414 Proceedings of the Society of Arts. 



the thanks of the society were voted to Mr Davidson, these two papers 

 were referred to a committee. 



5. Donation — Researches on Heat ; Fourth Series. On the effect of the 

 Mechanical Texture of Screens on the immediate transmission of Eadiant 

 Heat. By Professor Forbes, F. 11. SS. L. & E. Presented by the Author. 

 (750.) Thanks voted. 



6. Donation — Account of additional Experiments on Terrestrial Magnet- 

 ism, made in different parts of Europe in 1836. By Professor Forbes. 

 Presented by the Author. (749.) Thanks voted. 



7. Donation — A Tabular View of the Yearly quantity of Rain which 

 falls in different parts of Great Britain. By Joseph Atkinson, Esq., 

 Harraby, near Carlisle. Presented by the Author. (755.) Thanks voted. 



PRIVATE BUSINESS. 



The following Candidates were admitted as' Ordinary Mem- 

 bers, viz. — 



1. Charles F. Davidson, Esq. W.S., 9 Saxo Cobourg Place. 



2. James Clapperton, Esq. 32 George Square. 



3. James G. Cowan, Esq. merchant, 1 Hermitage Place, Lcith. 



4. David Eankine, Esq. Manager Dalkeith Railway Company, St Leo- 

 mard's Hill. 



5. Robert Stcuart, Esq. of Carfin, 18 Clyde Street. 



6. James Cowan, M.D. surgeon_, R.N., G5 Castle Street. 



2bth January 1841.— Andrew Fyfe, M. D., F.R.S.E., Presi- 

 dent, in the chair. ThefoUowingcommunications were made: — ■ 



1. An Experimental Exposition of the Doctrine of the Polarization of 

 Heat ; introductory to which an account of Instrumental Methods of as- 

 certaining minute variations of Temperature was this evening given by 

 Professor Forbes, Sec. R. S. E., M. S. A., in the course of which the Pro- 

 fessor exhibited one of the original thermometers invented and used by 

 the Florentine Academicians, and he brought down the account to the 

 metallic piles of Nobili and Melloni, in which, by the agency of electro- 

 magnetism, the minutest variations of temperature can now be appreciated 

 and measured ; and he stated the probability of arriving at still greater 

 nicety, by improvements on those instruments. He was happy to observe 

 that the Society had offered a premium on this subject. (769.) 



The best thanks of the Society were unanimously voted to Professor 

 Forbes for this introductory account of the various thcrmometric instru- 

 ments ; which were given to him from the chair. The Professor intimated 

 his intention to give the Exposition of the Doctrine of the Polarization of 

 Heat at a future meeting. 



2. Description of a Drawing of a Self-Inking Printing Press (Roller 

 Pressure), by which the whole process of Inking the T^T^s, Impression, 



