Bespiration of Plants. 131 



if all the hydrogen, rendered free by the decomposition of 

 the water, is completely absorbed by the seed ; subjects which, 

 however, we shall discuss on another occasion. The great 

 fvmdamental fact brought out by these researches is the de- 

 composition of water, a fact quite foreign to the popular 

 theory of the present day. 



It also results from the facts which we have propomided, 

 that respiration is not, as it has hitherto been considered, 

 solely a function of excretion ; but it at the same time exhi- 

 bits, according as we have demonstrated, a fundamental fact 

 concerning the nutrition and the development of the embryo 

 by the absorption of hydrogen. 



In addition to the respiration of seeds, a great variety of 

 which we have examined, we have also investigated that of 

 bulbs, twigs, leaves, and flowers, the results of which we hope 

 to have the honour of presenting to the Academy. We may, 

 however, remark, that the facts detailed in this memoir, re- 

 garding the respiration of the seed, form the basis of the re- 

 spiration of other parts of the plant, as will be more clearly 

 exhibited in the sequel, as well as the part which the au- plays 

 in this important function. 



Elementary Considerations of some Principles in the Construc- 

 tion of' Buildings designed to accommodate Spectators and 

 Auditors. By John Scott Russell, M. A., F.R.S.E., &c.* 

 Communicated by the Society of Arts. 



This is a subject on which we are so notoriously deficient 

 and so completely abandoned to chance or empiricism, that any 

 attempt to approximate to normal systems of construction are 

 likely to meet with more indulgent consideration than their 

 own merits might, on any other subject, be able to secure. It 

 is with this conviction that an unprofessional writer has hazarded 

 the treatment of a somewhat difficult subject. As, however, 



* Read before the Society of Arts for Scotland ICtli May 1838. 



