251 



millions in paper. This paper was suffered to depreciate to one 

 thousand dollars for one in silver, and there it died without redemp* 

 tion — the vast sum of two hundred millions being extinguished by a 

 gradual depreciation. 



It was further resolved, that such part of the proceedings of 

 the Historical Committee as refers to a MS. communication, 

 entitled " A Grammar of the Mohawk Dialect of the Iroquois 

 Language, or of the Five Ancient Confederated Nations; con- 

 taining Rules and Exercises intended to Exemplify the Indian 

 Syntax, according to the best Authorities, preceded by suc- 

 cinct Rules relative to the Pronunciation, by Eleazer Wil- 

 liams, Missionary of the Protestant Episcopal Church at Green 

 Bay, Michigan;" and contains a resolution that the Paper is 

 worthy of publication in the next volume of the Transactions 

 of the Historical and Literary Committee, is approved by the 

 Society, and its publication ordered accordingly. 



Dr. Hare read a communication, entitled " On the Change ef- 

 fected in the Nitrates of Potash and Soda, by the limited appli- 

 cation of Heat, with a view to obtain pure Oxygen: and, also, 

 on a Liquid and a Gaseous Ethereal Compound, resulting from 

 the reaction of Nascent Hyponitrous Acid on Alcohol," &c. 

 which was referred to a committee. 



Mr. Nicklin read the dedication to the Society, of a Memoir 

 on the Geology of North America, by Dr. Daubeny of Oxford, 

 and accompanied the same by some remarks. 



Mr. Nicklin stated that he should not have brought Dr. Daubeny's 

 dedication before the Society, had it been one of mere form and flat- 

 tery; but as it was a paper of research, showing much depth of ob- 

 servation, and justness of conclusion, and was written in a spirit 

 evincing the best feeling towards his brethren on this side of the At- 

 lantic, he thought it due both to the Society and the author, that it 

 should be read at a stated meeting. 



Mr. Du Ponceau made a verbal communication in regard to 

 certain interesting works, now in course of publication in Eu- 

 rope, — in reference to the discovery, geography and history of 

 America — and especially to that of M. Ternaux Compans. He 

 also referred to the conclusions of Don Alonzo Zurita, in re- 

 gard to the Mexican Picture Writing. 



