449 
contact, and not in chemical action, by a reference to experi- 
ments which prove that there is development of electricity 
by contact where chemical action could not take place, (as in 
the case of gold and platinum,) and by showing that all the 
experiments adduced in favour of chemical action, receive 
an easy solution on the contact theory. He then shows 
how completely the electrical machine illustrates every ano- 
malous action in the voltaic pile, when the contact theory, 
and his explanation of chemical action by alternate states of 
induction and equilibrium, are adopted. 
The Author then explains, (as a further proof of the cor- 
rectness of his theory of alternate states of induction and 
equilibrium,) in what manner, according to this theory, a 
current of electricity must, at making and breaking contact, 
produce induced currents in opposite directions ; and he 
concludes with a few remarks upon magnetism considered 
as an electrical phenomenon. 
The Rev. Dr. Todd announced to the Academy that 
the transcript of the Book of Lismore, borrowed some time 
ago by the Council from his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, 
was now completed; and he exhibited it, together with the 
original, to the meeting. 
After some remarks on the beauty of the transcript, 
which was made by Mr.!Eugene Curry, and the means 
taken to secure its accuracy, Dr. Todd proceeded to give 
some account of the original MS.; the circumstances under 
which it was discovered in the Castle of Lismore, in 1814; 
and its subsequent history. He showed that it received the 
name of “the Book of Lismore” merely because it happened 
to be found in that Castle, and that it had no connexion 
with the Church of Lismore, as the appellation of Book of 
Lismore would imply. It was written probably for some 
members of the Mac Carthy family, and was a sort of Bibli- 
otheca, or collection of tracts on all such subjects as appeared 
