1826.] Proceedings of Fhilosophical Societies. S& 



rently anomalous phaenomena described by M. de Humboldt, as 

 having accompanied the eruption of Joiullo, in Mexico. 



The work is illustrated by an engraving, some lithographic 

 drawings and maps, and numerous wood-cuts, introduced into 

 the text. 



Article XI, 



Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. 



ROYAL SOCIETY. 



The Fellows of the Royal Society held their anniversary 

 meeting, as usual, on St. Andrew's Day, when the President, 

 Sir Humphry Davy, delivered an eloquent address to the mem- 

 bers present, on announcing the decision of the Council with 

 respect to the award of the Copley medals. The medal of this 

 year's donation, he informed them, has been bestowed on 

 M. Arago, FRS.and Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences 

 of Paris; and another, which was not disposed of on a former 

 year, to Mr. Peter Barlow, FRS. and Professor in the Royal 

 Military Academy at Woolwich. * 



"The discoveries and labours," said Sir H. Davy, "which 

 your Council have made it their pleasure, and thought it their 

 duty to honour, by conferring on their authors the highest 

 rewards of this Society, both belong to the same department 

 of science. Magnetism — a department which has always claimed 

 a considerable portion of your attention*, both in its relations to 

 philosophy and utility, to the laws and properties of natural 

 forms, end to navigation, the great sourco of the power and 

 prosperity of this mighty empire." 



Sir Humphry then entered into some historical details and 

 general views on the subject of magnetism, in order more 

 distinctly to state the grounds of the decisions of the Council, 

 which he had just announced, and set forth the justice of the 

 awards ; and to prove, that "though much has been done, more 

 still remains to be effected for the distinct knowledge of the laws 

 and relations of these mysterious phajnomena." 



The property of the n)agnet to attract iron seems to have been 

 known from the most remote antiquity ; but its directive force, 

 and consequently its use in navigation, was wholly unknown to 

 the ancients. The period when the polarity of the magnet was 

 first applied to maritime purposes, was some time between the 

 years I lUU and 1300. The variation of the compass was disco- 

 vered somewhere about the end of tho 15th century, " probably 

 in the two great voyages made to the eastern and western worlds, 

 by Vasco di Gama, and Christopher Columbus." The dip of the 

 needle was ascertained by Robert Norman, iu London, in 1681, 



