224- Royal Society. 



the germination of seeds, and some of the decompositions of vege- 

 table matter, proceeds, in the present paper, to trace a connexion 

 between the phenomena exhibited during the growth of plants, and 

 the direct agency of nitrogen. The experiments by which the au- 

 thor supports his views are arranged in separate tables, so drawn out 

 as to indicate not only the quantities of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, 

 nitrogen, and residual matter, in about 120 different vegetable 

 substances, but also the quantity of nitrogen in each compound, 

 when compared with 1000 parts by weight of carbon in the same 

 substance. The most important of these tables are those which ex- 

 hibit the chemical constitution of the germs, cotyledons and rootlets 

 of seeds; the elements of the roots and trunks of trees, and the cha- 

 racters of the various parts of plants, especially of the leaves, at dif- 

 ferent periods of their growth. From this extensive series, which is 

 stated to form but a small portion of the experiments made by the 

 author in this department of chemical research, it appears that ni- 

 trogen and residual matter are invariably the most abundant in those 

 parts of plants which perform the most important offices in vege- 

 table physiology ; and hence the author is disposed to infer, that 

 nitrogen (being the element which more than any other is perma- 

 nent in its character) when coupled with residual matter, is the 

 moving agent, acting under the living principle of the plant, and 

 moulding into shape the other elements. The method of ultimate 

 analysis adopted by the author, enables him, as he conceives, to de- 

 tect very minute errors, and therefore to speak with certainty as to 

 the accuracy and value of every experiment*. , 



A paper was also read, entitled, " Researches in Rotatory Mo- 

 tion." By A. Bell, Esq. Communicated by the Rev. W. Whewell, 

 M.A., F.R.S., &c. 



This paper, which is altogether analytical, contains several new 

 theorems in rotatory motion, respecting the effect of the centrifugal 

 force arising from a rotation about any axis, in producing rotation 

 about another, inclined at any angle to the former ; and also a new, 

 and comparatively concise, demonstration of the equations of the 

 motion of rotation of a solid body, its centre of gravity being fixed, 

 and the body being acted on by any forces. 



June 14. — A paper was read, entitled, " Researches on Suppu- 

 ration ; " by George Gulliver, Esq., Assistant Surgeon to the Royal 

 Regiment of Horse Guards. Communicated by John Davy, M.D., 

 F.R.S,, Assistant Inspector of Army Hospitals.f 



A paper was also in part read, entitled, " Researches on the 

 Tides," Ninth Series ; by the Rev. W. Whewell, M.A., F.R.S., 

 &c. 



BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 

 The Eighth Meeting of the British Association took place at 

 Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the week from the 20liii to the 25th of 



• An abstract of Mr. Rigg's paper on the germination of seeds will be 

 found in Lond. and Edinb. Phil. Mag. vol. ix. p. 536 : see also vol. xii. 

 p. 31, 232. 



t This paper will be found, entire, in the present number, p, 193. 



