Proceed higs of the Royal Society. 57 



produce a countervailing effect; or the insulation was ever 

 sufliciently perfect to prevent feeble negative electricity being 

 carried off, or overwhelmed by the positive electricity deve- 

 loped in the jet. 



Mr. Nicholson has zealously cooperated with me in the 

 experiments I have described, and it is our intention to make 

 a further attempt to clear up the difficulties which still em- 

 barrass the subject. 



The limits of this letter will not permit me at present to 

 enter upon any discussion on Dr. Schafhaeutl's interesting 

 paper which appeared in your last publication. 



Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Wm. Geo. ARMSTRONG. 



Dec. 19,1840, 



XIII. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



ROYAL SOCIETY. 

 Anniversary Address of the Marquis of Northampton, President, 

 November 30, 1840. 

 Gentlk.men, 



IN addressing you at the termination of this, the second year that 

 I have had the honour of presiding over your Society, my first 

 duty is to return my thanks to those gentlemen whom you have 

 nominated to be my Council. They have rendered an onerous duty 

 comparatively light and easy by their unremitting attendance and 

 zeal ; and have, as I trust, prevented your aflairs from suffering from 

 any incompetency on my part. In making my report of the trans- 

 actions of the last year, I know of nothing to regret, except the loss 

 of some of our valued Associates, Mho between the end of last No- 

 vember and the present time have paid the debt of nature. 



Among the new members enrolled in our body, it will perhaps 

 be right to mention the name of the Bishop of Norwich, as being 

 President of the Linnean Society, one of the oldest branches that 

 may be considered as thrown off frona our parent stem. Also that 

 of the Duke of Richmond, as President of the two newest Asso- 

 ciations founded for the promotion of science, the Royal Agricul- 

 tural and Botanical Societies. We have one new member of still 

 higher rank, who has honoured us by becoming one of our Fellows, 

 H. R. II. Prince Albert, the consort of our beloved Queen and 

 Patroness. As your organ, Gentlemen, I will venture to say that 

 you duly appreciate the honour conferred on yourselves ; at the 

 same time M-hile His Royal Highness gratifies us by joining our 

 body, we entertain no doubt that he docs so from the just conviction 

 tliat the jjatronagc and advancement of science are national objects 

 of the deepest im])ortancc. 



The Antarctic Expedition, to whose departure I adverted in rny 

 last year's Address, is, I trust, now successfully jiursuing its career 

 of scientific research. Alrea<ly a portion of the fruits of its labours 

 has reached us, and promises an abundant and valuable harvest. 

 The fixed Magnetic Oi)servatories on the territories of Her Majesty 

 arc now also in full operation ; while foreign powers have given us 



