Society of Aniiquaries. 269 
Dec. 11. The right hon. C. F. Greville, vice pe daece 
in the chair.—The reading of Mr. Davy’s Bakerean lecture 
was continued. The fourth and fifth sections detailed seve- 
ral original experiments on the effects of electricity on cer- 
tain chemical menstrua, in all of which the negative pole 
disengaged oxygen, and the positiye hydrogen. _ 
Dec. 18. The right hon. C. F. Greville, vice-president, in 
the chair.—The reading of Mr. Davy’s Bakerean lecture 
was concluded. The afath took a view of the influence of 
electricity in the mineral kingdom, its action on carburet of 
iron (plumbago), and various other mineral bodies hitherto 
not sufficiently known or examined : and also its importance 
as tending in a great degree to elucidate many phenomena in 
geology, which are irreconcilable with received hypotheses. 
Mr. Davy likewise mentioned how the application of elec- 
tricity might be found extremely advantageous in the prepa- 
ration of acids for economical purposes, &c. &c. In this 
interesting lecture, the author particularly noticed the im- 
portant discoveries of Mr. Peel, and of Pacchiani, relative 
to the formation of alkali and acid, by the electric influence, 
and which have assisted him in exploring a new and untrod- 
den region of chemical science, that ‘* holds up a quarry to 
the busy mind” of future philosophers. 
A paper on ‘* The Precession of the Equinoxes,” by Mr. 
Robertson, Savilian professor of geometry in the university 
of Oxford, was also read; in which the author proposed 
some new methods of ascertaining, with greater accuracy 
than has been hitherto done, the calculations of compound 
rotatory motion. The paper contained seven mathematical 
tables, of a nature not to be read. 
SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. 
Noy. 27. Craven Orde, esq. vice-president, in the chair.— 
Several antient records of the reign of Edward III, were 
read, 
Dec. 4, The same as above.—Mr, Smith exhibited to the 
society a silver ring about an inch in diameter, with twelve. 
points (resembling the teeth of a wheel in clock-work), in 
one 
