179 



University of Pennsylvania. By Henry Coppee, Professor of En- 

 glish Literature in the University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, 

 1856. Swo.—Fro?n the Avthor. 



Rapport du Surintendant de I'Education pour le Bas-Canada, pour 

 1854. Quebec, 1855. 8vo. 



The Farmer's Journal and Transactiotis of the Lower Canada Board 

 of Agriculture. Vol. IIL No. 10. Feb. 1856: with Prize List of 

 the Agricultural Association of Lower Canada for the year 1856. 

 Montreal. 4to. — From L. A. Huguet Latour, N. P. of Mon- 

 treal. 



The Medical News and Library. Vol. XIV. No. 159. March, 1856. 

 Philadelphia. 8vo. — From Blanchard <S^ Lea. 



The Florist and Horticultural Journal. Vol. IV. No. 9. Philadelphia, 

 1856. 8vo. — From H. C. Hanson, Editor. 



The Documentary History of the State of New York : — arranged 

 under the direction of the Hon. Christopher Morgan, Secretary of 

 State. By E. B. O'Callaghan, M.D. Vols. I. 11. ill. IV. Albany, 

 1850-51. 4to. — From Henry S. Randall, Esq. 



Dr. Bell announced the death of Dr. William P. C. Barton, 

 a member of the Society, who died on the 28th of February 

 last, aged 69 years. 



Mr. Peale solicited the attention of the members to a contri- 

 vance called the skater^s reel, invented by him several years 

 since:— exhibiting the instrument and showing the method of 

 using it. 



A spool of light wood, to which is attached, by one end, a thin but 

 stroncr cord, about forty feet in length, which cord is wound around 

 the spool, filling all the space between the two ends, somewhat similar 

 to the ordinary cotton spool, so familiar to the domestic eye, but, of 

 course, on a larger scale; the other end of the cord is spliced into a 

 loop, which can be converted, in a moment, to a running noose. 



The reel is usually carried in the pocket, being of a convenient 

 size for that purpose, ur in the breast of the coat; and the manner of 

 use Mr. Peale illustrated by slipping the noose over the wrist, and 

 throwing the reel to a person supposed to have "broken in:" or it 

 may be thrown out, by a person who is in the water, and thus the in- 

 stantaneous assistance given, which is so important under such cir- 

 cumstances. 



Mr. Peale mentioned that the instrument was original with himself; 



