The principal additions to the Libraiy consist of 

 Agassiz' Researches on Fossil Fishes ; Raspail's Chemis- 

 try; Lindley and Button's Fossil Flora; Strata identified 

 by Organised Fossils, by Wm. Smith ; Mathematical 

 Tracts on the Theory of the Moon, and on the Pertur- 

 bations of the Planets, by J. W. Lubbock, Esq. That 

 the leading modern works on many subjects are the 

 productions of a foreign country ought to excite emu- 

 lation rather than regret in the schools of British 

 science. 



The Philosophical and Literary Transactions of the 

 Society during the past year, exhibited in one depart- 

 ment, the delivery of Lectures, an unwonted degree of 

 activity: the experience of the preceding Session 

 seemed to justify the Council in adopting a bolder 

 course in this respect than had for some years been 

 deemed compatible with the state of the finances, and 

 the event has fulfilled their expectations. The series 

 was commenced by an esteemed honorary member of 

 the institution, Luke Howard, Esq. of Ackworth, F.R S. 

 who added to the favours he has previously conferred 

 on the society, by the gratuitous delivery of an inte- 

 resting course on Meteorology, the science on which 

 the extent and importance of his researches are univer- 

 sally recognised. He was succeeded by Mr. Murray on 

 Combustion, Mr. Addams on JNIagnetic and Voltaic 

 Electricity, and Dr. Lardner on Modem Discoveries in 

 Astronomy. The series will be concluded by a Course 

 of Lectures on tlie Elements of Botany, the first of 



