* 
340 PROCEEDINGS. 
The certificates of five new ost were read for the second 
time, and of eight for the first tim 
i letter was received from Mr. Hyde Clarke, eesce acknow- 
ledging his election as corresponding member, viz. 
32, St. ne 8 + gain S.W., 
My dear Sir, ril, 1881. 
If I have not before acknowledged the diminttion conferred ~— 
me by the Royal Society of New So on Wales, it is because I have been 
sg e winter, as I still a 
atly value this icton, the feat I have eel in Australia, 
and willingly eae ay — invitation to make further c munications to 
the Royal 8 ; 
New Gui will 
ox fem an Tntlepanciain Tight on the phenomena of Australian langu 
an 
These New Guinea languages have also African relationships, as_ha 
those of Australia, and with languages began oa to the epoch of ara 
which I consider was that of a white race in thove 
These New Guinea languages, a ho owever, rate ‘not the same we 7 ber 
of Australia, and no apparent "relationship ; but when traced u 
oe stock of ee * they tell the same tale. 
supposing Biers w as a primeval language of one ee 
a trem there were many words si each idea, an several ideas 
on This brings me to ask you whether there is any aoa of gesture a 
sign language in the Australian tribes. The U. S. Government is engages 
on <k . the indian gesture languages, and I recom 
aie on their ¥ valuable m i 
Fo lente ople I iw Kabinething of the gesture language of the m 
of the 
me beg to present my respects to the President per Sroerses of the Royal 
aithfully, 
So = i HYDE CLARKE. 
Professor Liversidge, &c., &e., &e. ‘a 
‘he Chairman stated that he had received a letter ae 
United States Astronomer, asking him to make sere” : 
it of 
to have one or two stations in the country, and that he was es 
pers minary steps for observing the transit of Venus in. Deco’ 
Forty Garde anaieg were laid upon the gh 
Mr. W. A. Dixox, FOS, read-a paper on “The Inorganle 
Constituents of some ° Epiphytic Ferns.” “New 
r. H. C. Russet, B.A., F.R.A.S., read a 5a Ai = 
Double Stars and Meascites of some of Herschel 
WEDNESDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER, 1881, : 
H. OC. Russet, B.A., F.R.AS., — in the Chair. 
About thirty members were presen 
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. 
