Miscellanies. 231 
giving any special attention, they remarked that shooting stars were 
unusually frequent. As however no reckoning was kept of the number 
actually seen, it might be unsafe to deduce any very positive inference 
from this information. 
It was intended to watch for shooting stars on the morning of the 
2d of January last, but on that morning as well as on the next, the 
sky at this place was overcast, and the intended observations were 
defeated. Dl Ob a ls 
12. Hundredth Anniversary of the American Philosophical Society. 
—This society celebrated its centennial meeting in Philadelphia on the 
26th of May last and the four following days, closing on the evening of 
Thursday the 30th. An opening address was delivered by Dr. Robert 
Patterson, embracing a sketch of the origin and progress of the society. 
A large number of scientific laborers were assembled, and forty five 
papers were read on different departments of scientific research. The 
following is a list of the papers read. 
Friday Morning, May 26th. 
: be Phosphorogenic Emanation, by Professor JoserH Henry, of New Jersey College, 
rinceton. 
. On the Family Proboscidea, their general character and relations, their mode of denti- 
tion and geological distribution, by Isaac Hays, M. D. 
- On Analytical Trigonometry, by Professor THEopoRE Strone, of Rutgers College, 
Brunswick, N. J. 
. On Two Storms, which occurred in February, 1842, by Professor Ex1as Loomis, of 
Western Reserve College, Hudson, Ohio. 
mem CF Ww me 
Friday Evening. 
. Historical sketch of Continental Paper Money. Part second. By Samurt Breck, Esq. 
- On the Theory of Earthquakes, by Professor H. D. RogErs, of the University of Penn- 
sylvania. 
Ro 
Saturday Morning, May 27th. 
7. History of the progress in establishing an Observatory at Washington City. Descrip- 
tion of the building erecting, and of the instruments ordered for the Depot of Charts 
and Instruments of the U. S. Navy, by Lieut. J. M. Giuuiss, U. S. N. 
8. On the Influence of the Microscope upon the Science of Anatomy, by W. E. Horner, 
M. D., Professor in the University of Pennsylvania. 
9. On the Tides and Currents of the Atmosphere and Ocean, by Wiiuiam C. REDFIELD, 
Esq. of New York. 
10. On the Hourly and other Variations of the Magnetic Elements, of the Temperature 
and Pressure of the Air, and of the Force of Vapor, deduced from two years’ obser- 
vations at the Magnetic Observatory at the Girard College, by Professor A. D. BAcuE, 
of the University of Pennsylvania. 
11. Biographical Memoir of the Hon. Edward Livingston, by Henry D. Giirin, Esq. 
Saturday Evening. 
12. On the Launch of the Three-deck Ship, the Pennsylvania, by Joun LentHAut, Naval 
Constructor. 
13. Method of Arranging the Spider’s Lines in the Micrometer of a Transit Instrument, 
by Joun Locker, M. D. of Cincinnati. 
14. On the Tails of Comets, by Professor W. A. Norton, of Delaware College, Newark. 
15. On the Decomposition of Carbonic Acid by the Light of the Sun, by Joun W. Dra- 
per, M. D., Professor in the University of New York City. 
16. Letter from Chancellor Livingston to the Society of Arts of New York on Air Springs, 
Air Beds, &c. Letter from Count Rumford to Chancellor Livingston on Steam Car- 
riages. Communicated by the Rey. Professor ALonzo Porrrr, of Union College. 
