155 



*' Note without interest. Ten piastres, to be so taken at the Royal 

 Treasury; such are the conditions of this note." 



" Treasury Department." Seal endorsed. 



As by the last quotation, 26 paper piastres were equal to 20 pias- 

 tres in silver, the laws of trade are plainly more despotic than those 

 of the most absolute prince. — The commercial value of this note is 

 only about 33 cents of our money. — It belongs to the cabinet of the 

 Mint. 



Mr. Du Bois also laid upon the table two specimens of sil- 

 ver ore, just received from Lake Superior, and placed in the 

 Mint Cabinet. 



The larger is pure metallic silver in carbonate of lime, with a few 

 specks of copper. 



The smaller specimen, though less valuable, is more characteristic 

 of the occurrence of silver in that remarkable mining region. 



Although the silver and copper are intimately commingled, each 

 metal is pure where it occurs, and not at all alloyed with the other. 

 In all cases hitherto observed, from Lake Superior, the lumps of sil- 

 ver and copper, though firmly welded together, as it were, are yet 

 free from intermixture. — As well as we can deduce from specific gra- 

 vity, the larger piece is worth 825 dollars, the other $3.75. 



Dr. Boye described certain phenomena of the remarkable 

 Aurora borealis observed by him in the vicinity of Cape Race, 

 Newfoundland, on the second of September, 1S53, and illus- 

 trated the variable phases which it presented, by drawings 

 thereof. 



Dr. Kane remarked upon the frequency of A'li-nras in north- 

 ern regions, as observed by him, and their general want of ef- 

 fect upon the magnetic needle in high latitudes. 



The proceedings of the Board of Officers and Council, at 

 their late meeting, were read. 



The Committee appointed on the 4th of May last, on the 

 subject of re-engraving the seal of the Society, presented a re- 

 port and were discharged. 



VOL. VI. 



