159 



First Biennial Report on the Geology of Alabama. By M, Tuomey, 

 State Geologist, &c. Tuskaloosa, 1850. 8vo. — From the Au- 

 thor. 



The Mormons. A Discourse delivered before the Historical Society 

 of Pennsylvania, March 26, 1850. By Thomas L. Kane. Phi- 

 ladelphia. 8vo. — From the Avthor. 



A Reply to " Hints" on the Reorganization of the Navy. February, 

 1845. 8vo. — From Dr. Rvschenberger, U. S. N. 



A Brief History of an Existing Controversy on the Subject of Assi- 

 milated Rank in the Navy of the U. S. By VV. S. W. R. Phi- 

 ladelphia, 1850. — From the same. 



Exhibit of the Affairs of the Ohio and Pennsylvania Rail-road Com- 

 pany. Pittsburgh, July 1, 1850, 8vo. — From S. W. Roberts, 

 Esq., Chief Engineer. 



Mr. Trego announced the death of Dr. Gerard Troost, a 

 member of this Society, who died at Nashville, Tennessee, on 

 the 14th xlugust, 1850. 



Dr. F. Bache announced the deaths — of Dr. Joseph Harts- 

 horne, of Philadelphia, a member of this Society, who died on 

 the 20th August, in the 71st year of his age — of Geo. Emlen, 

 of Philadelphia, a member of this Society, who died on the 

 27th August, in the 66th year of his age — and of Louis Phi- 

 lippe, ex-king of the French, a member of this Society, who 

 died at Clermont, England, 26th August, 1850, aged 76. 



Judge Kane read a letter from his son, Dr. E. K. Kane, U. 

 S. N., Senior Surgeon of the American Arctic Expedition, 

 now engaged in searching for Sir John Franklin and his com- 

 pany. It is dated 20th June, 1850, in sight of the island of 

 Disko, coast of Greenland. The letter contains an interesting 

 review of facts and arguments on the possibility of rescuing 

 the missing explorers. 



Sir John Franklin's party, consisting of 138 persons, left the 

 Thames on the 26th of May, 1845, in two exploring vessels, attended 

 by a transport. Their general instructions were to proceed by Baf- 

 fin's Bay, through Lancaster Sound, without stopping to examine any 

 openings to the northward or southward, but pushing on to the west- 

 ward, in latitude about 74^°, till they should reach the longitude of 

 Cape Walker, in west longitude about 98°, and thence taking a di- 

 rect course for Behring's straits. Should this be found impracticable, 



