Astronomical Society. 449 



of Coroners, Magistrates, Counsel, and Medical Witnesses: with a 

 copious Appendix of Statutes, Cases and Decisions. 



A Treatise of the Principles of Bridges by Suspension, with Re- 

 ference to the Catenary, and exemplified by the Cable Bridge 

 now in progress over the Strait of Menai. In it the Properties 

 of the Catenary will be fully investigated, and those of Arches 

 and Piers will be derived from the Motion of a Projectile. It will 

 contain practical Tables, a Table of the Dimensions of a Ca- 

 tenary, and Tables of the principal Chain, Rope, Stone, Wood 

 and Iron Bridges, with the Dimensions of them, erected in dif- 

 ferent Countries. 



LXXXVI. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



June 8. 1 HIS Society met for the last time this sessions, when 

 several letters were read from foreign astronomers detailing some 

 interesting particulars in the science. A conmiunication was also 

 made from the venerable president (Sir Wm. Herschcl) of a new 

 list of double stars. A paper was then read, from the Rev. Dr. 

 Pearson, relative to his prismatic eye-piece; being, in some 

 measure, a continuation of his former papers on this subject. 

 — As this Society are now printing their Transactions, we shall 

 abstain from noticing any further particulars : since the papers 

 themselves will, in a short time, be before the public. 

 The Society has adjourned to Friday, November 9th. 



PHRENOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 



This Society has just published a Report of its proceedings 

 since its establishment on the 22d of Feb. 1820, to the clobe of 

 the second Session on the 23d of April 1821, of which the fol- 

 lowing is a pretty copious abstract : 



" The existence of this Society implies a belief in the members, 

 that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that particular parts 

 of it are the organs of |)articular mental faculties ; and that these 

 facts afford a key to the true philosophy of man. The Society 

 is aware of the opposition which the doctrines have met with, 

 and of the ridicule wiiich has been cast upon them ; but they 

 know also, that in all ages a simihir reception has been given to 

 the most im]Jortant discoveries; which, nevertheless, have in time 

 prevailed. 



"Tiie propositions thatConsciousncss reveals nothing in regard 

 to the seat or distribution of the organs of the mind, and Dissec- 

 tion nothing in regard to the functions of the bruin, are so ob- 



Vol..^7. No. 278. June 1821. 3 L viously 



