452 Royal Society — Astronomical Society. 



In alliuling to Vegetable ami Animal Physiology, he described 

 the impeifect state of these sciences, and said that the Society 

 had a ri^ht to expect elucidation of them from those disciples 

 of tlie schools of Grew and of Hunter, who had already done so 

 much for the Anatomy of Plants and for Comparative Anatomy. 

 ' It would be impossible to follow the learned President through 

 every part of his profound views on the improvement of science, 

 as w-e coultl not do them justice; but we earnestly hope that he 

 will himself be induced to lay them before the public in some 

 lasting record. He concluded by recommending to the Fellows 

 the sure path of investigation, and the same methods of reason- 

 ing that constituted the glory of the Founders of the Royal So- 

 ciety — cautious inductions from exact experiments. He ex- 

 pressed his ardent desire to assist in every way the progress of 

 investigation, and stated, that though tlieir good opinion had 

 elected him to a higli dignity, corresponding to that of a general, 

 \et that he should always be happy to act with them as a private 

 in the ranks of science. 



Let ns (said the President) labour together, animated by the 

 noblest kind of enmlation ; let us prove that v^e are not unworthy 

 of the name we bear, and of the times in which we live ; and let 

 us endeavour to tiansmit the glory of the Royal Society to po- 

 sterity not impaired, but exalted. 



Dec. 14. — An interesting paper by Mr. Farraday was read. 

 On certain Combinations of Chlorine with Cari)on and with 

 Iodine. Contrary to the previously entertained opinion that 

 chlorine could not be combined with carbon, Mr. Farraday suc- 

 ceeded in producing this compound by combining chlorine with 

 olefiant gas : one portion of the chlorine combines with the hy- 

 drogen of the olefiant gas and forms muriatic acid ; and another 

 ])ortion with its carbon. This new substance being similar in 

 appearance to camphor allows the acid to be washed, leaving 

 the chloroid of carbon, which is insoluble in water. 



Dec. 15. — Mr. Farraday 's paper was concluded, and the So- 

 ciety adjourned for the holidays. 



ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



Dec. 8. — iMr. F. Daily read a pnper on the late solar eclipse, 

 comprising the result of his own observations, as well as those 

 of several other persons, both in this country and on the conti- 

 nent. — Mr. Groombridge presented a table showing the position 

 of Vesta on several nights preceding and succeeding her ensuing 

 opposition (which we have inserted in another part of our 

 .lourr.al). — A paper by Mr. Tronghton was tlien begun, on the 

 Repeating Circle, and on the'Altitude and Azimuth Instrument: 

 wb.ich wHl be continued at the next meeting of the Society. 



