72 Scientific Intelligence* [Jan. 



On presenting the medal to the Astronomer Royal, the Presi- 

 dent addressed him nearly as follows : — I now present you this 

 medal. — Consider it as a token of the respect of the Society, and 

 of the confidence of the Council in the great accuracy of your 

 observations: receive it likewise as a memorial that future 

 important labours in the same department of science are hoped 

 for, nay, are expected from you. I am well aware that some 

 of the greatest and most important objects of discovery, and 

 those, perhaps, most obvious, have been attained by the labours 

 of your predecessors. Yet Nature is inexhaustible; and the 

 powers and resources of the human mind, and the refinements 

 of art, have not as yet attained their limits. Who would have 

 anticipated, half a century ago, the discoveries of Herschel and 

 Piazzi ? 



Though pursuing a science that may be considered as in 

 its maturity, you have advantages of a peculiar kind ; more per- 

 fect instruments than were ever yet employed ; more extensive 

 assistance than any of your predecessors ; and upon these points 

 the liberality and promptitude with which Government have 

 entered into all the views of the Council of the Royal Society for 

 the improvement of the Royal Observatory, cannot be too much 

 admired. Continue to pursue your honourable career, and 

 endeavour to be worthy of having your name transmitted to 

 future generations with those of your illustrious predecessors. 

 Of all the branches of science, astronomy is that from which this 

 Society has gained most glory, and it never has lost, and I feel 

 convinced never will lose, any opportunity of advancing its pro- 

 gress, and honouring its successful and zealous cultivators. 



Article XV. 



SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE, AND NOTICES OF SUBJECTS 

 CONNECTED WITH SCIENCE. 



I. Supposed Origin of the Art of Smelting Iron. 



The following remarks explanatory of a passage in the Rev. J. 

 Hodgson's " General Conclusions of an Inquiry into the Era when 

 Brass was used for Purposes to which Iron is now applied" inserted in 

 the last number of the Annals, at p. 407, were precluded from appear- 

 ing in their proper place as a note to the paper, by circumstances 

 attending their passage through the press. 



It would appear, from a paragraph in the former part of his paper 

 (Arch. M\. vol. i. p. 40), that Mr. Hodgson conjectures the idea of 

 producing metallic iron by the artificial application of fire to its ores, 

 to have been suggested to mankind by the observation, that the stones 

 containing malleable iron, or meteorites, descended upon the earth in 



