Koyat Society, 465 



by putting two heads together, to scrutinize his ovm performance, 

 some alteration was probably made for the better. But, what- 

 ever expense an instrument had cost in forming, if it did not 

 fully answer the intended design, he would immediately say, after 

 a little examination of the work, ' Bobs, man ! this won't do, 

 we must have at it again:' and then the whole of that was put 

 aside, and a new instrument begun. By means of such perse- 

 verance, he succeeded in bringing various mathematical, philo- 

 sophical, and astronomical instruments to perfection. The large 

 theodolite for terrestrial measurements, and the equal altitude 

 instrument for astronomy, will always be monuments of his fer- 

 tile, penetrating, arduous, superior genius ! There cannot be a 

 lover (especially of this more difficult part) of philosophy, in any 

 quarter of the globe, but must admire the abilities and respect 

 the memory of Jesse Ramsden !" 



The author concludes his work with some plain, unaffected 

 directions respecting the management of the instrument. 



Upon the whole, we think Dr. Kitchener has added a useful 

 pocket volume to our stock of knowledge on the subject of astro- 

 nomy ; and as the science is daily acquiring cultivators in the 

 United Empire, the importance and value of the work will be 

 gradually more duly appretiated. 



A work by the late Bernardin St. Pierre, author of "The Studies 

 of Nature," is to issue from the French press in the course of a 

 few weeks. It is entitled Harmonies de la Nature, and is di- 

 rected to an illustration of the wisdom and beneficence of Provi- 

 dence in the works of creation, by exemplifying many coin- 

 cidences and aptitudes which do not occur to ordinary observers. 

 A translation into English from the proof sheets is in progress, 

 and will be published in this country at the same time as the 

 original. 



LXXIV. Proceedings of Learned Societies, 



ROYAL SOCIETY. 



Wednesday, Nov. 30, being St. Andrew's Day, the Royal 

 Society met, according to aimual custom, at their apartments iu 

 Somerset House. The Coi)leyan Gold Medal Wiis presented, with 

 an appropriate speech from the President, to .lames Ivory, Esq. 

 A.M. for his various Mathematical Cnrinnunications published 

 in the Philosophical Transactions; afar which the Society pro- 

 Kccde J to the election of a Council and Officers for the year en- 

 •uing; when the following Gentlemen were elected : 



Vol. 41. No. 200. Dtc. 1814. G g ,Th« 



