11 



of Harrison nud M. Thiout ; and the opposite tendencies of 

 the compound metals in the gridiron pendulum in order to 

 maintain an equilibriimi in variations of temperature were 

 carefully and clearly explained. 3rd. The revolving power, — 

 the increase or decrease of revolution accounted for upon the 

 principle of wheel work in general. And 4th. — The striking 

 power, a most complicated and ingenious, though disregarded 

 mechanical invention, and the simple though effective means 

 employed to lift the detent at the precise time to give the pro- 

 per indications of the definite hour were explained. That 

 useful companion, the pocket watch, was next introduced, 

 and the main spring as its moving power, the graduated fusee 

 by which its unequal efforts were regulated and rendered sub- 

 servient to a regular movement, and the regulating power, 

 consisting of the balance, pendulum, spring and verge, were 

 shewn and explained. The Lecturer illustrated his subject 

 with appropriate time-keepers, a skeleton watch, and many 

 of its component parts, and by his explicit manner of treat- 

 ing it conveyed to his audience a knowledge of one of the 

 most useful exertions of mechanical genius. 



December 1. — Mr. H. Christian, jun. delivered a Lecture 

 on Physiology. He described the blood, its vital properties and 

 on what they depend, its circulation and the manner in which 

 it was carried on, and its chemical properties. Experiments 

 were made to shew the different changes which that fluid un- 

 dergoes in the lungs, and its use, A sketch was taken of the 

 bones, their connection, use, structure, and situation ; the 

 powers which enable us to move, and the muscular action 

 were shewn to depend on the medium of sensation — the 

 nerves. The Lecture was illustrated by many preparations 

 and specimens in comparative anatomy from the Museum. 



JJecember 8. — Mr, Wilkinson delivered his eighth Lecture 

 on the History of England, which he endeavoured to illus- 

 trate by taking a view of arts, commerce, manners and 

 customs from Henry 3rd. to Edward 4th, In reviewing the 

 state of the arts he noticed Agriculture, sacred, civil, and 

 military Architecture, the metallic arts, the invention of clocks 

 of metal, the weaving art and those connected with it, 

 the art of war and the revolutions effected in it by the inven- 

 tion of gunpowder and cannon ; the fine arts of sculpture, 

 j)ainting, poetry, j)articularly the metrical chroniclers and 

 romances, and the atti-mpt to revive the alliterative poetry 

 of the Anglo-Saxons; Chaucer and Gower ; sacred and secu- 

 lar nuisic, and the invention of tlie musical scale. Internal 

 and foreign comnierce, tiie laws for its regulation and en- 

 courageiiicnt, the seltlcnieut of nierclianl strangers, and the 

 balance of trade, were leading points in a cursory view of 



