154 Miscellanies. 



est points in the polar regions. He maintained from numerous anal- 

 ogies, that if the whole earth were of uniform surface and elevation, 

 the true north and south poles would be the centers of the greatest 

 cold, and of magnetic action, and that there would be no variation of 

 the needle j but that from the varied distribution of land and water, 

 mountains and plains, they followed a corresponding variation of ter- 

 ritorial temperature in the same latitudes, which was also accompani- 

 ed by a corresponding variation of the needle. He maintained that 

 the unusual accumulation of ice in the polar seas caused a shifting of 

 the magnetic poles; that they are fuither north during summer than 

 winter ; that their movements are sometimes eastward, and at other 

 times westward, but not uniformly so. He further showed, that all 

 the variations of the needle, annual, monthly, and diurnal, uniformly 

 obeyed the variations of terrestrial temperature. He has identified 

 all the phenomena of magnetism with the fundamental doctrines of 

 climate ; and the whole work may be considered as an attempt to re- 

 solve all the motions and changes which take place throughout na- 

 ture, into the agency of a simple and universal element. He consid- 

 ers the relations of caloric to ponderable matter, as the basis of the 

 whole structure of physics. 



This treatise has been since published under the above title. 



July. — Mr. Partridge exhibited • specimens of pink-colored silk, 

 dyed by the flowers of the Monarda didyma, or sweet balm. 



August. — Dr. Swift, U. S. N., exhibited some new and singular 

 reliques recently disinterred from the ancient city of Palenque ia 

 Central America. 



September. — Dr. Akerlyread a communication, entitled "Extracts 

 from a correspondence of Don Francisco Corroy of Tobasco in rela- 

 tion to the antiquities of Palenque." 



Many valuable donations have been received by the Society dur- 

 ing the present year, of which are mentioned a large box of inter- 

 esting Swedish minerals, received from H. Wheaton, Esq., Charge 

 d'AfFairs from the U. S. to the Court of Denmark ; and also a box 

 of minerals, marine and fresh water shells, and Corallines, from 

 H. Perrine, Esq., U. S. Consul at Campeachy. 



The following gentlemen have been elected as members during 

 the present year : — 



Resident. — Jos. Foulke, jum., Dr. Edward Ludlow, Dr. William 

 Edgar, Dr. S. L. Metcalf, Dr. Minturn Post, J. M. Bradhurst, 

 Hen. C. Brush, Riifus Prim.e, William Partridge, R. H. Brown, 

 Dr. W. C. Wallace. 



