HIS'TORV of the SOCIETY 



of Edinburgh. This Account is publifhed in the firft volume 

 of the Tranfaclions of this Society. [Hiftory of the Society, 

 Appendix.] 



1786. 



Dr James Anderson read an EfTay, containing Obfervations 

 and Experiments on the Culture of Potatoes. He did not chufe 

 that any abftract of this EfTay fhould be publifhed. 



The Secretary prefented to the Society two books, one in 

 Latin, De Her pete, and the other in French, Sur la Petite Verole, 

 written by M. Roussel, Royal ProfefTor of Medicine in the 

 Univerfity of Caen in Normandy, fent by him to the Royal So- 

 ciety of Edinburgh. 



Lit. CI. Mr Da lz el read the remainder of Mr ProfefTor 

 Young's EfTay on the Greek Middle Voice. [See fupra y 

 March 20.] 



Dr Hutton read part of a DifTertation on Written Language 

 as a Sign of Speech. 



It is the purpofe of this paper to fhow, in what manner we 

 arrive at the knowledge of Ample founds, by the analytical ex- 

 amination of our fpeech, or the refolution of it into its princi- 

 ples. Thefe fimple founds may be reprefented to the fight, 

 by means of certain figures, appropriated to thofe founds. 

 Such figures then become the principles, firft t of the writing of 

 our fpeech, and, idly, of the reading of our written language. 



There being no lefs than four different methods of analyfing 

 fpeech for the purpofe of typifying language, thefe are ex- 

 amined with a view to underftand the advantages and difad- 

 vantages that may attend each of thofe particular methods, ac- 

 cording to the following order : firft, The analyfing of fpeech 

 into parts, each of which is the fign of a diftinct thought j 

 ?,dly, into words, the conftituent parts of our exprefTed thoughts ; 



3#, 



Books prefent- 

 ed to the Soci- 

 ety, 



April ij. 



Prof. Young on 

 the Greek mid- 

 dle voice. 



June ip. 



Dr Hutton on 

 written lan- 

 guage. 



