SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



— viz. No. 1. In the Russian language with the motto: ** A 

 " philosopher who has learned to doubts hioivs more than all 

 *' tJie Itarncd, ^c/' No. 2. In the Russian language : 

 " Time is the earliest thing in nature, ^-c." No. 3. In La- 

 tin : " Est-ne color proprius verum, lucisne repulsus eludunt 

 ** aciemf* No. 4. In French: " IXox abiit, nee tamen orta 

 ** diesT^ No. 5. In German: " Ut noscas splendore novo 

 •* res semper egere, et primum factum, Sfc.'' No. 6. In 

 Geniian : " La physique ne sera tcritablement i^ne science, 

 ** que lorsque tons les effets naturels se dcdidront clairement 

 ** dhin seul et meme principe evidemment dtmcntri'.'" 



The first tliree tracts, beside the common fault of wantin<^ 

 new experiments, a complete and instructive series of which 

 was required by tlie academical notice, contained hypothe- 

 ses and propositions, either well known, erroneous, or ill 

 expressed, and advanced without demonstration. F or these 

 reasons the academy did not' think they hud any claim to the 

 prize. 



The tract No. 4 is not without merit. The author enters 

 upon several interesting questions concerning the nature of 

 light, in a: manner that readily convinces us he is no stran- 

 ger to the subject. But the dehciency of connexion and 

 systematic arrangement, which is perceived in it, and above 

 all, the absolute want of new experiments which might lead 

 to new results, or serve as a support to a number of hypo- 

 theses advanced by the author, and destitute of every spe- 

 cies of demonstration, would not permit the academy to 

 adjudge the prize to this memoir, even had there been none 

 of greater merit. 



As to the last pieces. No. 5 and No. 6, the academy has 

 found them worthy of tlieir particular attention, from the 

 report of the committee appointed to decide on the different 

 performances. These essays are agreeable to the principal 

 condition stated in the notice, inasmuch as chey contain a 

 great number of new experiments on the effects and proper- 

 ties of hght, and a judicious application of those, which, 

 though already known, were repeated, whenever they ap» 

 peared doubtful to the authors. Both pieces are executed 

 upon a plan wisely conceived, expressed with clearness, and 

 arranged in sufficiently systematic order. Ou the other 



hand, 



71 



