OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 67 



Professor Peirce made a communication, illustrated by dia- 

 grams, on the " collision of solid bodies." He believed that 

 the speculations hitherto brought forward were radically de- 

 fective, and comparatively useless ; the collision of atoms only 

 had hitherto been considered, instead of combinations of atoms. 



Tbree hundred and niiietietli meeting. 



December 13, 1853. — Semi-Monthly Meeting. 



The President in the chair. 



The Corresponding Secretary announced a valuable bequest 

 of books on the Infusoria, from the late Thomas Cole, Esq., 

 of Salem, a Fellow of the Academy, consisting of Ehren- 

 berg's great work, Kiitsing's Phycologia, Mliller's Animalcula 

 Infusoria, Johnston's Zoophytes, and Recherches Chimiques 

 et Microscopiques sur les Conferves, Bisses, Tremelles, etc., 

 avec 36 Planches, par Girod-Chantrans (4to, Paris, 1802). 



On motion of President Walker, the following resolutions 

 were unanimously adopted : — 



" Voted, That the American Academy feel very sensibly the kind 

 remembrance of their lamented associate, Mr. Cole, in the valuable 

 legacy now received, and would express their sincere thanks to Mrs. 

 Cole for the delicate generosity with which she has invested the ex- 

 pressed intentions of her lamented husband with the authority of a 

 bequest. 



" Voted, That the Librarian be directed to affix to the volumes now 

 presented a statement that they are a bequest from their late asso- 

 ciate, Mr. Thomas Cole." 



Professor Lovering made a verbal report on the letter of 

 Mr. C. O'Brian, requesting an abstract of the Academy's pro- 

 ceedings, which had been referred to the Publishing Com- 

 mittee. He did hot see any objection to furnishing such an 

 abstract, thereby expressing the willingness of the Academy 

 to grant the request, without implying any sanction or recom- 

 mendation of the journal he was about to establish. It was 



" Voted, That the Secretary be allowed to furnish to Mr. O'Brian 

 such portions of the records of the Academy as he may think proper." 



