Sovember 20. — Mr. James Fletcher (Jclivcreil a second Lecture 

 on Mechanics. The centre of gravity and its properties, and 

 (he strength of animal bodies, were particularly treated of, and 

 illustrated by many experiments, some of which were of a 

 novel description. 



November 27. — Mr. John Friend delivered the second of a 

 Course of Lectures on Ornithology. After shortly describing 

 the characteristic marks of the different Orders of Birds, Mr. F. 

 proceeded to an examination of the structure, hahits, and eco- 

 nomy of the various Genera compiised in the 2d and 6th Orders 

 of the Linniean arrangement. Pica- and Passeres. The subject 

 was illustrated by coloured drawings, and by beautiful preserved 

 specimens from the Society's Museum. 



December 4. — Mr. Read delivered the second Lecture of a 

 Series on Architecture. Having in the first lecture described the 

 Tuscan Order, in this he pointed out the proportions, beauties, 

 and difficulties of the Doric. Large Drawings of the 5 Grecian 

 Orders were exhibited at the close. In the course of the Lecture 

 a model of a Trigon of Stonehenge was introduced ; and a Con- 

 jecture hazarded that defence, not worship, was the object of 

 its erection. i 



December 11. — Mr. Martin delivered a Lecture, in continuation 

 of a Series, on the Philosophy of the Mind, in which he treated 

 of the second department of our Emotions, denominated Retro- 

 spective, as they relate to the past. These were shewn to be 

 subdivided as they refer to others, and fo ourselves; — Anger, jjra- 

 titude, &c. were classed under the former — Regret, seU-satisfat:- 

 tio:', &c., under the latter subdivision. ' ' 



December 18. — Mr. Masters delivered a Lecture on Litho- 

 gr.Tphy and Engraving. He described the chemical process by 

 which Lithography is effected — the history of its introduction in 

 this and other countries, and pronounced its chief excellence to 

 consist in the impressions being iilenlically the originals of Ihe 

 artist, and in the facility with which all artists could by its aid 

 give numerous copies of their designs. The various modes of 

 Engraving were then described and explained, beginning with 

 the Engraved Gems of the Anticnts, and continuing to explain 

 those on Wood, Copper, Steel, Glass, &c., of most of which 

 characteristic illustrations were exhibited. 



1828 — January 8. — Mr. Ashdowne delivered a Lecture on 

 Light, in which he took a brief view of the reflection, absorp- 

 tion, and transmission of light, then noticed its refraction, in>' 

 (lection, and mentioned the curious fact that the solar beam con*' 

 sists of rays which have three distinct effects — one producing 

 light — another heat — and a third producing neither, but which 

 iffcct the greatest chemical changes in the least time. A few re- 

 marks on the theory of colour concluded the I^ecture. 



January \h. — Mr. John Brent, jun. delivered a Lecture oA^ 

 the Origin of Fiction, 'ihe influence of the supernatural as con- 

 nected with P<Krlry was briefly described, and the sources shewn 

 whence were dtrived the legends contained in the lalet of Chi- 

 valry, or recorded m the tradition of European nations. He 

 then contrasted the similiirity of the Legends, the Grecian, 

 Arabian, and Celtic Fabloi, bhcwing the luxuriance of Eastern 



