I 



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XXXI. On Captain Parry and Lieiit. Foster's Expeiiments 

 for ascertaining the Velocity of Sound at Port Boiaen. By 



William Galbraith, Esq. M.A. 

 To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Annals of 



Gentlemen, Philosophy. 



N the first Number of the New Series of the Philosophical 

 Magazine and Annals of Philosophy, there is a paper 

 (pax-e 12), purporting to be a reply from Captain Parry and 

 Lieutenant Foster, to my remarks on the velocity of sound at 

 Port Bowen; the meaning of which 1 do not exactly compre- 

 hend, as I think they apparently controvert my remarks, while 

 at the same time they indirectly acknowledge the justice of 

 them. In fact, my tbrmulge y/eve investigated long before 

 their experiments were made known. I cursorily noticed 

 them at the end of the paper, when it was just upon the point 

 of being transmitted to London, and I hope that my paper 

 upon comparison will be found to be characterized with as 

 much, fairness and candour as theirs. Indeed, I spoke with 

 as much courtesy of them in that paper as I did of Newton, 

 and I do not think they deserve more. 



However, if they will demonstrate the truth of the proposi- 

 tion which they have enunciated as following from their ob- 

 servations, under the Table of the velocity of sound at Port 

 Bowen, page 86 of the Appendix to the Third Voyage, with- 

 out any equivocation of language, — such as speaking of an in- 

 creased de7isity, uistead of a diminished, elasticity, &c. — I shall 

 be most happy to correct any mistake or indelicacy of lan- 

 guage which I may have inadvertently employed. 



I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant, 



Edinburgh, Jan. 21, 1827. WiLLTAM Galbraith. 



XXXII. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 

 Dec. 15. — T^HE reading of a paper was concluded, entitled " Ad- 

 A ditional Notes on the Opposite Coasts of France 

 and England, including some Account of the Lower Boulonnois," 

 by William Henry Eitton, V.P.G.S. &c. 



Since the reading of a former communication of the author, the 

 correct identification of the beds beneath the chalk suggested by 

 Mr. Lyell, and an examination of the strata in the vicinity of 

 Weymouth, have enabled him to compare some portions of the 

 country on the opposite sides of the English Channel more accu- 

 rately than before was practicable: and he now, 1st, describes in 

 detail the strata which succeed the chalk in the vicinity of Folk- 

 stone ; and 2dly, gives a general description of the Lower Bou- 

 lonnois. 



