1826.] Astronomical Society. 391 



force should there be diminished, (and amongst others, Increase 

 of gravity was pointed out,) would cause perfect condensation of 

 that portion of the atmosphere. He then referred to another 

 force, beside gravity, which he considered equally efficient in 

 overcoming the elasticity of an atmosphere reduced to a certain 

 degree of tension, and causing its entire condensation: this was 

 the attraction of cohesion, and many facts and experiments were 

 referred to in illustration of it. These reasonings were then 

 applied to various bodies with which we are acquainted, and the 

 conclusion drawn, that some of these, as siUca, alumina, iron, 

 and other bodies, sometimes supposed to exist in the state of 

 vapour in the atmosphere, cannot take up that state under ordinary 

 circumstances, and' that other bodies, as zinc, mercury, &c. pro- 

 bably had their limits of vaporization within the range of dimi- 

 nished temperature which we can command. 



Mr. Cuthbert exhibited in the hbrary his beautiful American 

 microscope, in which concave mirrors of 0"6 and 0'3 of an inch 

 being used, astonishing magnifying power was obtained, with 

 extreme distinctness, and absence of all colour. 



Mr. Parker laid various fine castings of the new alloy, called 

 Mosaic gold, upon the table, for the inspection of the members. 



April 14. — Dr. Granville placed the whole of his fine speci- 

 mens of Egyptian and other mummies upon the lecture- table, 

 and explained to the members the various facts eUcited, and 

 conclusions drawn, from an examination of that presented to 

 him by Sir Archibald Edmonston ; for an account of which, see 

 vol. ix. of the Annals, New Series, p. 4t)2, and vol. xi. p.215. 



April 21. — Dr. Harwood read part of an Essay on the Natural 

 History of the Elephant. It was illustrated by Mr. Deville's 

 enormous cast taken from the head of the late elephant at 

 Exeter Change, by the skull of an African elephant, by various 

 articles used in the capture of elephants, and by numerous 

 smaller preparations, &c. and fine drawings. 



A beautiful specimen of modern illuminated writing was laid 

 upon the library table. 



ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 



March 10. — A paper was read, "On an Appearance hitherto 

 unnoticed in the Nebula of Orion," communicated by the 

 Astronomer Royal. This appearance was detected by means of 

 Mr. Ramage's 25-feet reflector, which is now placed up at the 

 Royal Observatory. It is well known that among a variety of 

 stars, which appear at the same time in the field of view of the 

 telescope with this nebula, there are lour very bright ones, 

 which form a trapezium, and at a httle distance, three others 

 nearly in a straight line. These three stars, Mr. Pond observes, 

 are neither situated on the edge of the nebula, nor are they 

 parallel to the edge ; but they seem to be insulated from the 



