or Gold Sand met with in Rivers. 343 



generally entertained by gold-hunters is, that it is only in the 

 ancient bottoms of valleys that auriferous sands occur, and that 

 the recently submersed countries never furnish any. 



From all that we have said, it follows that the sandstone for- 

 mation is the immediate source of the auriferous sand of the 

 Aar. Toward the Rhine, on the other hand, where gold-wash- 

 ing was formerly vigorous, especially near Coire and Mayen- 

 feld, there are no traces of sandstone mountains, at least in this 

 part of the basin of the Rhine. The gold must here have been 

 immediately derived from its original site, the transition lime- 

 stone mountains of the Alps. There is seen, among others, a 

 place of this kind toward the eastern declivity of the Galanda, 

 at the foot of which the Rhine flows, and where, at various pe- 

 riods, attempts were made to form establishments for the extrac- 

 tion of gold. 



Essay on Comets, zvhich gained the first of' Dr FeUowes'^s 

 Prizes, proposed to tlwse who had attended the University of 

 Edinburgh within the last Twelve Years. By David Milne, 

 Esq. A. M. F. R. S. E. Edinburgh, 1828. 



De Fellowes, in October 1826, proposed, for the encourage- 

 ment of science, the following Prizes : — " The sum of L. 50, 

 with a Gold Medal, for the best Essay &ii Comets, and L. 25 

 for the next best in merit ; to be composed of those candidates 

 who, within the last twelve years, have finished their philosophi- 

 cal studies in the University of Edinburgh."" 



Several Essays were sent in. These were examined by a 

 Committee of the Senatus Academicus, who reported, in March 

 1828, as follows: 



*' Copy uf a Minute of the Senatus Acadeniicus of the University of 

 EHinburgh, of date 4th March 182& 



•' Professor Leslie laid before the Senatus Academicus a Report as 

 to the Fellowes' Priise ; of which the Senatus unanimously approved. 



<* The Report was as follows : — Widi the assistance of my learned 

 colleague Professor Wallace, I have farefully examined the Essays on 

 Comets received by mo since the enlarged programme was issued, and 

 find that the Discourse written by Mr David Milae is very far superior 



