4] 
of this hypothesis opens a new branch of the subject. Already, how- 
ever, a positive step appears to have been made by demonstrating that 
in solids and liquids each molecule is acted on to a finite extent by those 
in its immediate neighbourhood. 
Sir William R. Hamilton read a paper, ‘‘ On some Transformations 
of Diverging Lines.” 
A collection of twenty-five ancient articles, consisting of bronze pins 
of several forms, the axis of a spinning bobbin, and two needles, all found 
near Gweedore, county of Donegal, were presented. 
MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1858. 
Jamus HentHorn Tovp, D. D., President, in the Chair. 
3. Bente Juxss, Esq., read a paper ‘“‘ On the Lower Paleozoic Rocks of 
the South-East of Ireland and their associated Igneous Rocks.’’ 
Rev. Professor Haughton read a paper on the same subject, and de- 
scribed certain minerals as abounding in these rocks, which had been 
hitherto unnoticed in common granites of Ireland. 
The Secretary read a letter from the Chairman of the Local Com- 
mittee at Baltimore, inviting the Members of the Academy to attend a 
Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Scienee, 
to be held in that city. 
George V. Du Noyer, Esq., presented a series of drawings of antiqui- 
ties, made by himself, from bronze and iron antiquities in the Museum 
at Rouen, in September last. 
Fleetwood Churchill, M. D., on the part of Dr. Lockhart, presented 
five porcelain seals, collected by that gentleman during his residence in 
China. Two of them have inscriptions exactly the same as the seals 
Nos. 2 and 51 engraved in the late Mr. Getty’s work on Chinese Seals 
found in Ireland. 
The Secretary anneunced the presentation of a medal by the Royal 
Norwegian University of Christiania, struck in honour of Dr. Christopher 
Hansteen having completed a term of fifty years as Professor of Astro- 
nomy in that University. 
MONDAY, MAY 10, 1858. 
JamES HEnTHORN Topp, D. D., President, in the Chair. 
Rey. Cuartus Graves, D. D., read a paper ‘On a System of Imagina- 
ries analogous to those employed by Sir William R. Hamilton in his 
Calculus of Quaternions.”’ 
The Presiprnt read the following paper— 
R, I. ACAD. PROC.—VOL. VII. = 
