[ 37 ] 

 XL Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



ROYAL SOCIETY. 



IN our last Number we gave a list of the papers read before the 

 Royal Society from the 13th of December 1832 to the 2nd of May 

 1833, both inclusive j and we now give abstracts of some of those 

 papers. 



1832. Dec. 13. — A paper was read, entitled, "On the extensive 

 atmosphere of Mars." In a Letter to His Royal Highness the Presi- 

 dent. By Sir James South, Knt. F.R.S. 



In this paper the author gives an account of a further observation 

 which corroborates the conclusion he had stated in a former commu- 

 nication " On the extensive atmosphere of Mars*," namely, that no 

 indication now existed of any atmosphere being attached to that 

 planet. A star retained its light blue colour, and its full brilliancy 

 and comparative steadiness, till the very instant of its occultation by 

 Mars. At its emersion it was seen nearly dichotomized. The author 

 concludes, that either some physical change has occurred in the 

 atmosphere of that planet, or that the observations of Cassini and of 

 Roemer were inaccurate. 



A paper was also read, entitled, " On the Law which connects the 

 various Magneto electric Phenomena lately discovered by Dr. Fara- 

 day." By the Rev. William Ritchie, LL.D. F.R.S. Professor of Na- 

 tural and Experimental Philosophy in the Royal Institution of Great 

 Britain, and Professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy in the 

 University of London. 



The general principle from which the author deduces the law in 

 question, is that of the equality of action and reaction. The appli- 

 cation of this principle to electro-magnetism, he thinks, may be thus 

 expressed : — since a current of voltaic electricity can, in certain cir- 

 cumstances, induce magnetism, magnets will, in similar circumstances, 

 induce similar voltaic currents. He gives an account of several expe- 

 riments in confirmation of the universality of this law. 



A paper was then read, entitled, " An Account of an extraordinary 

 Meteor seen at Malvern, November 12, 1832." By W. Addison, Esq. 

 F.L.S. Communicated by W. G. Maton, M.D. V.P.R.S. 



The author beheld, from the Malvern Hills, a constant succession 

 of meteors, of various degrees of magnitude and brilliancy. The 

 smaller ones were like those commonly called shooting stars, and left 

 behind them, for a moment, a train of pale yellowish light. Others 

 were much more brilliant, and notwithstanding the bright moonshine 

 threw a strong glare upon every object: they always commenced as a 

 small luminous point, rapidly increasing in size and splendour, shoot- 

 ing with great swiftness over a considerable arc, and then, suddenly 

 disappearing, left behind them a long train of very vivid white light, 

 which slowly changed into a pale yellow. The author witnessed this 

 scene for upwards of an hour, although it was still going on when he 



* An abstract of this paper was given in Phil. Mag. and Annals, N. S., 

 vol. x. p. 300. 



