50 
been domesticated by the ancient inhabi- 
tants of this district of Scotland. 
NORTHERN INSTITUTION, 
A society has just been established at 
Inverness, for the promotion of science and 
literature, under the aboye name ; the learn- 
ing, zeal and activity of many of its mem- 
bers augur well for the cause of useful and 
ornamental literature in the north. The 
following are the office bearers. Presi- 
dent, His Grace the Duke of Gordon. 
Non-resident Vice Presidents, Sir G. Mae- 
kenzie, of Coul, Bart.; W. Fraser Tytler 
Esq., Sir T. Dick Lauder, Bart.—Resi- 
dent Vice Presidents, J. Robertson Esq., 
M.D.,-J- Grant Esq., of Bught, Captain 
Fraser of Balnain. Mr. Reach, treasurer: 
Mr. G. Anderson, F.R.s.E., General secre- 
tary: Mr. Scott, Latin Secratary; Rey. D. 
Mackenzie, Gaelic secretary; Mr. Mac- 
kenzie, of Wood-side, Inspector of ancient 
manuscripts; Mr. Naughton, Curator of the 
museum. Council, Dr. J. J. Nicoll, Mr. 
Suter, Junr., Rev. Mr. Clark, Rey. Mr. 
Fraser Kirkhill, Rev. Mr. Fyvie, Mr. 
Macbean. 
ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 
June 4th.—The society received several 
donations, amongst which were two draw- 
ings from Sir W. Ouseley; one representing 
a Nepalese idol, or talisman ; the other, a 
view of some caves in South Bahar. The 
secretary read a paper by Dr. W. Ainslie, 
on the disease elephantiasis, with reference 
to its present character in India; thanks 
were voted. Sir J. Philpot and A. Pear- 
son, Esq. were elected members. 18th,— 
Donations were reported; from L’ Abbe 
Dubois, a copy of his recent translation 
(French) of a work formerly published 
(though not entire) in English, now en- 
titled ‘‘ Les Mceurs, Institutions, et Céré- 
monies des Peuples de 1|’Inde.’”? From 
M. Von Klaproth, two foreign controver- 
sial works. A paper was read, entitled 
Engraphia Sinensis, written by J. F. Davis, 
Esq., of Canton, being a dissertation on 
Chinese calligraphy. The rules were illus- 
trated by examples ; and when printed, will 
serve as a useful guide to an art, the know- 
ledge of which is of infinite importance to 
British interests in China. Mons. Cesar 
Moreau and A. Reid Esq. were elected 
members. Col. Doyle communicated his 
wish to offer to the society a collection of 
curious arms, &c.; thanks were voted, 
and the Society adjourned until Novem- 
ber Sth. 
CORNISH MINES. 
Mr. J. Taylor has published a plan for 
establishing a school in the mines of Corn- 
wall; and haying the mines properly wrought 
by intelligent and well instrueted miners ; to 
establish, at Redruth, three professors, to 
teach the arts and sciences connected with 
mining ; and to collect the necessary 
funds, by an assessment of a penny per ton 
on the metals raised from the. different 
mines. 
Proceedings of Learned Societies. 
[ Aug. I,, 
FOREIGN SOCIETIES. 
FRANCE, 
Royal Academy of Sciences.—Baron de 
Humboldt (28th March) presented a specit 
men of meteoric iron, weighing 3,400 lbs., 
in the names of M, M. Noeggerath and 
Bischof; it contains neither chrome, nor 
carbon, nor manganese ; but nickel and 
sulphur, and was found on the summit of 
a hill at Bitburg, near Tréyes (Germany). 
It is nearly pure iron, by no means brittle, 
but could only be separated from the mass 
in thin flakes. In the vicinity large arable 
fields were found, covered with flags ; where- 
fore, perhaps, heretofore a smelting furnace, 
worked by wind, by horses, or by men (for 
no running water is to be found on the 
hill) existed on this spot, and thus this 
mass may have originated. Buta late author 
says, ‘‘ It is undoubtedly meteoric:” in 
which opinion he is joined, after various 
minute analyses, by the above-named gentle- 
men. It appears that when this mass, the 
largest hitherto found in Europe (though in 
America they have been met with, weighing 
14,000, 30,000, and even 40,000 pounds), 
was first noticed, it excited little curiosity, 
and was bought, by a smith, for a trifling 
sum; who, with great labour and consider- 
able expense, had it removed to his forge: 
the whole was melted and put under the 
hammer; when, to his great disappoint- 
ment, it proved to be such miserable stuff, 
that, fearing to be seen using such an 
inferior article, he had it buried deep in 
earth, where, after considerable difficulty, 
Dr. Neeggerath found it. 
July 4th—M. Thenard made a yerbal 
report on the analysis of the mineral watefs 
of Vichy, by M. Longchamp, the first of the 
series of analyses of the mineral waters of 
France, published by the author. It appears 
that the springs of Vichy contain a much 
larger proportion of silica than was imagin- 
ed. In 1750 the temperature of the grand 
basin was found to be 48 degrees of Reau- 
mer (140” Fahrenheit); in 1820 it was 
found to be 45° Reaumer (133° 25 Fahr.), 
and M. Longchamp only found the waters 
at 44° 5. 
M. de la Place interrogated M. Arago 
on this point, when he observed that the 
waters of Carlsbadt had not suffered any 
change in temperature for a much more 
distant period than 1750; as to.those of 
Vichy, it is probable that the differences 
have arisen only from the imperfections of 
the instruments employed, especially those 
of 1750. 
M. Arago communicated a letter from 
M. Coupter, announcing that he was about 
to start for Siberia to make observations on 
the magnetic pole, which is supposed to exist 
in that. part of the globe. Messrs. Ampére, 
Arago; and La Place, were appointed to 
confer with him. 
M. Pouillet, in the first part of his me- 
moir 
