263 Royal Society i London. 



fossil elephant's tooth, that the osseous part is terminated 

 by a distinct line, and even smooth on one side ; which 

 could not possibly be the case were the enamel changeable 

 into osseous matter, or this last into enamel. If the fluoric 

 acid is not formed in the bodies of animals, which seems 

 the most probable opinion, but is only carried thither by 

 means of the substances which furnish their nourishment, 

 we ought then to find the acid in these substances. 



Thus, my friend, you see what extensive and important 

 inquiries still remain to be made upon the single point of 

 the existence of fluoric acid in animal substances. M. Mo- 

 richini, to whom this subject of right belongs, proposes 

 to undertake the investigation : the field, however, is so 

 wide, that it will furnish guflicicnt employment for the 

 exertions of manv chemists. 



LIII. Proceedings of Learned Societies, 



ROYAL SOCIETY, LONDON. 



JL HE regular meeting of this society, which should have 

 taken- place on the esth of November, was postponed to 

 the 1 2th of December, the former having besn appointed 

 for a day of general thanksgiving. 



On Saturday the 30th of November, being St. Andrew's 

 day, the Royal Society held their anniversary meeting at 

 their apartments in Somerset Place, when the gold medal 

 (called sir Godfrey Copley's) was presented to Humphrey 

 Davy, esq. for his various communications published in the 

 Philosophical Transactions. 



Afterwards the socictv proceeded to the choice of the 

 council and officers for the ensuing year, when, on exa- 

 mining the ballots, it appeared that the following gentle- 

 men were elected of the council ; 



Of the old council, — ^The right honourable sir Joseph 

 Banks, hart. K.B.; sir Charles Blagdon, knt.; Plenry Ca- 

 vendish, esq.; Davies Giddy, esq. ; Edward Whitaker Gray, 

 M.D.; right honourable Charles Greville; William Mars- 

 den, esq.; Rev. Nevil Maskelyne, D.D.; George earl of 

 Morton; Samuel Horslev, lord bishop of St. Asaph j Wil- 

 liam Hyde Wullastcn, M.D. 



Of the new council, — Mr. John Abernethy; George earl 

 of Egremont; George Trenchard Goodenough, esq.; ho- 

 nourable Robert FuIk^Greville ; Philip Mctcalf, esq. ; Mat- 

 thew Montague, esq.; lieutenant-colonel William Mudge ; 



John 



