jw, Pe 
367 
connexion and proved its dependence are, temperature, and 
the total quantity of moisture present in the air, as shown by 
the dew point. Indeed these two phenomena, as the author 
remarked, are referribie to each other, the temperature pro- 
ducing evaporation, and the force of electricity at any 
period being shown to be almost exactly proportional to 
the tension of the vapour so produced. 
The hour of the first electric minimum was shown to 
be about 3 a.M., the electricity increasing with the tem- 
perature until 10 a.m., when a slight decrease occurred; 
the electric tension again commences rising at about 11 a. M.; 
and continues to increase until about 2" 45™, Pp. m.—all 
these movements being in exact proportion to the elevation 
of the dew point and temperature. At 3 p.m. the dew point 
and temperature begin gradually to lower, as does also the 
electricity (but not so quickly); but from 5 to 7 Pp. M., the 
electric intensity rises, being acted upon and increased by 
the precipitation of the evening dew, which has set free the 
latent electricity of the condensed vapour, in conformity 
with the experiment of Volta. Again, from 7 p. M., the 
electric intensity weakens rapidly, and descends in common 
with the dew point and temperature, until they all reach their 
minimum about 3 a.m. 
Thus the patient investigation of this subject has laid 
bare the cause of the varying diurnal intensity of the elec- 
tric fluid,—showing it to be the result of evaporation, which, 
besides its agency in carrying the electric fluid from our 
earth to the upper regions of the air, daily returns it to us 
by the conducting power of this vapour, in the direct pro- 
portion of its quantity. 
Dr. Smith read a paper ‘‘on the Irish Coins of Ed- 
ward the Fourth,” the chief object of which was to endea- 
vour to fix the dates of the numerous coinages of this reign 
with more precision than had been attained before. 
4 
et, rr ee - ee OE ee Er ee 
