290 PROCEEDINGS OF METROPOLITAN SOCIETIES. 



daughter of a line of kings : the last of a noble house. I followed 

 the fortunes of my father through perils and persecutions. When 

 your soldiers took him prisoner, I hoped never to have survived the 

 disgrace. You rescued me. At first my only thoughts were of 

 vengeance. Your kindness by degrees won upon me : I admired 

 your noble and generous character, and (why should I hesitate to 

 own it ?) I loved you ! Yes, I loved you with all the devotion of a 

 woman's love ! I knew that I could never be ought to you, and 

 yet I loved you ! You were father, kindred, country, fortune, 

 fame, every thing to me. I abandoned every wish, save that of 

 serving you. That wish has been gratified. I guided the timely 

 succour. Thank heaven, you are safe ; and / have saved you ! — 

 And now, welcome, death ! welcome, oblivion of the past ! Soon 

 shall I be united to those who were dearest to my soul ! Yes, I 

 hear the spirits of my fathers calling upon me to join them in those 

 realms where there shall be no more wars, or sorrow, or death. 

 Farewell, this earth ! Vinvena, thou art free !" 



M. E. M. 



PROCEEDINGS OF METROPOLITAN SOCIETIES. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



April 4th. — A very elaborate paper on the structure of a new 

 Plesiosaurus was read by Professor Owen ; in the course of which 

 a profound dissertation relative to the position of a vertebra, sug- 

 gested by certain peculiarities noticeable in those of that extinct 

 genus, was introduced, and illustrated by a variety of diagrams. This 

 masterly treatise elirited the liveliest approbation, and its leading 

 points were eloquently descanted on by Dr. Buckland, who congra- 

 tulated the Society and science in general, on the auspicious circum- 

 stance of the noble Hunterian Museum of Comparative Anatomy 

 being entrusted to the care of one so competent to appreciate and 

 avail himself of the treasures therein deposited, and from whose 

 youth, conjoined with his very high attainments, there was every 

 reason to anticipate a long succession of equally valuable memoirs, 



