140 Notices and Proceedings, of Scientific Societies, 



Royal Society. — Nov. 25. Discussions which would disgrace the council 

 meetings of the London University, characterized this meeting.* After the 

 turmoil had somewhat subsided, a paper by Dr E. Davy, of Dublin, was 

 read, on the electro-chemical method of discovering metallic poisons. 



Nov. 30. — A meeting took place this day, according to the charter, for 

 Uie election of a President. Mr Davies Gilbert delivered the annual address. 

 He then read the order for the election of officers. His Royal Highness 

 ^e Duke of Sussex was elected President. 



Dec. 9 His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex took the chair. The 



customary address of the retiring president, (in this instance, Davies Gilbert, 

 Esq.) on the occasion, was read. A paper by Professor Barlow, on fluid 

 object-glasses for telescopes, was then read. And on the conclusion of this 

 paper, the Royal President addressed the members. This being the first 

 occasion on which he had appeared before them in his present capacity, he 

 begged to return them his thanks, and to assure them he was sensible of the 

 honour he had received in having been elected as their President. It would 

 be his endeavour to fulfil the duties of his office to the utmost of his power. 

 Jf he failed, it must be attributed rather to his own weakness, than to a dis- 

 regard for the promotion of science ; but, supported by his coimcil, he hoped 

 to succeed ; and he requested not only their aid, but that of the whole 

 Society. He assured the members, that it would be equally his care to 

 watch over the labours of any single one of them, as over the welfare of the 

 Society in general. He then informed the members, that on every Wed- 

 nesday, his residence, after its present repair was completed, would be open 

 to receive them, alternately, in the morning at breakfast, between the hours 

 of eleven and one, and in the evening, where he hoped to see them ; and that 

 they would always meet with that courtesy from him, which it would afford 

 him the greatest satisfaction to shew them. 



At this meeting the two royal medals were awarded, — one to Dr Brew- 

 ster, for his important researches on the Polarization of Light, — the other 

 to M. Balard, of Montpelier, for his discovery of brome or bromine. The 

 CJopley medal was not awarded. 



The new council consists of Peter Barlow, Esq., John Barrow, Esq., 

 W. Cavendish, Esq., Sir Astley Cooper, Bart., Henry Ellis, Esq., M. 

 Faraday, Esq., Col. G. Fitzclarence, Davies Gilbert, Esq. M. P., Capt. H. 

 Kater, V. P., Robert Viscount Melville, K. T., Rt. Hon. Sir G. Murray, 

 G. C. B., Rev. G. Peacock, M. A., Rt. Hon. Sir R. Peel, Bart., A. P. 

 W. Philip, M. D., John Pond, Esq., G. Rennie, Esq., N. A. Vigors, Esq., 

 J. W. Lubbock, Esq., Treasurer; P. M. Roget, M. D. and J. G. Chil- 

 dren, Esq. Secretaries. 



Dec. 16 Read, a paper by J. W. Lubbock, Esq., entitled " Researches 



in Physical Astronomy." 



Dec. 23 A paper by W. A. Cadell, Esq. was read, on the hour lines 



of the ancients, arising from a discovery of the outlines of a dial on the Elgin 

 marbles, in the British museum. — Adjourned to 13th Jan. 



Geological Society The secretary of this society having been directed 



by the council to make public the proceedings of the Society, we are enabled 

 to resume our reports. 



* The occasion of the late insurrections and riotings in the Royal Society may be 

 learnt by the perusal of the following- works, to which, as we trust that the temporary 

 disunion is now permanently replaced by one common eftort for the advancement of the 

 scientific character of the nation, w^e shall make no further allusion. 



1. Reflections on the Decline of Science in England, and on some of its causes. By Charles 

 Babbage, Esq., reviewed in Vol. II. p. 349, of this Journal. 



2. Review of the aiove, reported to be written by Dr Brewster. Qtiarterli; Review, Vol. 



LIII. p. 305. 



3. Charges aga 



4. Science without a Head ; or, the Royal Society dissected. By one of tlie 687 F. R. S SSS. 



:fiarges against the President and Councils of the Royal Society. By Sir Janies South. 

 jience without a Head ; or, the Royal Society dis. ' ' 

 • besides many letters in the London Newspapers. 



