EEPOKT ON THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY OF PHYSICS AND NATURAL 

 HISTORY OF GENEVA, FROM JUNE, 1807, TO JUNE, 1808. 



EY PROFESSOR KLIE WARTMAJSTN", PRESIDEITr. 



[^Translated for the Smithsonian Institution.'] 



The report wliicli I have the honor of submitting' to my colleagnes of the 

 Society is the eleventh of those which have been presented under our existing 

 regulation. Like my predecessors, I propose to recall the different communica- 

 tions which have been made, by grouping them according to their subjects. Like 

 them, too, I would renew the recollection of the amicable discussions, the free 

 and unconstrained developments elicited by the reading of a memoir, or even 

 the simple statement of a question. It is the privilege of our association ^ have 

 no official connections, to observe only our o\\ n traditional customs, and to per- 

 mit its members to exchange ideas with a mutual kindliness, whicli certainly 

 does not exclude a sincere love of truth. This form has so many charms and 

 advantages that I trust it will long be preserved. When in 1890 the society 

 shall celebrate the centennial anniversary of its foundation, it will be able to 

 point with pride to the fact that it has served in no stinted measure to unite and 

 encourage those of our compatriots who devote themselves to the culture of the 

 natural sciences. 



Thanks to the care taken by our secretary, M. Alex. Prevost, in recording 

 our proceedings, I may hope that m}" account of them will, at least, have the 

 merit of exactness. The society has held during its current year twelve general 

 and eight special sessions. No modification has been introduced in its rules. 

 Tlie old custom of assembling for tea previt)us to our winter sessions has, after 

 discussion, been retained. 



Dr. Lombard has l)een called to exercise the functions of president during our 

 approaching term, lSGS-'69. M. Marc Miclieli has been elected a member in 

 ordinary, as has also M. Godefroy Lunel, who already beloifged to us as a free 

 associate. It is with sincere pleasure that I record this increase in the number 

 of our members, which now amounts to 42. No death has occurred among them 

 within the year. Unfortunately, it is not^so with our honorary men:ibers, three 

 of whom have been taken from us. 



Dr. Michael Faraday, one of the most distinguished savants of England, and 

 our associate for a quarter of a century, departed this life 25th August last. 

 The labors of this eminent physicist are too well known to require enumeration 

 here. No time was lost by M. .de la Rive in rendering a toucliing and worthy 

 homage to the successor of Humphry Davy.* I had myself, for several years, 

 cultivated the most pleasant relations with this kind-hearted man, in whom a 

 genius full of originality was allied with the most unaiiected modesty. To 

 science, as to his personal friends, the loss is irreparable. 



Six months later, Leon Foucault, an intellect of a high order, was withdrawn 

 from us, at the age of 49 years, a victim to immoderate application. He was 



* Archives des sciences, physiques, ct naturelles, t. xxx, p. 131. This notice bas been 

 reproduced iu the journal U InslitiU, and iuthe Philusophical Magazine, [also in the Smith- 

 sonian Report for 18G7, p. 227.] 



