1826.] Royal Society. 61 



already been honoured by marks of approbation both at home 

 and abroad, far more valuable in a pecuniary point of view, but 

 no one which, I think, ought to give you more durable satisfac- 

 tion ; for this award has, I believe, never been made except 

 after dispassionate and candid discussion ; never to gratify pri- 

 vate feelings, or to call for popular applause ; and amongst 

 those philosophers who have received it are names of the very 

 highest rank in science. We trust, both on account of the 

 public good and your own glory, that you will engage in and 

 accomplish many new labours. You have not merely had 

 scieutijic success, but one still more gratifying to your heart and 

 feelings— the idea that you have been useful to your country, 

 and secured the gratitude of a body of men who are not tardy in 

 acknowledging benefits." 



Tile Society then proceeded to the election of Officers and 

 Council for the ensuing year. The following were chosen : — 



Of the Old Council. — Sir H. Davy, Bart. ; Francis Baily, 

 Esq. ; W. T. Brande, Esq. ; Samuel Goodenough, Lord Bishop 

 of Carlisle ; Davies Gilbert, Esq. ; J. F. W. Herschel, Esq. ; 

 Sir Everard Home, Bart.; Capt. H. Kater ; John Pond, Esq.; 

 W. H. WoUaston, MB. ; Thomas Young, MD. 



Of the New Council. — John Barrow, Esq.; John Bostock, 

 MD.; Sir A. P. Cooper, Bart.; Benjamin Gompertz, Esq.; 

 Stephen Groombridge, Esq.; Sir Abraham Hume, Bart.; Daniel 

 Moore, Esq.; Richard, Earl of Mount Edgecombe; P. M. Ro- 

 get, MD. ; James South, Esq. 



President. — Sir H. Davy, Bart. 



Secretaries. — W. T. Brande, Esq. and J. F. W. Herschel, Esq. 



Treasurer. — Davies Gilbert, Esq. 



Dec. 8. — A paper was read, entitled " Additional Proofs of 

 the Source of Animal Heat being in the Nerves. By Sir E. 

 Home, Bart. VPRS." 



Dec. 15. — The President announced to the Society His 

 Majesty's munificent foundation of two annual prizes, consisting 

 each of a medal of the value of fifty guineas, to be bestowed as 

 honorary distinctions, by the President and Council, on the 

 authors of such new discoveries as they may deem worthy of the 

 award ; and in such manner as shall best promote the objects 

 for which the Royal Society was instituted, and the interests 

 of science in general. 



Dr. J. R. Johnson, elected into the Society in 1817, and 

 whose name had been then inserted in its printed lists, was 

 admitted a Fellow of the Society; and the Croonian Lecture, 

 by SirE. Home, was read. The subject of this Lecture was the 

 structure of muscular fibre. 



Dec. 22. — Gideon Mantell, Esq. was admitted a Fellow of 

 the Society; and the I'ollovving papers were read, of which we 

 shall give some account in our next*. — On the Poison of the 



