1818.] Scientific Intelligence. 235 



Fruits acquire new properties as they advance to maturity, even 

 where they are removed from the influence of vegetation ; they 

 afterwards pass readily to another state, and we do not yet know 

 the changes which take place in their composition, and the causes 

 which produce them. 



The subject of the prize was, therefore, 



To determine the chemical changes which take place in fruits 

 during their maturation, and beyond this term. 



In order to determine this question, it will be necessaiy to 

 examine, with care, the influence of the atmosphere which sur- 

 rounds the fruit, and the alterations which the air experiences, 

 The observations may be limited to any kinds of fruit, provided 

 they enable us to draw sufficiently general conclusions from 

 them. 



The memoirs which were sent not having fulfilled the condi- 

 tions of the preamble, the Academy again proposes the same 

 subject for the year 1819. 



The prize will be a medal of gold, of the value of 3000 fr. 



The period for the reception of memoirs is limited to Jan. 1, 

 1819. 



The Royal Academy of Sciences proposes, as the subject of 

 another prize in natural philosophy, the following preamble : 



1. To determine, by accurate experiments, all the effects of 

 the diffraction of the rays of light, direct or reflected, when they 

 pass separately, or simultaneously, near the extremities of one or 

 more bodies, of an extent either limited or indefinite, taking 

 account of the intervals between these bodies, as well as the 

 distance of the luminous focus whence the rays proceed. 



2. To conclude from these experiments, by mathematical 

 inductions, the motion of the rays in their passage near the 

 bodies. 



The prize will be determined in the public sitting of 1819 ; but 

 the memoirs will not be received after Aug. 1, 1818, in order 

 that sufficient time may be allowed for verifying the experiments 

 which they contain. 



The prize will be a gold medal of the value of 3000 fr. 



Errata in the Account of Alex. Scott. 



Our correspondent, who favoured us with this communication, 

 has pointed out the two following errors. The Captain's name, 

 with whom Scott sailed from Liverpool, is Knubley, not Kimbley; 

 and the tribe of Arabs, mentioned in p. 123, line 13, is Orgaebet 

 not Orgaelee/. 



