99 



the National Observatory. Washington, 1849. 4to From 



Lieut. J. M. Gilliss, U. S. N. 



Papers on Practical Engineering. Published by the Engineer De- 

 partment, for the use of the United States Corps of Engineers. 

 Vol. I. No. 4. Description of a System of Military Bridges with 

 India Rubber Pontons. Prepared for the United States Army, 

 by Capt. Geo. W. Cullum, United States Engineers. 1849. 

 8vo. — Fro7n Gen. J. G. Totten. 



The African Repository and Colonial Journal. Vol. XXV. No. 

 8. Aug. 1849. Washington. 8vo. — From the American Co- 

 lonization Society. 



Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society. Vol. IV. No. 1. 

 1849. 8vo. — From the Society. 



A Sketch of the Events which preceded the Capture of Washington, 

 by the British, on the 24th of August, 1814. Philadelphia. 1849. 

 8vo. — From the Author, E. D. Ingraham, Esq. 



Journal of the Franklin Institute. Third Series. Vol. XVIII. No. 

 2. Aug. 1849. Philadelphia. 8vo. — From the Institute. 



The Medical News and Library. Vol. VII. No. 80. Aug. 1849. 

 Philadelphia. 8vo. — From Lea and Blanchard. 



Mr. Justice read an extract of a letter from Merz & Son, of 

 Munich, in relation to a nevs^ parallactic telescope recently 

 constructed by them, with many new improvements. It ad- 

 mits of an unusually extensive change of elevation, being 

 applicable to a great extent of latitude, and the whole is calcu- 

 lated for mounting upon stone. 



Mr. Justice made some observations on the late extraordi- 

 nary rise in the Mississippi river, which he was inclined to 

 attribute to a partial elevation of the coast and a consequent 

 rise in the bed of the river. 



He thought facts corroborated the opinion of a general rising of the 

 coast of the river, being the cause of the overflow. The channel 

 of the river opposing less resistance to the influence of the upheaving 

 cause, became more flexed than the surface of the surrounding coun- 

 try, and hence the long continued and great discharge of water 

 through the crevasse, at a time when no unusual floods had reached 

 the Mississippi from its tributaries. 



Dr. Patterson announced the death of Albert Gallatin, the 

 oldest surviving member of this Society, who died at New 

 York, on the 13th instant, in the 90th year of his age. 



