962 



considerably improved in their powers of resistance to a transverse 

 strain. 



8. " On extraordinary Oscillations of the Sea ; with an account of 

 some Observations in Mount's Bay." By Richard Edmonds, Jun. 

 Communicated by Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., F.R.S. 



In this communication the author notices many remarkable oscil- 

 lations of the sea which had been observed nearly a century ago in 

 Mount's Bay and Plymouth Sound, and also elsewhere. He then 

 particularly describes some which have occurred more recently at 

 the former places. Of these the following are the principal : — 



On the morning of the 31st of May, 1811, the sea was observed 

 to rise and fall rapidly from 4 to 8 feet. 



On the 5th of July, 1 84«3, the author witnessed oscillations of the 

 sea in Mount's Bay. 



In the evening of the SOth of October, 184'3, oscillations of the 

 sea were observed in Mount's Bay and at Plymouth. 



On the morning of the 5th of July, 1846, immediately after a ter- 

 rific thunder-storm, oscillations of the sea were observed at Mara- 

 zion. The author remarks that the great storm which passed over 

 England on this day raged in the Atlantic during the night of the 

 4th of July. 



On the morning of the 1st of August, 1846, the sea at Penzance 

 pier was observed suddenly to rise between 1 and 2 feet, and as 

 suddenly to rush back. It is remarked that London and its vicinity 

 were visited on this day by a most destructive hail- and thunder- 

 storm. 



On the 23rd of May, 1847? there were extraordinary oscillations 

 of the sea, and a slight motion of the ground was felt on the cliff 

 between Newlyn and Mousehole. 



After referring to the theories which have been advanced in ex- 

 planation of these phenomena, the author observes, in conclusion, 

 that, from what he has stated on the subject, and from the fact of 

 earthquakes, as well as extraordinary oscillations of the sea, having 

 so frequently occurred during thunder-storms, he sees no difficulty 

 in the supposition, that all the oscillations to which he has referred 

 may have resulted from submarine shocks of the earth, occasioned 

 by electrical discharges between the earth and the atmosphere, or 

 between oppositely electrified portions of the earth. 



June 20, 1850. 

 THE EARL OF ROSSE, President, in the Chair. 

 The following papers were read : — 



1. "Observations on the Nebulse." By the Earl of Rosse, Pres. 

 R.S., &c. &c. 



The object of this paper is to lay before the Royal Society an ac- 

 count of the progress which has been made, up to the present time, 



