Royal Society. 1 45 



Mr. George Harvey was the author of a paper entitled " Expe- 

 rimental Inquiries relative to the Distribution and Changes of the 

 Magnetic Intensity in Ships of War;" and of another " On the 

 Effects of the Density of Air on the Rates of Chronometers ;" both 

 of which are published in the Philosophical Transactions for 1824. 

 In the first paper he enters into a detail of experiments made on 

 board several vessels for the purpose of determining the influence of 

 the iron in the ships upon the mariner's compass in different situa- 

 tions and under different circumstances. In the second paper he as- 

 certains that the rate of chronometers is accelerated by being placed 

 in air of diminished density; and that it was, on the contrary, retarded 

 when they are subjected to increased atmospheric pressure ; the arc 

 of vibration being, in the former case, increased ; and in the latter, 

 diminished. 



The Secretary then read the Reporv of the Council, from which 

 the following are extracts ; the Report being given entire in the 

 " Proceedings" of the Society. 



On the subject of the Library the Council have, in the first place, 

 to report that the manuscript of the classed Catalogue is now very 

 nearly completed, and that the printing of it will be very soon com- 

 menced. 



The Council beg, in the second place, to congratulate the Society 

 on their having, after so much delay, at length obtained possession of 

 the apartments lately occupied as the Exchequer Office, and granted 

 by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, on the re- 

 presentation made to them by His Royal Highness our President, 

 to the Ro3"al, conjointly with the Astronomical, Society. The apart- 

 ments retained by the Royal Society are four in number : the first 

 is a room adjoining to the upper library, from which a door has been 

 opened into it, and which has been fitted np with shelves for the re- 

 ception of the books formerly kept in the rooms on the basement 

 floor of the next house, under the rooms of the Geological Society. 

 The second is a smaller room, communicating by a door with the 

 Council-room. The third is also a small room, opening into the ante- 

 room, on the same floor. The fourth room is situated on alower floor. 



It having been determined at a former Council, in November of 

 last year, that application should be made to the Lords of the Ad- 

 miralty to direct the observations made at various stations by their 

 order, to be printed at the public expense ; Their Lordships have gra- 

 ciously acceded to this request. 



The Council, having been applied to by the Commissioners of Ex- 

 cise to undertake the investigation of the proper instruments, and 

 the construction of tables, for ascertaining the strength of spirits, 

 with a view to the more accurate charging of the duty thereon, have 

 appointed a Committee for conducting the proposed inquiry, and ful- 

 filling the objects of the requisition. 



ITie Copley Medal has been awarded by the Council to Professor 

 Plana for his work, entitled " Theorie du Mouvement de laLune." 



The two Royal Medals for the present year have been awarded, 

 the one, on Physics, to John William Lubbock, Esq. ; and the other. 



Third Series, Vol. 6. No. 32. Feb. 1835. U 



