Royal Society. 141 



of the Sun by the Moon, commonly known by the name of an 

 Eclipse of the Sun. 



In the concluding Section of this elaborate work we find similar 

 excellent expressions of the same principle, which w<is displayed in 

 the opening Section. We cannot do better than confirm our re- 

 marks by quoting our author's own words. 



" When the practical astronomer has proved, and can confide in 

 his various and delicate resources, his mind, like his telescope, is 

 pointed to heaven, and his soul is wrapped up in the contemplation 

 of objects, that prove beyond contradiction the immutability of 

 those laws by which the Omnipotent Creator upholds, actuates, 

 and directs the luminous bodies composing this solar system. When- 

 ever he detects a glaring discrepancy in his comparative observa- 

 tions, or in the errors of his clock, he arraigns not the heavenly 

 bodies, or the earth on which he stands, as subject to move under 

 the misguidance of capricious laws ; but suspects his own imperfect 

 powers, or the tendency of material mechanism to change its position 

 or dimensions, by variations of temperature; and a repetition of the 

 observations stamps a conviction of the truth of such supposition on 

 his mind in characters indelible. He finds in every failure a proof 

 of human impotency; but in the general agreement of all his successful 

 efforts, discovers a regulating power infinitely greater than his own, 

 and participates in the feelings of the poet, who considering that a 

 complete observatory displays the sublimest works both of God and 

 man, thus expresses his admiration : — 



" • Here truths sublime, and sacred science charm, 



Creative arts new faculties supply ; 

 Mechanic powers give more than giant's arm ; 



And piercing optics more than eagle's eye ; — 

 Here man explores Creation's wond'rous laws, 

 That teach him to adore the Gheat designing Cause.' " 



XXIX. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



ROYAL SOCIETY. 



Feb.28. , TPHE reading of a paper, entitled, " Experimental Deter- 

 -*■ mination of the Laws of Magneto-electric Induction in 

 different masses of the same Metal, and of its Intensity in different 

 Metals," by Samuel Hunter Christie, Esq. M.A. F.R.S., was com- 

 menced. 



March 7. — The reading of Mr. Christie's paper was resumed and 

 concluded. 



Mr. Faraday, in his valuable papers entitled " Experimental Re- 

 searches in Electricity," has advanced the proposition, that u when 

 metals of different kinds are equally subject, in every circumstance, 

 to magneto-electric induction, they exhibit exactly equal powers with 

 respect to the currents which either are formed or tend to form in 

 them ;" and " that the same is probably the case in all other sub- 

 stances." The author not being satisfied with the conclusiveness of 

 the experiments adduced in support of this proposition, — in order to 



