't76 Notices respecting New Books. 



rudent at elections and the like, they are of course excluded from 

 the honours and consideration of the Society ; that is, from their 

 state and condition they are not likely to be selected by the Council 

 to read the Croonian or Bakerian lectures, which are followed by a 

 small pecuniary reward ; nor are they likely ever to aspire to the 

 Copley, the Rumford, or the Royal medals. 



Mr. Weld gives a very elaborate insight of the composition of the 

 body at large, and its statistics, together with a lucid retrospective 

 review of its labours from the commencement to our present time. 

 And however trite the matter may be to a large class of our readers, 

 there may be many who will like to see the form and ceremony ob- 

 served during its sessions. 



"The Session commences on the third Thursday in November, previ- 

 ously to which a card of the Meeting-days, and a list of the proposed new 

 Council, are sent to every Fellow of the Society. On Saint Andrew's day, 

 or or. the day after should that day fall on Sunday, the Anniversary Meet- 

 ing is held for the election of the President, Officers, and Council ; after 

 which, the Fellows and their friends dine together. Hitherto, the Medals 

 have been distributed, and the President's Address delivered, at the Anni- 

 versary ; but the day for the election of Fellows (in June) is now devoted 

 to these purposes. 



"The evening Meetings continue with the intermission of the Christmas, 

 Easter, and Whitsun vacations, until the third Thursday in June. As soon 

 as the President, or, in his absence, a Vice-President, takes the Chair, the 

 Mace is placed on the table before him. He then reads the names of those 

 individuals who desire, on the introduction of Fellows, to attend the Meet- 

 ing, and who, on leave being granted, are admitted into the Meeting Room 

 from the ante-chamber, where they are in waiting. 



" The Senior Secretary, who sits on the right of the President, then 

 reads the Minutes of the last Meeting, and an abstract of the Paper or 

 Papers read on that occasion ; after which, any newly-elected Fellow who 

 is present, and has not been formally admitted, inscribes his name in the 

 Charter-book, and is introduced by a Fellow to the President, who admits 

 him according to the form prescribed in the Statutes. 



" The Junior Secretary, who sits on the left of the President, next an- 

 nounces the Presents made to the Society; he then reads the Certificates 

 of Candidates for Election, and proceeds to read such Paper, or Papers, 

 as may have been thought proper to be communicated to the Meeting. 

 At the conclusion of the reading, the President calls on the Society to re- 

 turn their thanks to the Author or Authors of the Papers read, which are 

 thenceforth the property of the Society. A discussion is then invited on 

 the subject treated of in the Paper, which is more or less animated, accord- 

 ing to the subject, and the number of Fellows present. 



" When the speakers have concluded, the President adjourns the Meet- 

 ing, and the Fellows proceed with their friends to the Library, where they 

 partake of tea. A conversazione ensues, which lasts until about eleven 

 o'clock. These reunions are extremely agreeable, and are frequently ho- 

 noured by the presence of distinguished foreigners who happen to be visiting 

 London." 



Such is a colpo d' occhio of the work before us ; and on the whole 

 we can assure every F.R.S., everyone who aspires to become an 

 F.R.S., and all who are interested in the welfare of the Royal 

 Society, that this book will amply repay the perusal. Besides 



