1828. ] 
its several multiples up to 9 times ; and 
these in the several series of rods are re- 
peated sufficiently often to serve for as ex- 
tensive multiplications as are ever likely to 
occur. ‘Thus, if the four faces of one rod 
contain respectively, once, twice, three 
times, and four times a proposed multipli- 
cand ; another rod will exhibit in like man- 
ner 2, 3, 4, and 5 times the same; a third 
rod 3, 4; 5, and 6 times the same; and so 
on, to nine, &e. Hence, in performing a 
multiplication, the operator has only to se- 
lect from the several faces of the rods the 
distinct products which belong to the re- 
spective digits in the multiplier, to place 
them in due order above each other, to add 
them up while they so stand, and write 
down the entire product required, and ob- 
tained without the labour of multiplying 
for each separate product. 
A letter from Capt: Ross. gave an ac- 
count of the Occultatlon of Jupiter by the 
Moon, on the 5th April last; and ‘also of 
observations upon the same, by Mr. Ra- 
mage of Aberdeen, with one of his own 
25-feet reflecting telescopes. On the ap- 
proach of Jupiter’s satellites to the moon 
no diminution of their light was perceptible. 
On coming into contact with the moon’s 
dark limb, they did not disappear instantly, 
like fixed stars, but formed an indentation 
or notch in the limb, as if they were imbed- 
ded in it, but were at the same separated 
from it by a fine line of light. This inden- 
tation continued visible until about half 
their diameters were immersed. On Jupi- 
ter’s approach, nc difference of his light or 
shape was perceptible ; but after the con- 
tact had taken place, he appeared to ex- © 
hibit no deficiency, of disc, but presented a 
complete figure, as if placed between the 
moon and the earth. When the planet was 
almost entirely immersed, his retiring limb 
continued considerably elongated. Part of 
a letter from Mr.R. Comfield (at Northamp- 
ton), on the same phenomenon, observes, 
that when Jupiter had about half disap- 
peared, there was exhibited an adhesion or 
protuberance on each side of the planet, 
which as Jupiter sunk behind the moon, 
became larger and larger ; exhibiting a con- 
siderable deviation from the circular curve. 
Phenomena somewhat analogous, were 
noticed by several astronomers in the tran- 
sit of Venus in 1769.—See the accounts 
by Captain Cook, Mr. Charles Green, Mr. 
Charles Mason, Mr. Pingre, &c. in the 
aang Transactions for 1770 and 
1771. 
CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 
At the late meeting of this Society, which 
was numerously attended, the celebrated 
traveller, Baron Alex. Von Humboldt, and 
Professor Alfred Gautier, of Geneva, were 
elected Honorary Members. Professor 
Farish read an interesting paper on the 
Cogs of Wheels, of which several models 
were presented. [This Society is at pre- 
sent ouly in its infancy; but from the 
spirit of philosophical inquiry, which is 
Proceedings of Learned Societies. 
53 
beginning to manifest itself in the circles 
of the University, it is expected, hereafter, 
to make a more distingnished figure. 
Epir. ] 
a 
FOREIGN SOCIETIES. 
FRANCE. 
Academy of Sciences at Paris.—A 
Memoir was lately read, by Dr. Vil- 
lerme, “ On the mortality in France in 
the class i mm easy circumstances, compared 
with what takes place among the indi- 
gent.” Intwo arrondissements of Paris, 
the first and the twelfth, he makes it 
appear, the former, which is inhabited 
by rich persons, has a mortality of one 
in 50; and the latter, which is inhabited 
by poor, has a mortality of one in 24, 
and there being no other assignable 
cause for this enormous difference than 
wealth and poverty. He found the 
deaths in Rue de la Mortellerie, where 
poor people are crowded together in 
unhealthy lodgings, four times and a 
half as numerous as in the quays of the 
Isle St. Louis, where rich people live 
in large and well-ventilated apartments. 
He also shews that the mortality in the 
hospitals rises or falls with the rate of 
wages of those who enter them. 
Of jewellers, compositors, ‘ec. 
there die in the hospital....1 in 11 
VENTE TS (s/o icleie uipteraic Aleiete etl ens & 
+t Shoemakers:/ss8": 200. olen gid 
VEASOLIS) Satetralors: Sahai Stheas s-s.2ste lin 6 
Béabourersics e/sis.ons qaction sted Tin 5 
The poorest of all—rag-ga- 
therers, &c.,...... <lein-+5 
Soldiers, who are the best © off. lin 20 
July 19.—The academy continued the 
examination of the questions, addressed to 
it by the government, relative to the pre- 
cautions required in the use of steam-en- 
gines. M. Chevreul read a memoir on 
different species of bile, and in particular on 
the presence of cholesterine in human bile 
and in that of the bear. 
July 26.—M. Roques proposed to found 
a prize for the discovery of a method of 
rendering the cornea transparent.—M. le 
Baron Blein communicated a new memoir 
on colours.—M. Gay-Lussac gave an ac- 
count of an. experiment relative to Mad. 
Gervais’s apparatus, which proved that a 
very small quantity only of volatilized wine 
could be collected by its means.—M. La- 
treille read a note on a new genus of spider, 
which he has named Myrmecia.—M. Yvart 
made a verbal report on the Agricultural 
Annals of Roville, published by M.,Dom- 
basles. A report was received’ from M. 
Bosc, on a species of Leech found at Mar- 
tinique ; and another from M. Cauchy, on 
the mathematical researches of Professor 
Simonoff of Casan. 
Museum, 
