1827.] 



Proceedings ef Learned Societies. 



claration of this being the ease, was an- 

 nexed by a member of the Berlin Aca- 

 demy; referred to a commission already 

 sitting. October 2. M. Plana, of the 

 Royal Academy of Science's of Turin, is 

 named correspondent in the section of geo- 

 metry, and M. Brunei in that of mechanics. 

 A favourable report by Messrs. Cuvier and 

 Latreille was made on a memoir by Messrs. 

 Quoy and Gaymard, on the raolluseae and 

 loophytes obse. ved in the hay of Algesiras. 

 Messrs. Dumeri), Latreille, and De Blain- 

 ville, made a highly commendatory report 

 on the work of M. llobinot Desvoisy, on 

 the insects which he calls rm/odaire, the 

 genus fiy of Linnaeus. M. Chevreul in- 

 formed the Academy, that M. Ch. S. Du- 

 mas Iras discovered a chlorate of iodine, 

 possessing all the properties of Brome, de- 

 scribed in a memoir presented to the Aca- 

 demy by M. BalurcL October 9. Mr. W. 

 Bolles forwarded from New York- a trigo- 

 nometrical instrument ; referred to Messrs.. 



Mnthieu and Damoiseau. The death of 

 the celebrated Scarpa, foreign associate of 

 the Institute, was announced. Messrs. 

 Bouvard and Damoiseau, who had been 

 appointed to examine the new method of 

 determining the orbits, of comets by M. 

 MeiirotF, of Russia, reported that he had 

 failed in his object. M. Lenormand read a. 

 memoir on a cloth of a new sort made by 

 caterpillars, and he exhibited a specimen 

 which had been sent by M. Brebenstrecht, 

 inventor of the process, which serves to di- 

 rect the labours of these insects j referred 

 to Messrs. Boscand Latreille. Mr. G. St. 

 Hilaire ;read a memoir on the question 

 whether the various cases of monstrosity 

 are exactly confined within certain fixed 

 limits, and if, in this case these monstro- 

 sities be susceptible of a regular classifica- 

 tion as the beings which are the object of 

 regular zoology. M. Dumas read a me- 

 moir on some points of the atomic theory. 



POLITICAL OCCURRENCES, &e. 



THE earlier weeks of the month were de- 

 ficient, as the major part of the last year has 

 been, in action, energy or character. A 

 few complaints from the northern provinces, 

 a grumble or two from Glasgow, together 

 with some strong speeches from those ap- 

 proved Catholic demagogues, Sheill and 

 O/' Council, made up the sum total of our 

 domestic intelligence. While, however, 

 public interest seemed thus fast asleep it 

 was roused as by a thunderclap from its 

 drowsy slumbers, by the information that 

 Portugal our closest and oldest ally was 

 attacked, that we were consequently on the 

 eve of a war with Spain perhaps with 

 France, and thus by no remote contingency 

 with Europe, and that British troops who 

 on the one day were slumbering at head 

 quarters, peaceful and at case,, ou the next 

 were on their way for Portugal, that frequent 

 theatre of their troubles and their triumphs. 

 On the evening of December 31th, Mr. 

 Canning brought down to the House of 

 Commons a message from his Majesty, in 

 which it was simply but emphatically stated 

 that in consequence of letters received from 

 / the Cortes at Lisbon, wherein by virtue of 

 its treaty, assistance was requested at the 

 hands of the British Government, he had 

 been induced to despatch immediate help tQ 

 his ally, and as a necessary consequence to 

 declare war against Spain, her aggressor. 

 On this spirited declaration being read, the 

 house was adjourned till the ensuing night, 

 when its necessity was to be thoroughly de- 

 bated and sifted with the consideration due 

 to its importance. Accordingly on Decem- 

 ber 12th, Lord Bathurst in the Upper 

 House, entered into a minute and elaborate 

 detail of the nature of our connections with 

 Portugal he stated that the treaty was of 

 very old standing and had been renewed 



solemnly and explicitly in 1815, at which 

 time, among other unimportant articles it 

 was agreed, that whenever Portugal was 

 invaded by a foreign force, no matter whom, 

 it should instantly be assisted .by British 

 troops and more important still by Bri- 

 tish money. This pledge his lordship now 

 called on the House to fulfil nobly and dis- 

 interestedly to fulfil the time, he stated, 

 was arrived when Portugal stood in need 

 of our active aid j she had been entered on 

 the Spanish side by an armed body of in- 

 surgents under the command of the Mar- 

 quis de Chaves, and from the circumstance 

 of the whole line of the Spanish frontier 

 having been crossed at one moment, it was 

 evident that the plan of attack was the re- 

 sult of serious and mature deliberation, and 

 as his lordship feared commenced under the 

 immediate directions of the Jesuitical Spa- 

 nish Government. Mr. Canning, in the 

 House of Commons, made a similar decla- 

 ration, and in a speech of unusual length 

 and eloquence which, by those who heard 

 it will never be forgotten contended that 

 the ccs&us faderis had been distinctly made 

 out ; and that prompt assistance must 

 consequently be given to our ally. Mr. 

 Brougham followed on the same side : in- 

 deed there was but one sentiment if we 

 except some twaddling about the expencea 

 by Messieurs Hume, Bankes, and Wood 

 throughout the whole house; and that un- 

 divided sentiment was one of enthusiastic 

 admiration sviid approval. The subject of this 

 impending war with Spain involves one im- 

 portant considertion, namely, how far it will 

 be restricted in its character. " Engla.nd," 

 as MX-. Canning justly observed, cannot 

 " raise her arm without involving nation* 

 in the contest ;" more than this, she cannorf 

 even (at least in the present ins>tuue) uu 

 02 



