54 SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



The water fup- But why was not this phenomenon, which I believe to be 

 Sfi d nmoft ftrUa S enera1 ' obferved b y M. M. Prieftley, Fontana, Jurine, &c. 

 perfons. and why is it not equally perceptible in all individuals placed 



in the fame circumftances ? It is probable, as I have faid in 

 the beginning of this memoir, after M. Jurine, that the water 

 acting by its weight upon the exhaling air-veffels of the fkin 

 differently upon different fubje&s, may obftruct the paflage of 

 all gafeous bodies in the greateft number of individuals. 



I fliall here conclude this memoir, which I might have ex- 

 tended much farther, had I been inclined to difcufs all the 

 queftions to which the phenomenon naturally gives birth ; but 

 having had no other defign but to call the attention of natural 

 philofophers to the fubjeel, and fatisfied with having began 

 the refearch, I leave the completion to more fkilful chemifts. 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



Decree of the French Government relative to tlie new Organization 

 of the National Injlitute. 



New organiza- J- ^^ government of the republic, upon the report of the 

 tion of the minifter of the interior, having advifed with the counfei of 

 French inftitute. ftat< ^ decree as folIowg . 



I. The national inftitute at prefent divided into three clafles, 

 {hall from henceforth be divided into four ; that is to fay, 



Firft Clafs. Clafs of phyfical and mathematical fciences. 



Second Clafs, Clafs of French language and literature. 



Tliird Clafs. Clafs of hiflory and foreign literature. 



Fourth Clafs. Clafs of the fine arts. 



The actual members and foreign aflbciates of the inftitute, 

 fhall be divided into thefe four claffes. 



A committee of five, members of the inftitute, named by 

 the Firft Conful, fhall adjuft this divifion, which fhall be fub- 

 mitted to the approbation of government. 



II. The firft clafs fliall be formed of the ten fe&ions which 

 at prefent compofe the firft clafs of the inftitute, with a new 

 fc&ion of geography and navigation, and eight foreign affo- 

 ciatos. 



Tho 



