136 Royal Society. 
A letter was also read from Sir John F. W. Herschel on the sub- 
ject of Photography, addressed to S. Hunter Christie, Esq., Sec. R.S. 
November 24.—The following papers were read, viz.— ' 
1. “ On certain improvements on Photographic Processes described 
in aformer communication.” By Sir John Frederick William Her- 
schel, Bart, K.H., F.R.S., &e., in a letter to Samuel Hunter Christie, 
Esq., Sec. R.S. Communicated by Mr. Christie. 
The present memoir, which is a sequel to the last by the same 
author, is accompanied by a series of photographic impressions illus- 
trative of the chrysotype, cyanotype, and other processes formerly 
described by him. Some improvements which he has introduced 
into these processes are given, together with a few remarks on some 
other points treated of in the former paper, in relation to the influ- 
ence of thermic rays as distinct from calorific rays ; the former being 
rays, which in the spectrum accompany the red and orange rays, 
which are also copiously emitted by heated bodies short of redness, 
and which are distinguished from those of light by being invisible. 
The author thinks they may be regarded as bearing the same rela- 
tion to the calorific spectrum which the photographic rays do to the 
luminous one, and would propose to designate them by the term 
parathermic rays. He conceives that these may be the rays which 
are active in producing those singular molecular affections determi- 
ning the precipitation of vapours in the experiments of Messrs. 
Draper, Moser, and Hunt, and which will probably lead to import- 
ant discoveries as to the intimate nature of those forces, resident on 
the surfaces of bodies, to which M. Dutrochet has given the name 
of epipolie forces. 
2. “ Boring Register, Bow Island, South Pacific.” By Captain 
Edward Belcher, R.N., communicated by Captain Beaufort, R.N., 
F.R.S. 
The results of the boring operations carried on in this island are 
here given, as well as the register of the daily proceedings, under the 
particular superintendence of Mr. Thomas Pass, acting master of 
H.M.S. Sulphur. The depth reached was 45 feet, when the auger 
broke, and no further progress could be made. 
November 30.—Anniversary Meeting.—The President addressed 
the meeting as follows :— 
GENTLEMEN, 
I must commence my address to you by the expression of my re- 
gret that my absence from England at this period of the last year 
prevented my being then able to meet you at your Anniversary. 
The gratitude which it has behoved me to intimate to my Council 
on former occasions for their assistance in the discharge of my pre- 
sidential duties, it is more than ever necessary for me now to feel, as 
it was that assistance that rendered my absence no real detriment 
to the Society. 
During that absence, an event took place to which I am bound to 
refer,—I allude to the visit to this city of the sovereign of another 
country at the time of the auspicious baptism of His Royal High- 
ness the Prince of Wales. His Prussian Majesty was pleased to 
