256 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



offered a series of resolutions expressive of the feelings of the 

 Academy in relation to that event, which resolutions were 

 unanimously adopted. 



Professor Lovering stated that Part II. of Vol. IV. of the 

 Memoirs of the Academy was published, and ready for delivery 

 to the Fellows of the Academy, at their Library Hall. 



Dr. C. T. Jackson communicated some interesting facts, 

 showing that charcoal takes fire at a remarkably low tempera- 

 ture, which, when the charcoal is powdered and dry, he 

 stated to be but little above that of boiling water. Dr. 

 A. A. Hayes confirmed Dr. Jackson's statement, and referred 

 to other similar facts. Dr. Holmes and Dr. W. F. Channing 

 made further remarks on the same subject. The President 

 spoke of the practical importance of an investigation of the 

 subject ; and, on motion of Mr. J. H. Abbot, made at his 

 suggestion, it was 



" Voted, That a committee be appointed to investigate the subject 

 and report to the Academy. 



" Voted, That Dr. C. T. Jackson, Dr. Hayes, and Dr. W. F. Chan- 

 ning be that committee." 



Professor Peirce gave an argument, which he thought to be 

 new, against the principle which is usually adopted in theo- 

 retical works, that the force of a body in motion is its vis 

 inerticR. He believes, on the contrary, that the time is at 

 hand when the vis viva will be universally recognized as the 

 force of a moving body. His new argument is derived from 

 the effect of a force in causing rotation, as well as translation. 

 By the old theory, no additional force is required to produce 

 rotation ; whereas, by the theory of the vis viva, just as much 

 force is required as is actually exhibited in the resulting rota- 

 tion. The same argument may be derived in another form 

 from the vibrations of elastic bodies. 



Mr. Peirce also gave some new views upon the subject of 

 friction, and especially discussed the theory of rolling friction. 

 This theory is of very little practical importance, but it is an- 

 noying to a scientist not to have it correctly established. 



