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LXIII. Proceediiigs of Learned Societies. 



MEDICO-BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 



THIS Society resumed its sittings on the 12th of October, at its 

 apartments in Sackville Street 5 Sir James M'Gregor, M.D. 

 F.R.S., in the chair. 



Presents were received of the seeds of Argemone Mexicana and 

 Genista tinctoria, &c. from various members ; and of a collection of 

 Dissertations from Professor Thunberg of Upsal. 



The director, Mr. Frost, then delivered the Annual Oration, the 

 subject being the Progress and Prospects of the Society. 



A notice was read, offering a reward of 25 L, or a gold medal of 

 equal value, for an accurate description of the plant which yields 

 myrrh, which is merely supposed to be the produce of the Amyris 

 Kataf. • 



ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF PARIS. 



June 1 ]. — At this sitting various prizes were adjudged. In 182.'5, 

 the Academy proposed the following as a prize question in Natural 

 Science. A general and comparative history of the circulation of the 

 blood in the four classes of vertebrated animals, before and after birth, 

 and at different ages. 



Only one memoir was received, and with the motto Natura non 

 facit saltus. The memoir was extremely long, and not judged worthy 

 of the prize, which is 3000 francs ; and the subject is continued to the 

 year 1829. 



Great Mathematical Prize. These questions were proposed in 1822 

 for 1824, and continued for the year 1826 and again to 1827. The 

 subjects are the following: 1st. To determine by numerous experi- 

 ments the density which is acquired by liquids, and especially by mer- 

 cury, water, alcohol and sulphuric aether, by pressure equivalent to the 

 weight of several atmospheres. — 2dly. To measure the effects of heat 

 produced by these compressions. The Academy received two essays. 

 That with the motto " Si les observations precises font naitre les 

 theories, la prMsion des theories, provoque cl son tour la precision des 

 observations, (Mec. Celeste)" was judged worthy of the prize. The 

 authors are MM. Colladou and Sturm of Geneva. 



Astronomical Prize, founded by M. Lalande. — The Academy, as 

 proposed by the Committee, decided this year to divide the prize be- 

 tween M. Pons, Director of the Observatory at Florence, and M. Gam- 

 bart, director of that at Marseilles, they having discovered, observed 

 or calculated, the three latest comets. — The Academy greatly regretted 

 that it had no means of expressing the high value which it attaches 

 to the interesting astronomical researches which have occupied M. 

 Valz of Nismes, with a constancy and ability worthy of the highest 

 praise. 



Experimental Physiological Prizc^ founded by M. do Montyon.— 

 This was adjudged to'M. Adolphe Hrongniart, for his essay on the ge- 

 neration of vegetables. 



Prize founded by M. dc Montyon " to the discoverer of a viethod of 

 New Series. Vol. 2. No. U. Oct. 1827. 3 D rendering 



