255 



common halo, but visible only in its upper half. Upon 

 each side of the moon and at the same altitude there ap- 

 peared in this arc a distinct paraselene, with a conical 

 projection of the luminary. The arc was very high above, 

 and at a distance of several degrees above this, there ap- 

 peared a convex arc having the zenith as its centre. At 

 an earlier hour there had been seen by a scientific observer, 

 a distinct bar of light, both vertical and horizontal, passing 

 through the moon. 



Dr. Gould remarked that a lunar halo, somewhat re- 

 sembling the one just described, had been figured by Dr. 

 Halley. 



The president, Mr. Pruyn, gave an account of the beauti- 

 ful mediaeval legend of St. Christopher, as given in the 

 works of Mrs. Jameson and Lord Lindsay. In connection 

 with this account, he exhibited a stained glass picture of 

 St. Christopher carrying Christ across the stream. The 

 picture was one of great antiquity, and called forth many 

 expressions of admiration. 



Mr. David E. E. Mix of Batavia, was proposed and elect- 

 ed a corresponding member of the Institute. 



Donations were announced from Mr. Mix and Mr. Pruyn, 

 after which the Institute adjourned. 



May 25, 1858. 

 The president, Hon. John V. L. Pruyn, in the chair. 



The paper for the evening was by A. von Steinwehr, on 

 Gothic Architecture. He remarked that he had in a previ- 

 ous paper traced the origin of Media3val Architecture, and 

 described the steps by which the various styles of it had 

 been developed. The Gothic was derived from the Roman- 

 esque, and is really the only perfect, finished and systematic 

 style of Christian architecture. The pointed arch is its 

 essential feature, and upon that the whole structure and 

 organization depends. 



After this preliminary discussion, M. von Steinwehr pro- 



