262 



thods ; that of Daguerre for a silver surface, and Talbot for 

 paper. He likewise gave Mr. Hunt's improved method of 

 preparing a sensitive paper. • 



Prof. A. remarked that the methods he had explained were 

 those which belonged to the early history of the art. Me- 

 thods vastly improved are now employed, and applications 

 never dreamed of in the early periods of its use are being 

 made. Prof Anthony ended by giving some interesting 

 details as to the introduction of the Daguerreotype into 

 America ; and exhibited two specimens of the art taken at 

 a very early stage. 



At the close of the paper, Dr. Gould gave some account 

 of Donati's comet, and the new views to which it had given 

 rise as to the manner in which the tails of comets were 

 formed. He pointed out the labors of Besel, and Profs. 

 Norton and Peirce, in reducing the formation and motion 

 of the tails of comets to mathematical laws. He remarked 

 that Donati's comet, from its conspicnousness and its long 

 continuance in the heavens, had enabled astronomers to 

 study the laws and phenomena of these bodies more thor- 

 oughly and successfully than before. 



Adjourned. 



January 4, 1859. 

 The president, Hon. J. V. L. Pruyn, presided. 



Under election of members, W. C. Minor, proposed at 

 the last meeting, was elected a resident member. 



The following gentlemen were proposed as resident mem- 

 bers, viz : Geo. S. Rugg by Dr. Hough, and James Edwards 

 by Prof. Murray, and J. P. Sanford by J. I. Werner. 



Dr. Willard presented a copy of the Transactions of the 

 Medical Society to the library of the Institute. 



Prof. Murray, in behalf of the committee appointed at 

 the request of Prof. Hall to investigate the claims as 

 to the discovery of Permian fossils in Nebraska, stated 

 that he had been requested by the chairman of the commit- 



