1 08 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



branches of physical science which it is our privilege to study 

 amount to upwards of twenty. Six new members have joined 

 the Society — a fact which, taken along with the important 

 one connected with the funds, may be justly deemed pleas- 

 ing and conclusive proofs of prosperity. But much of the 

 success of societies like ours depends upon the active exertion 

 of the office-bearers, as well as upon the nature and character 

 of the communications. The valuable services rendered to 

 the Society by the zeal and unremitting attention of our 

 excellent and indefatigable Secretary, and no less careful 

 and attentive Treasurer, are deserving of the highest praise, 

 and merit the unanimous approbation and thanks of the 

 members. The papers read during last Session contain 

 original facts and observations bearing on several highly 

 interesting scientific questions, that cannot fail to support 

 the former reputation of the Society, and to confer additional 

 lustre upon it. There is first a communication on physical 

 geography by Mr Robert Brown, giving an analysis of the 

 discoveries made on the east coast of Greenland, bearing on the 

 site of the eastern and western settlements of early Scan- 

 dinavian colonies, and on the connection of Scoresby's Sound 

 and Jacob's Bight, with a proposal and plan for a renewed 

 exploration. This active and enterprising naturalist is at 

 present employed as botanist to the British Columbia Ex- 

 pedition, and should the expedition prove successful, and 

 Providence permit of his safe return, much new and valuable 

 information may be anticipated from his well-known zeal, 

 cultivated habits of observation, and devoted attachment to 

 the pursuits of natural science. We had several interesting 

 and suggestive papers on geology and mineralogy, including 

 two by Mr Andrew Taylor — the first, " On the Bituminous 

 Shales of Linlithgowshire and Edinburghshire/' and the 

 second, " Remarks on Mineralogical Classification;" Mr 

 Charles Peach " On the Fossils of the Boulder-Clay of 

 Caithness ; " the Rev. Walter Wood's " Remarks on a Raised 

 Sea-beach at Ardross, in the county of Fife;" Mr Alex. 

 Bryson " On the Evidence of the Rise of the Shores of the 

 Firth of Forth : " and to these may be added Dr John Alex. 

 Smith's " Note of a Fireball or Aerolite," recently observed 



