1865.] 3 [Troyon. 



On motion of Dr. Coates, a special committee was ap- 

 pointed on the preparation of a medal for the Magellanic Pre- 

 mium, lately awarded, consisting of Dr. Coates, Dr. Wilcocks, 

 and Mr. Peale. 



On motion of Dr. Barnes, the thanks of the Society were 

 ordered to be presented to Mr. John Biddle, for his valuable 

 donation of Oriental books presented this evening. 



Whereupon the Society was adjourned. 



Stated Meeting, January 20, 1865. 



Present, seventeen members. 

 Dr. Wood, President, in the Chair. 



A letter was received from President Wayland, dated Pro- 

 vidence, R. I., January 15, 1865, enclosing his photograph, 

 and a donation of $5, towards the expenses of forwarding 

 the Proceedings by mail. 



The following letter was received from M. Troyon, dated 

 Lausanne, November 10, 1864, communicating certain facts 

 connected with a reopened Cemetery of the Merovingian era : 



M. THE Sec. of the Am. Phil. Soc, Philada. 



Sir: I have the advantage of informing you of the reception of 

 the Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Nos. 69, 

 70, which have just arrived, and for which I return my thanks. 



Having the honor to be a member of your learned Society, you 

 will permit me to say a few words respecting some excavations which 

 I have made during the last few weeks, at my country seat of 

 Bel-Air, near Lausanne, where I have already previously opened 

 more than three hundred tombs of the Merovingian age. The tombs 

 of this vast cemetery, which I discovered in 1838, are arranged in 

 three stories (sout etagees en trois couches) or layers, beneath the 

 surface of the soil. The most ancient is at a depth of five or six 

 feet, while the highest layer is covered with only two feet of earth. 



