295 



the case is one which particularly requires experimental inves- 

 tigation, without which, indeed, no satisfactory conclusion can 

 be drawn as to the merits or defects of tlie proposed appa- 

 ratus. The Board, therefore, judge that the award of the 

 Magellanic Premium to the inventor, at this time, would be 

 premature; and they accordingly recommend that all action 

 with regard to it be postponed until the merits of the instru- 

 ment have been tested by actual trial, and that the Treatise be 

 placed in the archives, for the disposal of the author. 



Stated Meeting, December 4. 



Present, twenty members. 



Dr. Bache, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



A letter was received and read: — 



From Mr. John Plumbe, dated Philadelphia, December 4, 

 1846, asking permission to copy the portrait of Mr. Jefferson, 

 belonging to the Society, for the purpose of forming one of a 

 series of national portraits now in course of publication by 

 him. 



On motion of Dr. Dunglison, Mr. Plumbe was permitted to 

 take a copy, under the inspection of the Librarian. 



The following donations were announced: — 



FOR THE LIBRARY. 



Journal Asiatique, ou Recueil de Memoires, d'Extraits et de Notices 



relatifs a I'Histoire, a la Philosophie, aux Langues et a la Littera- 



ture des Peuples Orientaux. Quatrieme Serie. Tome VII. No. 



35. Juin, 1846. Tome VIII. No. 36. Juillet, 1846. 8vo.— 



From the Asiatic Society of Paris. 

 Memoires de la Societe Royale des Sciences, de I'Agriculture et des 



Arts, de Lille. Annee, 1843. Lille, 1844. 8vo. — From the 



Society. 

 Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 



Vol. III. Nos. 4 and 5. July to October, 1846. 8vo.— From 



the Academy. 



VOL. IV. — 2 Q 



