191 
limited, and a caution is given against depending too much 
on manuscripts, the writers of which were often very careless, 
and-committed gross mistakes. This is especially the case 
with funeral MSS., on which no dependence whatever should 
be placed in reference to the present object. An opinion is 
expressed that all these MSS. are of a late age, and that the 
famous one at Turin, of which Dr. Lepsius has published a 
copy, is not earlier than the second century before Christ. 
It is shewn, too, that it was transcribed from a hieratic origi- 
nal, or from a hieroglyphic one which had been copied from a 
hieratic one. At the end of this part suggestions are given as 
to the aid which may be derived from the Indo-Germanic 
languages in determining the powers of Egyptian characters 
in some particular instances. The whole of this part is pre- 
paratory to the third, in which the principles laid down here 
will be applied to the practical determination of the powers of 
the letters. 
Mr. Mallet presented his Translation of the Report of the 
Institute of France upon M. Arnollet’s System of Atmos- 
pheric Railways. 
February 23, 1846. 
GEORGE PETRIE, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 
Thomas Butler, Esq., John T. Evans, M.D., Richard R. 
Madden, M.D., Robert C. Williams, M.D., and Henry W. 
Massy, Esq., were elected Members of the Academy. 
The Secretary of the Council having read to the Academy 
the following Resolution of the Council of the 16th of Febru- 
ary, 
** That the Council are of opinion, that it is not expedient 
that the same person should be elected to the office of Presi- 
dent more than five times in succession :” 
