322 



ter in the Berg-Meal gives it a preference over the steatites and 



clays used for a similar purpose by some rude tribes. 



John Miller, Esq. civil- engineer, was duly elected an Ordi- 

 nary Fellow of the Society. 



Professor Encke of Berlin, was admitted a Foreign Member 

 of the Society. 



The following Donations were presented : — 



Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. No. 97, 1840. — By the 



Society. 

 Madras Journal of Literature and Science. January to March, 1840 



— By the Society. 

 Bulletin de la Societe d' Encouragement pour 1" Industrie Nationale 



pour les annees 1838 at 1839. — By the Society. 

 Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. No. 13. — By 



the Society. 

 Tijdschrift voor Natuurlijke Geschiedenis en Physiologic. Uitge- 



geven door J. Van der Hoeven, M.D. en W. H. de Vriese, 



M.D. Deel 7. Stks. 3, i.—By the Editors. 

 Experimental Researches on the Strength of Pillars of Cast Iron, 



and other Materials. By Eaton Hodgkinson, Esq. — By the 



Author. 



Isi February 1841. 



Dr ABERCROMBIE, V. P. in the Chair. 



The following communications were read. : — 



1. On the force of Solar Radiation in the Arctic Region-s, by 



Dr Ricliardson. Communicated by the Secretary. 



Dr Richardson has reduced more carefully the Observations 

 published in the Appendix to Franklin's Second Journey on the 

 Force of Solar Radiation. From observations on a thennometer in 

 the shade compared with those on a thermometer with blackened 

 bulb in the sun, he finds a tolerably regular daily curve of radiation 

 having its maximum at noon. But when (after allowing as far as 

 possible for the disturbing influence of the wind) different months 

 are compared, it is found that in spring the radiation is more in- 

 tense than in summer after the disappearance of the snow, which 

 Dr Richardson is disposed to attribute to a greater purity in the 

 air at the former period. 



Professor Forbes remarked, that, though Dr Richardson's expe- 

 rience on the superior purity of the air in spring could not be dis- 



