Edwards.] 308 [June 21, 



The difference of the cases is very decided. In the atmosphere 

 there may be, and doubtless are, highly electrified particles electrified 

 with the same kind of electricity so as to act as repellants to each 

 other, and thus is caused expansion of the air, absorption of latent 

 heat, and consequent cooling, so as to cause moisture to congeal into 

 ice. Liquid water, being a pretty good conductor of electricity, could 

 not be thus operated upon by electricity, and so no freezing could re- 

 sult even if the water should be electrified. In order to settle the 

 question as to the existence of currents of electricity, both Mr. Saw- 

 yer and myself ranged squares around the well and tested the direc- 

 tion of the magnetic needle, and found no difference or local varia- 

 tion, showing that no perceptible electric current was taking place 

 in the well or in the soil around it. 



We are therefore forced to recur to our original explanation, that 

 the gravel bed was frozen by the cold of former rigorous winters, and 

 that the wave of heat has not yet been able to overcome that cold. 

 Whether it ever will do it is a problem to be solved only by time, 

 but we think our numerous pits sunk into the gravel bed will hasten 

 the thawing. 



Since your Committee reported the results of their former exam- 

 ination, Mr. Boyden sent Mr. Sawyer, a civil engineer, to make a 

 topographical survey of the premises, and to sink some new shafts 

 around the frozen well. Mr. Boyden has also himself visited the 

 locality and made a careful examination, and can suggest to the 

 Committee no new or additional experiments or researches, and it is 

 therefore the wish of the Committee to close their examination, and to 

 ask to be discharged from further consideration of the subject. 



The expenses attending the examinations of the Brandon frozen 

 well from June 10, 1859 to the completion of our labors, was $270.07, 

 there remaining a balance of the $300 of $29.83, which was re- 

 turned to Mr. Boyden, with a detailed account of our expenditures. 



Mr. Bouve presented the report of the Committee on the 

 Walker Prizes. Three papers had been received. A first 

 prize was awarded to Prof. Albert N. Prentiss, of Ithaca, 

 N. Y., and a second to Mr. Daniel Milliken, of Hamilton, 

 Ohio. The report was accepted. 



Mr. Sanborn called attention to the gifts upon the table, 

 among them the skull of a walrus, presented by Capt. E. T. 



