8 



according to these observations the wind did not blow from 

 the areas of greater pressure. 



Mr. Baxendell called attention to certain phenomena of 

 solar spots recently observed by him, and stated that in 

 cases in which projections of the penumbra into the nucleus 

 occurred, the penumbra is generally increased in breadth in 

 that part of its circumference, and it often happens that 

 striations observed in the penumbra are curved, and terminate 

 in the points of projection into the nucleus. 



A Paper was read by Thomas Carrick, '•' On the Atomic 

 Constitution of Water and Ice." 



After briefly alluding to the nature of his own views on 

 the ultimate atomic constitution of terrestrial matter, and its 

 relations to cosmical force, the Author — guided by considera- 

 tions derived therefrom — proceeded to discuss the question of 

 the^relative specific gravities of water and ice, and arrived at 

 a specific gravity for ice differing by only ^^-^th part, from 

 the most recent and correct results of experiments. 



The prominent characteristics of water and ice were also 

 shown to be the natural result of the disposition and relations 

 of the ultimate atoms. 



MICROSCOPICAL SECTION. 



September l7th, 1860. 



A specimen of envelopes was exhibited by the Secretary, 

 such as were proposed to be sent to captains of vessels, in 

 which to preserve soundings they obtain in different parts 

 of the world, for this Section. The envelopes were much 

 approved of, and were thought likely to be productive of 

 future interest to the Section, and to microscopists in general. 



