

The Curators were authorized to have the head and other
bones of the Mastodon, now at the university of Pennsylvania,
and the skeleton of the Elephant, presented to the Society by
the Asiatic Society, and now at the Museum, removed to the
Society's cabinet.

END OF VOL. II.

INDEX.

Alexander, Prof. S., on meteor, 45 — on

solar eclipses, 201.
Anemometer, Prof. Bache on, 57.
Apjohn, Prof. Bache on formula of, 255.

Bache, Dr., Reporter 1842, 138.

Bache, Major, on obtaining magnetic
meridian, 137 — on coral reefs, 150.

Bache, Prof., on fusible metal, 42 — on
storm, 56 — on anemometer, 57 — on
rain-gauge, 164 — magnetic observa-
tions, 69, 83, 101, 150 — on cumulus
by fire, 116 — on Espy's theory, 147
— on meteors, 235, 267 — on induc-
tion inclinometer, 237 — on dew-point
hygrometer, 249, 252 — on Apjohn's
formula, 255.

Barometer, Mr. Hassler's portable, 74,
81, 94.

Bond, Mr., abstracts of observations,

6, 15.

Borden, Mr. S., on results of Massachu-
setts survey, 45, 60, 101, 150 — reply
to Mr. Hassler, 164, 170 — on appa-
ratus for base line, 247.

Boye, Mr., on analysis of feldspar, 53,
190 — on perchlorate, &c, 202.

Brown, Dr. S., on apparent isomerism,
75.

Candolle, M. de, exchange with, 16.
Centennial celebration, 253, 255, 268,

273, 276.
Coates, Dr., on Hessian fly, 42, 96.
Cohen, Dr., post mortem appearances,

&c, by, 147.
Comets, Mr. Walker and Prof. Kendall

on, 186, 267, 270— of 1843, Walker

on, 272, 275.
Comets, Prof. Rogers on, 276 — Prof.

Loomis on, 182 — Prof. Rumker on,

7, 75, 99.
Colimacea, Mr. Lea on, 10.
Coral reefs, Major Rache on, 150.
Coinage of U. S., Mr. Peale on, 4.

Cornelius' improved daguerreotype
plates, 163.

Correspondence on appropriation for
State Observatory, 4.

Corymbiferse, Nuttall on, 3.

Curators, to receive standards, &c, 138
— to have mastodon bones and ele-
phant removed, 276.

Committees, standing, appointed, 8,
144, 250.

Committee of Finance, report, 130, 243
— Mr. Kuhn appointed on, 214.

Committee of publication, report, 16,
43, 57, 76, 125, 238, 243, 270.

Committee on library, report, 16.

Committee, historical and literary, 5.

Committees, special. (See Titles of Pa-
pers and Jluthor's Names.)

on Society's MSS., 230.

on periodical observations, 235.

on Mr. Parker's letter, 252.

on claim of city, 256, 262.

on mastodon bones, 66.

on letter from Society of Lille, 76.

on magnetic observations, 69, 77,

222.

on early history of Soc, 105, 117.

on Murray's letter, 105, 126.

on Nagy's letter, 105, 118.

on Society's property, 171, 197.

on trust funds, 198, 205, 210, 250.

on observatory, 8.

on Museum, 85, 86, 99, 130, 198,

205, 210.

on centennial celebration, 253,

255, 268, 273, 276.

Correspondence. (See Letters.)

Daguerreotypes, Cornelius' improved,

163.
Dahlgren, Lieut. J., deposits books, 50.
Deafness, post mortem appearances in,

147.
Dewees, Dr. Wm. P., death announced.

66.

278

INDEX.

Documents and records, arranged, 35.
Dunglison, Dr., Cor. Sec, 119, 138,

247.
Du Ponceau on Indian MS., 16 — on

learned societies, 16.

Earthquake, Prof. Rogers on, 258, 267
— Major Graham on, 259 — Dr. Pat-
terson on, 260.

Egyptian ethnography, Dr. Morton on,
239, 247, 262, 270.

Eclipses, Prof. Alexander on, 201.

Election of officers, 1, 135, 245.

Elephant, Asiatic, to be placed in cabi-
net, 276.

Electric induction, Prof. Henry on, 193,
229.

Electricity, of nascent vapour, Dr.
Mitchell on, 28, 38 — Dr. Hare on,
160 — foggy air, non-conductor of,
180.

Epistemonomie, Prof. Park on, 76.

Emerson, Dr., on electricity from
steam, 3.

Erman's discussion of orbits, Prof.
Peirce on, 6, 21.

Ethereal liquid, new, Dr. Hare on, 142,
161.

Espy, Prof. J. P., on nephelescope, 128
— Dr. Hare on his theory, 147.

Evans' safety guard, 41.

Expansion of function &c, Mr. Pow-
ers on, 40, 74.

Exploring expedition, letter relative to,
232.

Feldspar, Mr. Boye on, analysis of, 53

— new variety of, 190.
Forshey, Prof, account of meteors, 67.
Franklin, Dr., ancient bond to A. P. S.,

16 — portrait of, 258.
Fusible metal. Prof. Bache on, 42.

Geology of Berkshire, Mass., &c, Prof.
Rogers on, 3 — of west of Ohio, &c,
Prof. Rogers on, 120, 125.

Gilliss, Lieut, magnetic curves, 38 —
observations of declination, 6, 150 —
description of magnetic observatory
at Washington, 180 — means of ther-
mometer and barometer, 150.

Goddard, Dr., new process of taking
photographic portraits, 144 — daguer-
reotypes on gilded silver, 150.

Graham, Major, magnetic observation^,
84,85 — earthquake, 259 — reflector
260.

Hare, Dr., strictures upon Mr Ke<l

field's opinions, 141, 225 — on new
ethereal liquid, 142, 161— on report
of Espy's theory, 147 — on clouds,
147 — non-electricity of nascent steam,
160 — foggy air, a non-conductor of
electricity, 180 — fusibility of iridium
and rhodium, 182, 187 — persistence
of clouds between certain levels, 187,
190 — platinum, &c, 196 — objections
to the existence in the amphide salts
of certain compounds, 219.

Hare, Mr. Clark, on perchlorate of ox-
ide of methule, 202, 505.

Harlan, Dr., on nondescript fossil ani-
mal, 105 — report on his paper on Mis-
souri fossils, 109 — on the oryctero-
therium Missouriense, 109, 147 — to
make casts of megalonyx, 197.

Hays, Dr. Isaac, on fossil bones of mas-
todon, 102 — on tetracaulodon, 105 —
remarks on Prof. Owen's paper on
Missouri fossils, 183 — resolution con-
cerning casts, 191 — on papers relating
to Koch's collection. 264.

Hassler, F. R., description of barometer,
74, 81, 94 — on misconceptions of
Massachusetts survey, 98, 164 — Bor-
den's reply to, 164.

Heckewelder on words in Lennape, to
be published, 6.

Henry, Prof, on phosphorescence, 46 —
on the heliostat, 97 — on magnetic
distribution, 111 — effects of a thun-
der storm, 111 — electrical induction,
193, 229.

Heliostat, 97.

Heliotrope, Major Graham on, 260.

Hessian fly, Dr. Coates on, 42, 96.

Hopkinson. resolutions adopted upon
his decease, 139.

Horner, Dr., corrects paper on masto-
don, 6.

Hygrometer, dew-point, of Prof. Bache,
249, 252.

Indian MS., Du Ponceau on, Hi.

Induction, electric, Prof. Henry on,
I''.'. 229.

Induction inclinometer. Prof. Bache on,
287

Integration of function. Sir.. Mr. Pow-
ers on. 218.

Iridium, fusible, 182 1-7

Isomerism, apparent, Dr. Brown On, ' ■">

JacktOD, Hon Isaac Rand, nhitu.'ii y DO-

tice of, 217.
.Justice, Mr , remarks on Madeler's map

of ill,- moon, I2S document* re-

INDEX.

279

lating to the history of Pennsylvania,
149 — permission given to, to take
casts, 222 — on appearance of the
moon, 235.

Kane, Mr., Reporter 1841, 8 — 1843,

247 — obituary notice of Mr. Jackson,

217.
Kendall, Prof, on Encke's comet, 160,

186, 201.
Koch's mastodon collection, Dr. Hays

on, 102, 264.
Krusenstern, Admiral, transmits his

charts of the Pacific, 93.

Lantern, Major Graham on reflecting,

260.
Lea, Mr., on shells, 6, 10, 28, 30, 74,
81, 150, 224, 232, 237, 241— on me-
lania Cincinnatiensis, 30 — on gesta-
tion, &c. of naiades, 34 — on bulimus
ovatus, 67 — on turbinated and discoid
shells, 234 — on American oolitic for-
mation, 147 — on rock perforated by
Lithodomi, 213 — on specimens of
coal from Pine Grove, 229.
Lea, Mr. Carey, photogenic drawings,

56.
Lloyd's induction inclinometer, 237.
Locke, Dr. John, on magnetic observa-
tions, 35 — on safety guard, 41 — per-
mitted to take casts of fossils, 191.
Loomis, Prof., astronomical observa-
tions, 40, 45, 50, 51 — observations
on magnetic dip, 144, 185 — paper on
do., 176, 185 — supplement to meteo-
rological paper, 178 — observations on
Encke's comet, 182 — on tornado,
182.
Lovering and Bond, Messrs., magnetic

observations, 101.
LETTERS from SOCIETIES, &c.,
foreign.

R. Asiat. Soc. Lond., 36, 39, 87,

93, 145, 253.
Soc. Antiq. Lond., 17, 136, 214,

238.
Soc. Arts, &c, Lond., 79, 145,

158, 173, 254, 271.
Br. Association, 173.
Botan. Soc. Lond., 222.
Cambr., Hist. Soc. of, 70.
Cambr., Phil. Soc. of, 9, 87, 256.
Cornwall, R. Geol. Soc. of, 107.
Electrical Soc. Lond., 107, 173.
Edinb., R. Soc. of, 93.
R. Geogr. Soc. Lond., 39, 99, 222.
Geol. Soc. Lond., 9, 39, 87, 136,
145, 158, 173, 253, 254.
2 M

Hort. Soc. Lond., 86, 99.

Roy. Instit., 173, 248.

Linn. Soc. Lond., 99, 214, 274.

Manchester, Lit. and Ph. Soc. of,

211.
R. Coll. Surg. Lond., 39.
R. Soc. Lond., 191.
Zool. Soc. Lond., 99, 173, 214.
Instit. of France, 4, 47, 93, 107,

173, 238.
R. Soc. Antiq. Fr., 79.
Geogr. Soc. Paris, 248.
Mus. Nat. Hist. Par., 173, 276.
R. Soc. Sci. Lille, 44.
Berlin, R. Ac. Sc, 93, 151, 254,
Brussels, R. Ac. Sc, 151, 231.
Copenhag. R. Soc. Sci. 103, 107.
Gbtting. R. Ac. Sci., 93, 107, 148,

263.
Hague, R. Libr. of, 2.
Harlem, Soc. Sci. of, 207.
Moscow, Imp. Ac. Nat., 211, 222,

256.
Moscow, Imp. Med. Chi. Soc. 136.
Netherlands, Inst, of, 136.
Rio Janeiro, Soc. Nat. Ind. of, 238.
Russia, Engrs. of Mines of, 126,

263.
Stockholm, Acad. Sci. of, 117.
Turin, R. Acad. Sci. of, 125, 238.
LETTERS from SOCIETIES, &c,
domestic.

Albany Institute, 140.
Am. Acad. Arts, &c, 70.
Am. Ass. Nat. and Geol., 70.
Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., 136, 173,

248.
Bowditch Libr. Proprs., 271.
Conn. Hist. Soc, 274.
Georgia Hist. Soc. 58.
Harvard University, 44, 58, 104,

162, 251, 274.
Massa. Hist. Soc, 58, 119, 271.
N. Y. Hist. Soc, 79, 256.
N. Y. Lyceum, Nat. Hist., 173,

248, 271.
Northern Acad. Arts, &c, 214,

256, 271.
Penna. Hist. Soc, 148.
Phila. Libr. Co., 126.
Washington, Nat. Instit., 119, 140,

251, 271.
LETTERS from INDIVIDUALS.
Alcott, Mr., 136.
Angelis, M. de, 39.
Amies, W., 126.
Alcott, Mr., 136.
Berzelius, J., 117.
Bacourt, H. E. A ., 17. 146.

'280

INDEX.

Bailey, S., 173.
Borden, Mr., 174.
Bridgman, E. C, 140.
Bancker, Mr., 231.
Bancroft. G., 87.
Blanco, M., 198.
Bloomfield, J. E., 99.
Borden, S., 174.
Bossange, M. 234.
Bowditch, H. J., 99, 119.
Bailey, S., 173.
Cresson, E., 246.
Cope, T. P., 251.
Christison, Dr., 79.
Cambreleng, Hon. Mr., 93.
Canino, Prince de, 211.
Cousin, M., Minister, &c, 79.
Dorr, Rev. Dr., 9.
Du Ponceau, Mr., 88, 136.
Eyries, M., 4.
Elliott, I., 162.
Engles, Rev. W., 94.
Folsom, G., 79.
Force, P., 136.
Fisher, J. F., 35, 70.

Griffin, W. W., 79.

Guizot, M., 39.

Gbtz, M. de, Counsellor, &c, 87.

Graham, Major, 214.

Gutzlaff, Rev. C, 93.

Gerhard, Dr. W. W., 251.

Gurley, R. R., 254.

Hemso, M. de, 47, 207.

Hitchcock, Prof., 79.

Hassler, F. A., 94.

Harlan, Dr., 207.

Hare, J. I. C, 231.

Institut, editor of 1', 158.

Ingraham, E. D., 191.

Ingersoll, J. R., 207

Jackson, J. R., 99.

Lyell, C, 145.

Locke, Dr. J., 184.

Ladoucette, Baron, 207.

Lenthall, J., 251

Lesueur, C. A., 2">1

Longman A- Co., 274.

Miller. Rev. Dr

Murray. J. B., 9!>, 126.

Morn

Mercer, Col. II .. 254

C, 1<»7.
Nicollet, .1 V. i 16
Peter, W

Palfrey, Prof., 107.
Pi( ot, M . 207.
Peirce, Prof., 2-U
Porter, Hon .1 M . 271

I'irker. J 15 . J7I

Ramage, A., 148.

Ridgway, G. W.. 246.

Rawle. VV., 9.

Rosa, M. de la, 43.

Robinson, M., 87.

Hebello, M.. 140.

Roenne, Baron, 145.

Roberts, S. W., 251.

Reid, Lt. Col., 274.

Stephens, J. L., 39.

Sabine, Major, 87.

Schiskow, Admiral, 87.

Stevens, Dr. W. B., 88.

Snider, J., Jr., 136, 140, 146. 158,

223.
Storer, Dr., 174.
Short, Dr. C. W., 198.
Secretary of State, 222.
Spencer, Hon. J. C, 269.
Totten, Col. J. G., 99.
Thorn, Rev. D., 119.
Tidyman, Dr., 145, 234.
Tocqueville. M. lie. 184.
Todd, Hon. Mr, 214.
Trego, C. B., 251.
Vaughan, W., 136, 158, 174. 192.
Van der Pant, M., 198.
Vaughan, P.. 214
Warden, 1). H.. 17. 88.
Wood. \Y. B., 17. 29.
Williams. Rev. S. W., 246.
Wharton. T. I.. 251.
Xantedeschi. Prof., 198.

Maedelers map, Mr. Justice on, 125.

M ignetic distribution. Prof. Henry on.
Ill — meridian. Major Baches me-
thod of obtaining, 137 — dip, Loomi*
on, 144, 176 — Nicollel on, ill. 21:!

Magnetic observatory, expenses of, 206
— committee appointed to obtain
means for. 222 — suspended, 247 —
resumed,

.Mason. Mr E P., death announced, 7

M - , . Mr Borden on, 45, 60,

10 1. J 17

>r. II. iv- .mi. 102, 183

— head. &C, to !>.■ [dared in cabinet,

276— M Chapmani, casts to be made

of. 2711

Megalonyx, cast

.Melania ( 'incimiat .en-is. Mr. Lea on,

:;n
Members to §ign laws, 8, C! -number

of surviving, s. I 1 1
Memorial to ll K l B., for reduction

of observations, I 26

Meteors, Mr Walker on, fi. 18- Prof
Vlexanderon, 15 — Prof Forsln-v on,

INDEX.

281

67— Prof. Bache on, 235, 267— Prof.
Reid on, 267 — Prof. Peirce on, 267.
Mitchell, Dr., on electricity, on escape

of carbonic acid, &c, 28, 38.
Morris, Miss, on Hessian fly, 42.
Morton, Dr., on Egyptian ethnography,

239, 247, 262, 270.
Museum property. (See Committees.)
Members elected, —
M. Agassiz, 251.
Mr. Bancroft, 86.
Mr. Borden, 171.
Mr. E. W. Brayley, 145.
Dr. Callisen, 8.
M. de Candolle, 46.
Dr. Christison, 46.
Mr. T. P. Cope, 251.
Rev. Dr. Dorr, 8.
M. Endlicher, 171.
Mr. C. Ellett, 251.
Mr. J. F. Frazer, 145.
Mr. F. Fraley, 205.
Dr. Gerhard, 251.
Mr. J. I. C. Hare, 230.
Prof. Hitchcock, 46.
Judge Irvin, 8.
Mr. I. R. Jackson, 46.
Mr. E. O. Kendall, 145.
Mr. C. Lyell, 145.
Mr. J. Lenthall, 251.
Baron Ladoucette, 145.
Mr. C. M'Euen, 270.
•Mr. E. Morris, 251.
Chev. Mustoxidi, 251.
Mr. Nicollet, 145.
Prof. R. Park, 46.
Rev. G. Peacock, 230.
Prof. Peirce, 230.
Mr. Peter, 46.
Chev. Quaranta, 8.
Mr. Rawle, 8.
Lieut. Col. Reid, 251.
Mr. S. W. Roberts, 251.
Baron de Roenne, 145.
Major Sabine, 46.
Mr. J. L. Stephens, 8.
Dr. Storer, 171.
M. de Tocqueville, 145.
Mr. C. B. Trego, 251.
Grand Duke of Tuscany, 251.
Mr. P. Vaughan, 205.
Mr. T. Wagner, 8.
Lieut. Wilkes, 270.
Members presented, 43, 47, 58, 148,

173, 207, 239, 251, 256, 26S, 270.
Members, death announced of, —
Dr. Abercrombie, 86.
Gen. Cadwalader, 118.
Dr. S. Colhoun. 45.

M. de Candolle, 138.
Dr. Dewees, 66.
Prof. Emmett, 208.
Dr. Fisher, 534.
Mr. J. Gilpin, 96.
Judge Hopkinson, 138.
Mr. I. R. Jackson, 213.
Sen. da Silva Lisboa, 67.
Baron Larrey, 214.
Count de Melito, 67.
Dr. Mac Neven, 86.
Mr. J. P. Norris, 86.
M. de Niemcewicz, 86.
Mr. P. H. Nicklin, 150.
Mr. C. Raguet, 160.
Hon. S. L. Southard, 249.
Duke of Sussex, 275.
John Vaughan, 131.
Hon. T. L. Wiiithrop, 35.

Nephelescope, Mr. Espy's, 128.
Nicollet, J. N., astronomic observations,

178, 185 — magnetic, 84, 213 — paper

on Sioux language withdrawn, 6.
Nuttall on Corymbiferce, report on, 3 —

on new plants of North America and

Sandwich Islands, 119.

Observations, astronomical, memorial
for the reduction of, 125 — Prof. Loo-
mis, 40, 45, 51— Mr. Nicollet, 178,
185— Prof. Rumker, 7, 75, 99, 103—
magnetic, 6, 35, 38, 69, 83, 84, 85,
101, 111, 144, 150 — periodical of
natural phenomena, committee on,
235.

Observatory, magnetic, A. P. S., plans
presented for, 8 — Prof. Bache on,
144, 206 — State, correspondence re-
specting, 4 — magnetic at Washing-
ton, 180.

Ohio, geology of the west of, &c, Prof.
Rogers, 120, 125.

Oolitic formation, Mr. Lea on, 147.

Ord, Mr., communicates letter respect-
ing exploring expedition, 232.

Orycterotherium Missouriense,Dr. Har-
lan on, 109, 147.

Park, Prof, on epistemonomie, 76.

Patterson, Dr., steam thermometer, 40
— to deliver anniversary discourse,
256 — on cause of earthquakes, 260.

Peale, Mr. F., on Franklin's portrait,
258.

Peirce, Prof., on Erman's discussion of
orbits, &c, 6, 21.

Pennsylvania, Mr. Justice on docu-
ments relating to history of, 149.

282

INDEX.

Perchlorate of oxide of methule, Mr.
Hare on, 202, 205.

Phosphorescence, Henry on, 46.

Photogenic drawings, Mr. Carey Lea on,
56.

Photography, Dr. Goddard on, 144.

Plants, new, Nuttall on, 119.

Platinum, Dr. Hare on, 202, 205.

Porter, Hon. J. M., thanks to, 268.

Powers, Mr. P., on expansion of func-
tion, &c, 40, 74 — integration of ir-
rational functions, 218.

Proceedings, price fixed of copies, 4.

Quetelet, M., on simultaneous observa-
tions of natural phenomena, 235 —
letter from, 266.

Quebec, Literary and Historical Soci-
ety of, a correspondent, 243.

Rain gauge, self-registering, 164.

Redfield on storms, 6, 10 — Dr. Hare on.
141, 225.

Reid, Mr. J. C, on shooting stars, 267.

Reports. See Committees.

Rhodium, fusible, 182, 187.

Rogers, Prof., on geology of Mass. &c,
3 — on earthquake, 258, 267 — on co-
met, 276.

Rogers, Prof. William B., the geology
of the west of Ohio, &c, 120, 125,
137.

Rumker, on new comet, 7 — observa-
tions on comet of 1840, 75 — on

Encke's comet in 1838, 99 — other
astronomical observations, 103.

Russia, Admiral Schiskow on public
instruction in, 88.

Sabine, Major, on magnetic observa-
tions, 6, 144.

Schiskow, Admiral, on public instruc-
tion in Russia, 88 — transmission of
work, 93.

Siamese twins, Prof. Tucker on, 15, 22.

Steam boiler thermometer, Dr. Patter-
son on, 40.

Stevens, Dr. William B., use of library,
&c, 58.

Storms, Prof. Bache on, 56 — Prof. Loo-
mis on, 182 — Redfield on, 6, 10 —
Dr. Hare on, 141, 147, 225— Espy
on, 128.

Survey, Mass. See Borden.

Tucker, Prof., on Siamese twins, 15, 22.
Transit instrument, Controllers to de-
posit, 38.
Tetracaulodon, Dr. Hays on, 105.

Vaughan, John, Esq., resolutions upon
death of, 131, 133, 162.

Walker on periodical meteors, 6, 18 —

on comet of 1843, 272.
Walker and Kendall on Encke's comet,

186— on comet of 1843, 267, 270, J TV
Washington, magnetic observatory at,

180.

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