132 



action of Congress at their last session, an expedition consist- 

 ing of two vessels, one of which is propelled by steam, had 

 sailed from New York, on the 4th of the present month, to 

 the Polar regions in search of the party of Dr. Kane. The 

 course proposed is through Baffin's bay, and up Smith's sound 

 to the ice-barrier, where one vessel may be left, while the other 

 proceeds through accidental openings as far as practicable, when 

 the search will be prosecuted by means of sledges. The expe- 

 dition took out with them a monument of marble, furnished 

 by the liberality of Mr. Grinnell, of New York — with an ap- 

 propriate epitaph, by Lady Franklin, to the lost explorers of 

 Sir John Franklin's party. 



The amendment to the laws of the Society, proposed at last 

 meeting, was adopted as follows: In Chap. I. Art. 10, add the 

 words '' and pay their admission fee," after the word " laws," 

 in the third line of the Article: making the amended clause to 

 read as follows: " Members elect, residing within ten miles of 

 the Hall, shall lose the right of membership unless they sub- 

 scribe the laws and pay their admission fee, within one year 

 after their election. 



The Committee appointed on the subject of re-engraving the 

 seal of the Society reported progress. 



Mr. Fraley, Dr. Dunglison and Mr. Trego were announced 

 as a Commitee on the aj)plication of the fund advanced by the 

 City to the Society, in aid of astronomical observations. 



Mr. Trego, as reporter to the Society, laid on the table No. 

 53 of the Proceedings, recently published. 



Stated Meeting, July 20. 



Present, thirteen members. 



Judge Kane, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Dr. E. J. Lewis, a recently elected member, was introduced 

 and took his seat. 

 Letters were read: — 

 From Mr. Edward Stanley, dated London, Brook street, 



