HISTORY of the SOCIETY. 



of Inflection in Languages. This paper, and its continuation, 

 which was read at the next meeting of the Literary Clafs, form- 

 ing a detached chapter of a work compofed by Mr ROBERTSON 

 on the Theory and Hiflory of Languages ^ which he intends to of- 

 fer to the public in a future volume of his Enquiry into the Fine 

 Arts ; it was, on that account, judged improper to prefent it 

 here in a mutilated or imperfect form. 



A GENERAL meeting of the Royal Society was held for the 

 election of Members. 



Pbyf. CL Mr ProfefTor DUCALD STEWART read the remain- 

 der of Dr BLANE'S Paper on the Difeafes of the Fleet in the 

 Weft Indies in 1782 and 1783. [See fupra, Jan. 5. 1784.] 



Dr HUTTON read the firft part of a Diflertation, entitled, 

 The Theory of Rain, which is printed in this volume. [No. II. 

 Pbyf. <7/.] 



Dr WALKER read a paper, communicated by the Earl of 

 DUNDONALD, containing an account of a new method, invent- 

 ed by his Lordfhip, for purifying fea-falt. His Lordfhip, who 

 was prefent, added, viva voce, fome obfervations on the fubject, 

 which the Society requefted he would communicate in writing 

 at a fubfequent meeting. 



THE Earl of DUNDONALD'S procefs for purifying fea-falt 

 proceeded upon this obfervation, That the common fea-falt pof- 

 fefTes a confiderable mixture of ingredients, which render it, in 

 a great degree, unfit for preferving victuals. Thefe ingredi- 

 ents appear, by experiment, to be naufeous, bitter and cathartic 

 falts, having an earthy bafis, (magnefia falita and magnefia vi- 

 triolata or Epfom fait) which are intimately mixed with the 

 proper fea-falt. 



(C 2) To 



1784. 



Jan. 26. 

 Gen. Meeting. 



Fob. 2. 



Dr Blane on the 

 difeafes of the 

 fleet. 



Dr Button's 

 theory of rain. 



Earl of Dundo- 

 nald on fea-falt. 



