110 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



Three hundred and thirteenth meeting. 



December 6, 1848. — Monthly Meeting. 



The President in the chair. 



The Corresponding Secretary read a letter from Professor 

 Salisbury, of Yale College, accepting the fellowship of the 

 Academy, which was conferred at the last quarterly meeting. 



He also announced the donation of the first volume of the 

 Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, accompanied by 

 several documents stating the purposes of the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution, and making certain inquiries respecting the library, 

 &c., of the American Academy. 



Hon. Nathan Hale was appointed a member of the Commit- 

 tee on Meteorology, to fill the vacancy left by the decease of 

 Dr. Hale. 



Mr. Everett announced that, on the 25th of November last, 

 Mr. George P. Bond discovered a new comet, the seventh 

 which he had discovered independently of other observers. 

 In this instance, such was the velocity of the comet, and its 

 position in respect to a star in the field of view, that Mr. Bond 

 was able to see the comet actually move ; — this, it was said, 

 had never before been a matter of direct observation in the 

 case of any of the heavenly bodies. 



Mr. Everett also announced the transmission of the King of 

 Denmark's comet-medal to Miss Mitchell. 



The committee on the distribution, &c., of the Academy's 

 publications made a report upon the subject, and proposed the 

 following resolves, which were adopted. 



1. " That the forthcoming volume of the Memoirs of the Academy 

 (Vol. III., New Series) be furnished, on application, to Fellows of the 

 Academy resident in the United States at such distance from Boston 

 that they are not liable to the payment of annual dues, on the payment 

 of three dollars per copy, and the preceding volumes at two dollars 

 per copy. 



2. " That the fourth article of the third chapter of the Statutes be 

 amended, so that it shall read as follows, viz. : — 'It shall be the duty 

 of the Corresponding Secretary, with the advice and consent of the 



