OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 123 



the sovereignty of one or the other of these laws. The laws may be 

 different, widely different, in themselves, and yet in positions near 

 together each mg,y give a velocity not very different from what the 

 others would have done. Therefore the abrupt change of the law will 

 produce only a gradual change in the velocity of the moving body. 

 This consideration is sufficient to show that the law of continuity is 

 observed, to the exclusion of violent changes in matter. Nevertheless, 

 a mental shock will be occasioned if the law itself shall not appear 

 upon deeper investigation to retain, unbroken and unimpaired, its sim- 

 plicity and integrity." 



Three hundred and fifteenth meeting. 



January 31, 1849. — Q,uarterly Meeting. 



The President in the chair. 



The Corresponding Secretary read a letter from James Hall, 

 Esq., of Albany, acknowledging the notification of his elec- 

 tion as a Fellow of the Academy, and presenting the first 

 volume of his work on the Paleontology of New York. 



The Corresponding Secretary also presented from Dr. Bache 

 a copy of his report on the progress of the United States Coast 

 Survey, accompanied by the request that the Academy would 

 submit it to a careful examination, and make such suggestions 

 as might be called for upon the scientific character and value 

 of the survey as now carried on, or which might tend to give 

 greater efficiency to the work. The subject was referred to a 

 committee, consisting of Professor Pel rce. Professor Levering, 

 Mr. Treadwell, and Mr. J. I. Bowdi^tch. 



A note from Dr. John Ware, resigning his place on the Rum- 

 ford Committee, having been read by the President, Mr. Tread- 

 well was appointed to fill this vacancy. 



Professor Arnold Guyot, late of Neuchatel, was elected a 

 Fellow of the Academy. 



At the request of the committee on the establishment of 

 permanent marks to indicate the water-level on our coast. 

 Lieutenant Davis and Mr. E. C. Cabot were added to the 

 committee. 



