64 Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. [Jan. 



subject of which was the changes which the blood undergoes in 

 the act of coagulation. A considerable part of the paper con- 

 sisted of an account of a number of minute microscopical obser- 

 vations that had been made by Mr. Bauer, on the red particles 

 of the blood. He attempted to form an estimate of their size, 

 and gave a description of their appearance. Their colouring 

 matter he conceives to be something superadded to their proper 

 substance : he supposes that they possess a regularly organized 

 structure ; and by comparing them with the appearance which 

 the muscular fibre exhibits, when highly magnified, he concludes 

 that these particles are the immediate constituents of the fibre. 

 With respect to the generation of vessels in effused blood, he 

 imagines that it depends upon the gas which is extricated from 

 blood during its coagulation : this, by insinuating itself between 

 the adhering particles, produces tubular cavities, which are 

 afterwards converted into more perfect vessels. 



Novet?iber 27 . — A paper by Mr. Seppitigs was read, on the 

 increased strength given to ships of war by the application of 

 diagonal braces. It contained an account of some very ample 

 trials that had been made of this method of constructing the 

 framework of vessels, the result of which was such as com- 

 pletely to justify the expectations that had been raised, and to 

 confirm the favourable reports that had been made on the subject. 



On Monday, Nov. 31, the Society held its annual meeting, 

 for the election of the officers for the ensuing year. There were 

 elected, 



President.— Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. G.C.B. &c. 



Secretaries. — William Thomas Brande, Esq. and Taylor 

 Combe, Esq. 



Treasurer. — Samuel Lysons, Esq. 



There remained of the old council : Bight Hon. Sir Joseph 

 Banks, Bart. ; William Thomas Brande, Esq. ; Samuel, Lord 

 Bishop of Carlisle ; Taylor Combe, Esq. ; Sir Humphry Davy ; 

 Sir Everard Home, Bart. ; Samuel Lysons, Esq. ; George, Earl 

 of Morton; John Pond, Esq.; William Hyde Wollaston, M.D.; 

 Thomas Young, M.D. 



There were elected into the council : George, Earl of Aber- 

 deen ; Davies Gilbert, Esq. ; Charles Hatchett, Esq. ; Captain 

 Henry Kater; William, Lord Bishop of London; Right Hon. 

 Charles Long ; John Reeves, Esq. ; Richard Anthony Salisbury, 

 Esq.; Edward, Duke of Somerset ; Glocester Wilson, Esq. 



Since the last anniversary 21 members have died, one has 

 withdrawn, and 25 new members have been admitted. The 

 present number of members is 652, of which 40 are foreign 

 members. 



The Copley medal was adjudged to Captain Henry Kater, for 

 his experiments on the length of the pendulum vibrating seconds. 



On Dec. 11, a paper by Capt. James Burney was read, on the 

 geography of the north-eastern part of Asia, and particularly 



