60 SCIENTIFIC NEW*. 



and animated ftatement of its objects ; confidered as well 

 with regard to their great influence on fociety, as to thofe 

 local circumftances towards which the intention of the author 

 was more particularly directed. In this paper, no lefs ftrik- 

 ing for the value of its contents, than for the eftimable mo- 

 tives of its author, we find facts which ftrongly fupport what 

 has been faid at the commencement of this article concerning 

 adopted, and an the general proceedings of this refpectable fociety. In 

 "uHixcirculated. con f ec l uen c e °f tn i s fuggeftion, the fubjeel was again refumed, 

 and an addrefs to the public was circulated in the month of 

 June, requefting their co-operation and affiflance, exhibiting 

 fome part of the outline, and announcing that the appoint- 

 ment of Lecturer has been made to the Rev. Wra. Turner, 

 a gentleman long and well known to the fociety for the abilities 

 with which he had exercifed the office of fenior fecretary. 

 Since that time, coafiderable progrefs has been made in the 

 fubferiptions ; and the lecturer delivered a general introduc- 

 tory difcourfe on Tuefday, November the 16th laft, upon the 

 objects, the advantages, and the intended plan of the lec- 

 tures. I am forry that the limits of a fhort ntoice forbid the 

 attempt to give any anatyfis of this excellent difcourfe, which 

 affords ample evidence of the comprehenfive views of the 

 author, with regard to the organization and duties of fociety 

 in general, as well as the fciences he has undertaken to teach* 

 I have thought it might be advantageous in fome degree to 

 the views of this public body to give the prefent account^ 

 fliort and imperfect as it mull: neceflarily be, and Hill more to 

 the world at large, if the exertions in favour of the fciences in 

 one part of the kingdom, ihould, as is mofl probable, be fol- 

 lowed by fimilar proceedings in others. 



On a new Kind of Mortar called Plaijler Cement. 



Account of a Among the (tones on the fea-beach, near Boulogne, a par- 



water cement, ticular kind is collected, which when calcined and pounded 

 like plaifter, forms a very hard cement with water. This 

 fubftance has been ufed for ceconomical purpofes, and was 

 found to poflefs the valuable quality of refilling water; under 

 which fluid, it hardens very ftrongly, and much more than in 



the 



