SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 301 



On the modifications and phenomena which are manifefted in 

 thofe fubftances hy virtue of the combinations in whidh the 

 matter of light may have entered along with them." 



After propofing this queftion, the Academy proceeds to ex- Remarks by iht 

 plain, by obferving that without entering into any hiftoric dif-*"^"^^* 

 culfion, or the objedions which have been oppoled to this hy- 

 potheiis, nor the refearches already made with a view to de» 

 velope traces of chemical a(5tion between light and bodies in 

 (he different modifications of natural phenomena, — the enqui- 

 ries here propofed may not be unufefully extended to the gal- 

 vanic fire, of which the dazzling brilliancy when large piles 

 are made to a<5l upon coally matters, in feme refpedt imitates 

 the folar light. The Academy has chofen to enunciate the fub- 

 je6l of their prize in a general way, in order that philofophers 

 may not be in any refpefl impeded as to the points of view 

 from which they may be difpofed to contemplate and to treat 

 fo difficult a fubje6t, which has fcarcely yet been entered upon, 

 though fo eminently worthy of attention from the cultivators 

 of natural fcience. 



The memoirs are to be written either in Ruffian, French, Conditions an* 

 Engliffi, German, or Latin, and forwarded to the perpetual'""*'* 

 fecretary of the Academy, fealed up, with device and indi- 

 catory billet, as mentioned with regard to tlie former prize. 

 No memoirs will be received after the 30th of April, 1806, 

 inclufive, and the author of that memoir which in the judg- 

 ment of the Academy (hall have merited tHe prize, (hall be 

 proclaimed in the public meeting of the following month of 

 July. The fuccefsful memoir becomes the property of the 

 Academy, and muft not be printed without their formal per- 

 mitlion. The other treatifes will be delivered to the refpedlive 

 authors, on application to the fecretary, either perfonallyor by 

 procuration. 



Voyages of Mejrs, Humboldt and Bonpland. 

 Meffrs. Levrault, SchoeU and Company circulated at the Voyages of 

 beginning of the prefent year a profpedus of the voyage of g""",^*^ *"' 

 Melfrs. Humboldt and Bonpland, the publication of which is 

 committed to them : ** the travellers, they obferve, have in 

 general re-written all their obfervations, whatever might have 

 been the object, in the narrative of their voyage. Mr. Hum* 

 boldt has thought it proper to follow another courfe, and to 



treat 



