300 



of a second, indicating a velocity of transmission from the former point 

 to the latter of nearly 2S8,00O miles in a second; a velocity which 

 exceeds that of light itself. 



The following letter was read from the Chair. 



" British Museum, June 19th, 1834. 



" My Dear Sir, — His Royal Highness the President requests 

 that, when you adjourn the meeting this evening co the 20th of No- 

 vember, you will have the goodness to express his great regret that, un- 

 fortunately, the state of his health and sight has lately been such as to 

 render it impossible for him to preside at the ordinary meetings of 

 the Society so frequently as it was his anxious wish to have done. 

 His Royal Highness begs you will assure the Society that his absence 

 has been occasioned by the cause alluded to alone, and from no feel- 

 ing of diminished interest in the prosperity of the Royal Society, or of 

 regard and respect for the Fellows; on the contrary, His Royal High- 

 ness hopes that, by the blessing of Providence, his health will soon be in 

 all respects so far re-established as to enable him, on the reassembling 

 of the Society, to resume the chair, and fill it with that uninterrupted 

 regularity which it is His Royal Highness's most anxious wish to ob- 

 serve, in whatever duty he undertakes. 



" Ever, my dear Sir, faithfully yours, 



" Johx Gkorge Children. 



" P.S. — His Royal Highness requests you will in his name bid the 

 Fellows heartily farewell till he meets them again in November." 



" Francis Baily, Esq., V.P. R.S." 



The Society then adjourned over the long vacation, to meet again 

 on the 20th of November. 



