138 



NOTICES AND PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC 

 SOCIETIES. 



EDINBURGH. 



Royal Society. — December 6, 1830. At this, the first meeting of the 

 session 1830-1, Dr Hibbert read an essay on the volcanic district, bounded 

 by the rivers Nette and Brohl, on the Lower Rhine. A list of various 

 donations, presented to the Society during the recess, was afterwards read 

 by the Secretary. 



December 20. Dr Duncan read a paper on Mudar, and on its active 

 principle Mudarine, which he illustrated by a series of experiments performed 

 before the Society. (Vide p. 123, supra.) 



There was also read an essay, giving an account of the improved method 

 of distilling, by exposing the mash, in shomers, to the action of steam, 

 illustrated by a series of diagrams ; by Mr Stein. 



January 3, 1831. Dr Christison read a communication from Dr Duncan, 

 of experiments performed by a gentleman to relieve a supposed aneurism of 

 the pulmonary artery, by the injection of air into the chest. The tube 

 and bladder, by which the air was injected, were exhibited to the Society. 



A communication was also read from Dr Berry, giving a detailed account 

 of the monsoons of the Indian peninsula. The reading of the latter part of 

 the communication was delayed till next meeting. 



Wernerian Society December 11, 1830. The Society com^menced 



its winter meetings. Dr Scot of Corstorphine, read a paper " On the 

 Giants mentioned in the Bible." Mr James Wilson read a paper " On the 

 Great Orang-Outang of Sumatra," being a part of the Number of the 

 Illustrations of Zoology, just published. Professor Jameson read some 

 extracts from letters of his correspondents, amongst which was one from Mr 

 Mouatt Cameron, relative to the probable progress of Captain Ross in his 

 Arctic voyage. 



January 22, 1831. The meetings of the Society were interrupted till 

 this day. Mr Audubon read an account of the white-headed eagle, Falco 

 leucocephalus, and exhibited his splendid work to the Society. Dr Scot read 

 a paper on the Quail of the Scriptures. 



Professor Jameson communicated a very important letter, of a recent date, 

 from a settler at the Swan River colony, to a gentleman in Edinburgh, 

 which fully confirmed our forebodings as to the disastrous state of the colony. 

 "We shall not, however, at present give any report of this letter, as, from its 

 importance to the country, it will no doubt be immediately made public in 

 its entire state. We can only say, that if some measures be not promptly 

 taken to facilitate the return or removal of the unfortunate persons who have 

 been so grossly deluded, and if there be not a rigid inquiry set on foot as to 

 the original Report by which so many have been misled, a most culpable 

 negligence will be exhibited on the part of those in whose hands the power 

 is vested. The gentleman by whom this letter was written was already 

 on the point of leaving the colony ; and many others who have the means, 

 are gradually withdrawing from the settlement to Hobart Town, or New 

 South Wales. 



