scientific news. yg 



the granular-porphyrittc; arid the upper portion of the 

 mountain, comprehending the summit, with about 1400 feet 

 of the perpendicular hieght below it, is composed of a dark- 

 coloured rock, which for the most part is porphyritic, and 

 seems to be intimately allied in its characters to compact 

 feldspar. This appears from the gradual transition of the 

 one substance into the other, which is distinctly observed 

 under the tremendous precipice of Ben Nevis to the N. E., 

 and demonstrates the identity and continuity of the whole 

 formation. The colouring matter appears to be hornblende 

 intimately mixed with the substance of the rock. At first 

 view the whole might have been considered as a formation 

 of clink stone and porphyry-slate. But a more minute in- 

 vestigation discovers many oryctognostic characters of dis- 

 tinction from these substances, which are less crystalline, 

 and belong to a more recent era of formation. 



At the same meeting, Dr. Arthur Edmonstone read an Zetland sheep. 

 account of the peculiarities of the Zetland sheep, with re- 

 marks on their diseases. And the Secretary read a commu- 

 nication from Lieut. Col. Imrie, describing a vein of green- Vein of green- 

 stone, which occurs in Glenco, and which appears to have stone inCle«cv\ 

 been overlooked in the mineralogical descriptions of that 

 district. m i 



The establishment of societies for the promotion and dif- Literary and 

 fusion of knowledge by reading and conversation, wherever philosophic** 

 circumstances admit them, cannot fail to promote the gene* rj Cl ^ y at 

 ral interests of science, and I am happy therefore to an- a ° Wy * 

 nounce the formation of a Literary and Philosophical So- 

 ciety at Hackney. The object of this society is not con- 

 fined to the purchase of books, the use of which the mem- 

 bers are allowed at their own houses; but its plan extends to 

 procuring philosophical instruments, and patronising lectures 

 on philosophical subjects, as soon as the state of its funds 

 will permit. A weekly meeting is likewise to be Li;d for 

 literary conversations, and reading such papers as the society 

 may be favoured with. The subjects for conversation, or 

 books for the library, comprehend the mathematics, natural 

 philosophy, natural history, chemistry, polite literature, an- 

 tiquities, history, biography, questions of general law and 

 policy, commerce and the arts ; but topics of religion, the 

 practical branches of law and physic, and the politics of the 

 day, are excluded. Its commencement has been very aus- 

 picious, hi 



A new edition of Dr. Henry's Chemistry is in the press. New edition cf 

 As the late grand discoveries of Mr. Davy have wrought Dr - Henry's 

 extraordinary changes in the face of the science, the preseat chem,st T- 

 may be considered almost as a new work, from the various 

 alterations that have been necessary, and the great additions 

 required to detail and explain the progress that has been 

 made. It will now extend to two volumes, which are print- 

 ing with all possible expedition. 



