^^ Scientific Intelligence. — Natural History. 169 



rn 



riie remarkable situalion of the place in which we found ourselves 

 was eminently favorable to iho lovers of the natural sciences j and 

 the intervals of the sessions, and of the meals which were taken in 

 common, were employed in numerous excursions, sometimes scienti- 

 fic, sometimes simply picturesque j and the meeting, this year, will 

 probably not be one to which the society will be the least indebted, 

 as it will certainly be that which will leave the deepest impression on 

 ^ those who attended it* 



The sittings were on the 21st, 22d and 23d of July. About one 

 hundred persons, Including the candidates and a few strangers, were 

 present ; among the latter of whom w^e remarked M M. Leopold 

 de Buch, Bouvard, of the Academy of Sciences, Paris, and Michaud, 

 of thfe Royal Society of Agriculture of the same city.^ 



The Chanoine Biselx, curate of Vauvry, Vice president, presided, 

 and in an excellent discourse, expressed to the members, the cordial- 

 ity and pleasure which the monks of Saint Bernard experienced in 

 receiving and entertaining the society. He gave a brief history of 

 this celebrated hospital which has existed ever since the 11th century, 

 has been built three times, burnt twice, and having lost all its estates, 

 it is only within tlie last century that it has been indebted for its re- 

 storation to the generosity of its neighbors, and especially of the Swiss 

 Cantons. In the fire of 1555, it lost all its titles and ancient records. 

 The president gave an account of the late ameliorations in the hospit- 

 al, both by the construction of caloriferes, (heaters,) which have suc- 

 ceeded very well, and by the erection of another story just finished^ 

 and by which it was enabled to entertain the Helvetic Society. It 

 was M. Parrot de Dorpat who first suggested the Idea of a European 

 subscription for the benefit of the Hospital, which was warmly second- 

 ed by the late Professor Pictet, whose absence is so deeply deplored 

 J^y tlie Helvetic Society at all its meetings, and more particularly on 

 this day. The government of Le Vallals has given six hundred 

 francs to the Helvetic Society, and a society of natural history has 

 been formed in that Canton, making the eleventh society of this kind 

 in the Swiss Cantons. In 1815, only three of these societies were in 

 existence, and those in a languishing condition. 



Such have been the happy influences of the Helvetic Society. 

 The proces-verhal of the Cantonial institutions is read at the an- 

 nual meeting of the Helvetic Society, and from that they are all oc- 

 cupied la the active cultivation of the natural sciences. 



Vol. XVIIL_No. 1, 22 



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