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April 17, 1861. 



The president, Mr. Pruyn, presided. 



Prof. Hall, at the request of the president, proceeded to 

 give some sketch of the Geology of the State, with special 

 reference to the question of the Taconic system. He made 

 full explanations of the succession of strata, especially in 

 New York and Canada, and showed the bearings of the 

 discussion which had been going on in regard to the age of 

 the rocks which had been named by Dr. Emmons the Taco- 

 nic system. 



Prof. Hall promised to prepare a table of the different 

 species of fossils found in the successive systems, and show 

 that no such distinction as that claimed really existed as to 

 that particular locality. 



After Prof. Hall's remarks, the Institute took a recess 

 and adjourned. 



May 14, 1861. 



The president, Mr. Pruyn, presided. 

 Donations were announced : 



Dr. Barnes's Mathematical works, from Dr. Whewell. 



Memoirs American Academy Science, from Society. 



Mr. W. Hough, assistant astronomer at Dudley observa- 

 tory, then read a paper on the Present Condition of Astro- 

 nomical Science. 



After some general remarks in regard to the science of 

 astronomy, he proceeded to explain the American method 

 of recording transits of stars, and also the regulation of 

 clocks by means of electrical attraction. 



Then he discussed the system of planetary bodies be- 

 tween Mars and Jupiter, the different theories which had 

 been proposed for accounting for it and the objections. 



He discussed, finally, the probability of the existence of 

 a planet or planets between Mercury and the Sun, and the 

 reliance to be placed upon the alleged discovery of such a 

 planet. He decided that on the whole, the balance was 

 somewhat against the new planet. 



