506 Royal Society, 



2. The following paper was read : — " Contributions to Terre- 

 strial Magnetism," No. III. By Lieut.-Colonel Edward Sabine, R.A., 

 F.R.S. 



In this memoir, the author gives a detailed account of the obser- 

 vations on the magnetic intensity made at sea by the officers of the 

 Erebus and the Terror on their passage from England to Kergue- 

 len's Land ,- the unreduced observations transmitted to tlie Admiralty 

 by the Commanders of these ships. Captain James Ross and Captain 

 Crozier, having been placed in his hands for that purpose. 



The first part of the paper relates to the observations made be- 

 tween England and the Cape of Good Hope ; and the second, to 

 those made between the Cape and Kerguelen's Land. These ob- 

 servations, made at various stations, are given in the form of tables; 

 and their accordance with the isodynamic lines drawn from Mr. Dun- 

 lop's observations, contained in the first number of the author's con- 

 tributions on this subject, is pointed out. 



Jan. 27. — The following papers were read, viz. — 



1 . " Barometrical Observations made at Yarmouth, Norfolk, on 

 the 21st of June and 21st of September 184-1." By Arthur Utting, 

 Esq. Communicated by Captain Edward J. Johnson, R.N., F.R.S. 



2. " On the Anatomy and Physiology of the Decidua." By Ro- 

 bert Lee, M.D., F.R.S. 



In this paper, the author describes some appearances which he 

 has observed in the structure of the human decidua, and which ap- 

 parently prove that the circulation of the maternal blood in the 

 ovum is carried on during the early months of gestation, chiefly by 

 the different layers of this membrane, and the cells of the chorion. 

 He has been led by his observations to the belief, that the veins of 

 the uterine decidua convey blood from the decidual cavity into the 

 veins of the uterus ; and that, in all probability, a current of ma- 

 ternal blood is constantly flowing from the cells of the chorion, 

 through the decidua reflexa, into the decidual cavity. 



Feb. 1. — At a Special Meeting of the Royal Society, held at 

 nine o'clock a.m.. 



Sir John William Lubbock, Bart., V.P. and Treas., in the Chair. 



His Majesty the King of Prussia came to the Society, accompa- 

 nied by Baron Alexander von Humboldt: whereupon the Vice- 

 President in the Chair addressed him in the following words : — 

 " May it please Your Majesty, 



" It is my duty to express to Your Majesty the great regret which 

 we feel, and which we are confident that the Marquis of Northamp- 

 ton the President of this Society will participate in, that, being in a 

 distant country, he is unable to be present upon this auspicious oc- 

 casion, so interesting to the members, and which will long be grate- 

 fully remembered in the history of the Society. 



" In his absence, therefore, I must endeavour, however imperfect- 

 ly, to express to Your Majesty, the great gratification with which 

 the Society will see the august name of Your Majesty, who is vene- 

 rated as the encourager of art, of literature, and of science, enrolled 

 in our Charter book in the same page with those of our most gra- 

 cious and beloved Sovereign and her illustrious Consort ; and we beg 



