380 Minutes of Meetings. 



February 21, 1855. — 77ie President in the Chair. 



Mb. JoHif Batvden, Engineer, was elected a member. 



The Society, by its second vote, finally agreed to grant a sum of £6 

 for Black Boards. 



Mr. James Elliott, Teacher of Mathematics, Edinburgh, at the request 

 of the Council, read a paper " On certain Mechanical Illustrations of the 

 Motions of the Planets, accompanied by theoretical investigations relating 

 to these, and, in particular, a new Explanation of the Stability of Equi- 

 librium of Saturn's Rings." 



The reading of the paper was followed by a discussion, in which Pro- 

 fessor Nichol, Professor William Thomson, and Dr. Taylor took part. 



March 7, 1855. — The Pkesident in the Chair. 



Pkofessoe Nichol read a paper, entitled, " Saturn's Rings — a chap- 

 ter of Scientific History." 



March 20, 1855. — The Pcesident in the Chair. 



Me. Brtce proposed that a Committee should be appointed to collect 

 observations illustrative of the extreme severity of the late winter. 



The suggestion was also recommended by the President, and approved 

 of by the Society. 



The following Committee was accordingly appointed, viz., Mr. King, 

 Windsor Terrace ; Mr. Hart, Cesnock Park ; Mr. Thomas Gardner, 

 Buchanan Street ; Dr. Anderson, College ; Mr. Bryce, Convener. 



Dr. Strang read Statistical Memoranda connected with the recent 

 Social Progress of Paris. 



Mr. Bryce gave an account of the general Geology and Glacial Phe- 

 nomena of the Lake District of Cumberland and Westmoreland. 



April 4, 1855. — Tlie President in the Cliair. 



Me. James B. MuEDOCn was elected a member. 



The President intimated that arrangements had been made by the 

 Council for the delivery of a lecture on the Attack and Defence of For- 

 tified Places, by Captain Maclagan of the Bengal Engineers, in the 

 Merchants' Hall, next Wednesday evening ; that invitations would be 



