508 



a calamite stem, crossing matrix and pebbles alike, impress- 

 ing the quartz pebbles precisely as it impressed the cement 

 between them. He believed in the plasticity of all matter, 

 and that, if we could devise machinery for securing a dia- 

 mond in a grip strong enough, we could elongate it like 

 steel. 



Mr. Briggs reminded the Society that Kirkaldy's visible 

 demonstration had been theoretically anticipated by L'Aimee 

 in his rare and too little known Treatise on Strains within 

 the limits of Elasticity. Indeed, some of Kirkaldy's results 

 are depicted in that work. Mechanical philosophers are apt 

 to assign too high a value to such realistic demonstrations, 

 and too low a value to proofs and conclusions obtained 

 through transcendental mathematics. 



The Chairman of the Finance Committee reported the 

 following appropriations for the ensuing year, which, on the 

 recommendation of the Committee were so ordered: 



Salary of Librarian $700 00 



Assistant Librarian 360 00 



Janitor 100 00 



Binding Books 200 00 



Subscriptions to Journals 50 00 



Insurance 200 00 



Hall Committee '. 200 00 



Petty Expenses of Librarian 150 00 



Publications, in addition to the interest on the Pub- 

 lication Fund 2500 00 



General Expenses, including the commissions of the 



Treasurer 850 00 



$5310 00 



Pending nomination No. 740, and new nominations Nos. 

 741, 742, 743, 744 were read ; 



And the meeting was adjourned. 



