22 



Annual Review: History of St. Louis, Commercial Statistics, Im- 

 provements of the year, and Account of the leading Manufactures, 

 &c. Jan. 1854. St. Louis. 8vo. — Donor unknown, 



Mr. Fraley announced the recent death of Sir James Wylie, 

 of St. Petersburg, a member of this Society, aged SS years. 



In connection with this announcement, Dr. F. Bache men- 

 tioned to the Society that on his late visit to Europe he called 

 upon Sir James Wylie, in St. Petersburg, and in conversation 

 with Sir James, on the events of his long and active life, that 

 gentleman referred to a brief account of the principal incidents 

 in his public and official career as a military surgeon in the 

 Russian service, written by himself; of which paper he kindly 

 permitted Dr. Bache to take a copy. This paper was read to 

 the Society. 



Judge Kane referred to the unusual number of icebergs in 

 the Atlantic during the last few months, as reported by recent 

 navigators. He infers, from this, that the spring of 1S53, in 

 the Arctic regions, was more mild, or the Arctic waters more 

 open than usual, — this floating ice coming from Baffin's bay; — 

 and considers that from this apparent indication of the season 

 in the northern regions, we have reason to suppose that Dr. 

 Kane may have made more progress in his Arctic explorations 

 than could have been done in an ordinary season. 



The Judge illustrated his remarks by reference to a recent 

 chart of the Arctic regions, with regard to the geographical 

 and physical features of the coast in that portion of the globe. 



Stated Meetinf;, Jlpril2\. 



Present, thirteen members. 



Judge Kane, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Letters were read : — 



From the Royal Academy of Sciences at Stockholm, dated 

 Nov. 1, 1853; from the Central Physical Observatory of Rus- 

 sia, dated St. Petersburg, Dec. 13, 1853; from the Royal Geo- 

 graphical Society of London, dated 3 Waterloo Place, Dec. 



