50 Proceedings of Learned Societies. 
enlightening the human mind ;—its impor- 
tance to Navigation ;—its influence in dis- 
sipating the fears and errors of superstition, 
Cc. 
The following were the results of the Ballot 
for the Election of Officers.—Of the Old 
Council :— Sir Humphrey Davy, bart. ; 
William Thomas Brande, esq.; Samuel 
Goodenough, Lord Bishop of Carlisle ; 
Major Thomas Colby: John Wilson Cro- 
ker, esq.; Davies Gilbert, esq.; Charles 
Hatchett, esq. ; Sir Everard Home, bart. ; 
John Pond, esq.; William Hyde Wollas-_ 
ton, M.D.; Thomas Young, M. p.—Of the 
New Council :—William Babington, M. D. ; 
Francis Baily, esq. ; John George Children, 
esq. John William, Viscount Dudley and 
Ward ; John Frederick William Herschel, 
esq.; Capt. Henry Kater; Thos. Andrew 
Knight. esq. ; Alex. MacLeary, esq.; Sir 
T. S. Raffles, knt.; Edw. Adolphus; 
Duke of Somerset.—President: Sir H. 
Davy.—Treasurer : Davies Gilbert, esq.— 
Secretaries: W. T. Brande, esq., and J. F. 
W. Herschel, esq —Foreign Secretary: T. 
Young, M. D. 
The Society dined together at the Crown 
and Anchor. The president in the chair, 
supported by the Right Hon. Robert Peel, 
and Lord Bexley. ‘There were present 
most of the distinguished cultivators and 
lovers of science. 
In the ensuing weekly meetings there is 
nothing that demands particular extract. 
ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 
Nov. 22.—The following were the Office- 
Bearers and Counsellors elected for the ensu- 
ing year :—Vice-Presidents : Rt. Hon. La. 
Chas. Baron; Ld. Glenlee; Dr. J. C. 
Hope; Professor Russell.— Dr. Brewster. 
General Secretary ; Thos. Allan, esq. : T'rea- 
surer: James Skene, esq., Curator of Mu- 
seum.—PuysicaL Crass. Alex. Irving, esq- 
President ; John Robison, esq., Secretary. 
Counsellors: Rey. Dr. Macknight ; James 
Jardine, esq.; Robert Stevenson, esq. ; 
Sir Wm. Forbes, bart. ; Sir Wm. Arbuth- 
not, bart.; Dr. Home.—Lirerary Crass. 
Hen. Mackenzie, esq., President: P. F. 
Tytler, esq-, Secretary.—Counsellors: Ld. 
Meadowbank ; Professor Wilson; Sir Wm. 
- Hamilton, bart. ; Rey. Dr. Lee; Ld. Ad- 
‘voeate ; Hen. Jardine, esq. 
Dec. 6.—Read a notice respecting two 
ancient graves or tombs, discovered at 
North Charlton, Northumberland, by Joun 
Cay, esq.—Specimens exhibited of ancient 
warlike instruments. Dr. Brewster read a 
paper On the Vision of Impressions on the 
Retina. 3 
ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN 
AND IRELAND. 
The first general meeting of this Society 
(as appears from the first report of its trans- 
actions, just published) took place on the 
15th March, at the Thatched House Ta- 
yern, when acouncil and officers were 
(Feb. 1, 
elected, and it was announced by the 
Chairman, Henry Thos. Colebrooke, esq. 
that His Majesty, King George IV., 
had been graciously pleased to declare 
himself patron:—The Marg. of Wellesley, 
and Marg. of Hastings, and the President 
of the India Board, for the time being, were 
declared Vice Patrons ; the number of 
members already entered on the list, was 
announced to be upwards of three hundred ; 
and the following 25 members were elected 
to form the Council:—President ; The Rt. 
Hon. Chas. Watkin Williams Wynn ; 
Director ; H. T. Colebrooke, esq. ;— Vice- 
Presidents ; Sir G. T. Stannton, bart. ; 
Sir J. Malcolm, G.C. B. ; Sir Alex. Johns- 
ton, knt.; Col. Mark Wilks;—Treasurer ; 
Jas. Alexander, esq. ;—Setretary; G. H. 
Noehden, L. L. D. ;—Cowncil; D. of Somer- 
set; D. of Buckingham ; Marq. of Lans- 
downe; E. of Aberdeen; Hon. C. W. 
Williams Wynn ; Hon. S. G. Ousely, bart ; 
Hon. H. J. Sullivan: Sir G. T. Staunton, 
bart,; Sir E. Hyde East, bart.; Sir J. 
Malcolm, G .c.B.; Sir Alex. Johnston, 
knt. ; Sir James Macintosh, knt. ; James 
Alexander, esq.; John Barrow, esq.; H. T. 
Colebrooke, esq. ; Col. F. H. Doyle, 
Lieut. Col. C. J. Doyle; Neil Benj. Ed- 
monstone, esq.; John Fleming, esq. ; Capt. 
H. Kater; Andrew Macklew, esq.; Wm. 
Marsden, esq.; G. H. Noehden, L.L. p., 
Col. Mark Wilks; Chas. Wilkins, esq. 
At the General Meeting, 7th June 1823, 
the Right Hon. C. W. W. Wynne, an- 
nounced His Majesty’s grant of the title of 
Royal to the Society. The designation of 
the members is therefore,M.r.a.s. The 
regulations for the future meetings and 
proceedings, prepared by the Council, were 
sanctioned in a general meeting, 19th April 
1823. On 15th Jan. 1824, the present 
House of the Society in Grafton-Street, 
Bond Street, was taken possession of ; and 
on 17th of same month, the first meeting 
there was held. The charter of incorpora- 
tion is dated, Aug. 11, 1824. 
At the Meeting, 7th June 1823, in a 
discourse read by the Chairman, and printed 
according to the order of that meeting, the 
advantages which the civilized world owes 
to “those countries of Asia in which civili- 
zation may be justly considered to have 
had its origin,’ were very properly insisted 
on; the object of the Society were declared 
to be “to investigate the sciences of Asia : 
and inquire into the Arts of the East; with 
the hope of facilitating ameliorations, of 
which they may be found susceptible ;” and 
the possibility was suggested that there “ yet 
remains something to be“learnt from 
China, from Japan, from India, which the 
refinement of Europe need not disdain.” 
After referring to the characteristics of the 
Arts and Sciences of Asia, the Chairman 
proceeds—“ speaking of the history of 
Asiatic nations (and itis in Asia, that re- 
corded and authentic history of mankind 
commences), I do not refer merely to. the 
succession 
_——— 
