200 



assume an oval or circular figure, forming long bead-like strings by 

 the approximation of their edges. In saline solutions they become 

 rather smaller, but preserve their figure tolerably well. 



In an appendix, the author gives an account of his observations of 

 the blood-corpuscles of a new species of Deer inhabiting the mount- 

 ains of Persia, of which a specimen has been lately received by 

 the Zoological Society, Many of these corpuscles presented the 

 singular forms above described. 



A paper was also read, entitled " Meteorological Register kept at 

 Port Arthur, Van Diemen's Land, during the year 1838." By De- 

 puty-Assistant Commissary-General Lempriere, in south latitude 

 43° 9' 6", and east longitude 147° 51' 33''. Communicated by 

 Captain Beaufort, R.N., F.R.S. 



The height of the instrument above the level of the sea till the 

 21st of August was 57 feet, 7 inches ; and during the remainder of 

 the year 3 feet. 



A paper was also in part read, entitled " Experimental Researches 

 in Electricity, 16th Series." By Michael Faraday, Esq., D.C.L., 

 F.R.S., &c. 



February 13, 1840. 



The MARQUIS of NORTHAMPTON, President, in the Chair. 



Martin Barry, M.D. and Joseph Phillimore, LL.D., were balloted 

 for, and duly elected into the Society. 



The reading of a paper, entitled " Experimental Researches in 

 Electricity, 16th Series." By Michael Faraday, Esq., D.C.L., 

 F.R.S., &C.5 was resumed and concluded. On the source of power 

 in the Voltaic pile. 



The determination of the real source of electrical power in gal- 

 vanic combinations has become, in the present state of our know- 

 ledge of electricity, a question of considerable importance, and one 

 which must have great influence on the future progress of that 

 science. The various opinions which have been entertained by phi- 

 losophers on this subject may be classed generally under two heads ; 

 namely, those which assign as the origin of voltaic power the simple 

 contact of dissimilar substances, and more especially of different 

 metals ; and secondly, those v^'hich ascribe this force to the exertion 

 of chemical affinities. The first, or the theory of contact, was devised 

 by Volta, the great discoverer of the Voltaic pile ; and adopted, 

 since it was promulgated by him, by a host of subsequent philoso- 

 phers, among the most celebrated of whom may be ranked Pfaff, 

 Marianini, Fichner, Zamboni, Matteucci, Karsten, Bruchardat, and 

 also Davy ; all of them bright stars in the exalted galaxy of science. 



