Ceiflon Literary and Agricicltui al Society. H 7 



between such habitation and tlie building containing the eno-ine. 

 It appears that in every case the distance between the Sur- 

 rounding wall, the thickness of the latter, and its distance 

 from the boiler, may each be fixed at a metre. 



" The Commission also proposes that an exact account 

 should be kept by the authorities of all accidents happening to 

 engines of each construction, and to publish this statement 

 with an account of the causes and effects, the name of the ma- 

 nufactories where the accidents occurred, and the name of the 

 maker of the engine ; as being of all means the most effica- 

 cious for diminishing the number of accidents from the use of 

 steam-engines, whether of simple, mean, or high pressure. 



" The Commission concludes its report by stating, that in 

 the examination of the important question submitted to the 

 Academy by the Government, it set out from this principle, 

 that every mechanical method carries with it its dangers, and 

 for persevering in the employment of it, it is sufficient that these 

 dangers do not exceed, notwithstanding their possibility, a 

 very slight degree of probability." 



April 21. — M.Dutrochet transmitted a memoir on some ex- 

 periments on Vegetable Irritability. 



M. Dumeril made a verbal report on the superb anatomical 

 work of M. Autommarchi, published in numbers at Paris 

 under the direction of M. Lasteyrie. 



M. Coquebert le Montbret read the first part of his report, 

 made in behalf of a Commission, on the Geological Descrip- 

 tion of Puy-en-Veley, by M. Bertrand Roux. 



M. Chevreul read a memoir on the Causes of the Differ- 

 ences which are observed in various kinds of Soap, as regards 

 their degree of hardness or softness, and their odour. 



M. Bertin was elected to the situation of joint Professor of 

 the School of Pharmacy of Montpellier. 



CETLON LITERARY AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The Annual Meeting of this Society was held at the Cham- 

 bers of the Judge of the Vice Admiralty Court, on the 16th 

 instant, at which Sir Hardinge Giffard, who presided, delivered 

 the following discourse, reviewing the proceedings of the So- 

 ciety since its formation, and suggesting to its members the 

 best means of accomplishing the design of its establishment. 



" Gentlemen — As we are now entering upon the third year 

 of our Institution, it may be useful to look back upon our pro- 

 ceedings, and examine how far we have hitherto fulfilled the 

 purpose of our Association. 



T 2 "To 



