81 



the thanks of the Institute be presented to Mr. Streeter, for 

 the valuable paper read by him this evening." 



George D. Phippen mentioned a few reminiscences, gleaned 

 from his father, relative to this event, so conspicuous in the 

 history of the times. 



The vote offered by Mr. Roberts being unanimously adopted, 



Charles W. Felt presented a communication, " On the di- 

 rection which currents assume ;" a topic suggested to him by 

 noticing the flow of the tide through culverts under the Eas- 

 tern Rail Road, near the Salem depot. He illustrated his 

 subject by diagrams. After which the Institute adjourned. 



Mr. Felt's attention, as he assured the meeting, was drawn 

 to his subject in a morning's walk, when he noticed the direc- 

 tion of the eddies, which form at the entrance of the culverts. 

 Some one, whose name he could not then recall, had asserted, 

 that the current invariably assumes (when undisturbed) a cer- 

 tain direction. It was his intention to investigate the truth of 

 this remark ; but as circumstances seem to prevent a very near 

 opportunity for study, he would throw the hint out, hoping 

 others might resume the subject. 



Although the water was not perfectly in an undisturbed 

 state, yet what observations he was able to make seemed to 

 him to confirm the assertion ; and to show that in this case 

 there was a tendency to flow from left to right, &c. &c. Mr. 

 Felt remarked some deviation from this tendency in noticing 

 the flow of the water under different culverts, which he thought 

 might be accounted for, by the peculiar formation of the pond, 

 of which some idea could be obtained by an inspection of the 

 diagram, furnished him, through the kindness of Messrs. Em- 

 merton and Foster, Architects and Engineers in this city. 



Mr. Felt's paper and diagram Avere placed on file, for exam- 

 ination and study, at any future time, by any one interested in 

 the subject matter of them. 



Friday, December 26, 1856. 

 Evening meeting at half past seven o'clock. Rev. John L. 

 Russell, Vice President, in the chair. 



ESSEX INST. PROCEED. VOL. ii. 11. 



