122 Mr Scott mi the Temperature of' Shetland. 



the glass, producing vibration, and thence sound, — the cause of 

 which expansion or contraction may perhaps be (I hazard the 

 hypothesis as merely probable) a particular state of the electric 

 fluid before a storm. This, however, is left for the considera- 

 tion of those more conversant with natural phenomena than my- 

 self. 



The house of Belmont stands about 55 feet above the level of 

 the sea, on the top of a gentle eminence, having the sea on the 

 south and south-west ; a small fresh-water lake on the west, ano- 

 ther on the north, and on the east and north-east a brook, in 

 winter forming a small marsh, with pretty high ground rising 

 from it. The site of the house is dry. 



The annexed is a 

 ground-plan of that 

 part of the house con- 

 taining the room i n 

 which this phenome- 

 non is observed, a is 

 the front door •, b the 

 lobby ; c the room ; 

 d the entrance into 

 it ; P the press ; e 

 a window ; jf the fire-place ; and g a door leading to another 

 room behind c. The shell of the house is built of gneiss ; the 

 partition P, d, of brick ; the walls of room c are plastered, 

 painted in oil, and pannelled below the surbase. 



SW.i^9. 



On the History and Cmutitution of Benefit or Friendly Societies. 

 By Mr W. Fraser, Edinburgh. 



[This communication we consider of gi-eat importance at this time, 

 when the distressed state of the working classes, and the accompany- 

 ing increase of disease, so much and so justly engage the attention 

 of the public. It is also a subject which cannot fail to interest the 

 political economist.— Edit.] 



Xjenefit or Friendly Societies are associations for the pur- 

 poses of Health and Life Assurance. Health Assurance provides 



