298 



Reviews and Notices of Boohs, 



notices. Book sixth is occupied with Chronological Astronomy, 

 time in its various phases — hours, clays, years, measurement of 

 time, solar and zodiacal time, &c. Book VII. is entitled The 

 Starry Heavens, embracing the pole star, double stars, variable 

 stars, clusters and nebulae, the milky way, and the constellations. 

 The various astronomical instruments are then noticed and 

 described — telescopes, the equatorial, the transit instrument, &;c. 

 A sketch of the history of astronomy is given in Book IX., and 

 the author concludes in Book X. with Meteoric Astronomy, in- 

 cluding the consideration of aerolites, shooting stars, and other me- 

 teors. The whole is illustrated by an extensive series of excellent 

 woodcuts, and references are given to the principal authorities. 

 Amidst such a multiplicity of subjects it is not possible to select 

 passages for quotation. Suffice it to say, that the work is one of 

 standard merit ; that it will completely repay a careful perusal ; 

 that it is carefully executed, and that it gives the account of most 

 interesting phenomena in a pleasing and popular style. We do 

 not know a better astronomical text-book for a student. 



PEOCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



Royal Society of Edinburgh. 



Monday^ 1th December 1863. 



Professor Innes, one of the Vice-Presidents, delivered the 

 following Opening Address : — 



Gentlemen, — The opening of our Session requires that I should 

 lay before you the state and prospects of our Society, which I hope 

 may to some extent be considered the criteria of the state and 

 prospects of the sciences which it cultivates. 



The Society has lost since the commencement of last Session by 

 death, six Fellows, viz., — Robert Allan, Esq., Beriah Botfield, Esq., 

 Dr James Keith, Dr David Boswell Reid, Professor Connell of 

 St Andrews, Professor Mitscherlicli of Berlin ; and by resignation, 

 two, the Rev. Gr. V. Faithfull and D. R. Hay, Esq. 



In room of whom the Society has elected twenty-five new Fellows, 

 viz., — Professor Blackie, William Brand, Esq., W.S., Robert Camp- 

 bell, Esq., advocate, Hr Hugh F. C. Cleghorn, India, Charles 

 Cowan, Esq., W. Dittmar, Esq., Dr J. Matthews Duncan, the 

 Right Hon. Lord Dunfermline, Professor Everett, Nova Scotia, 

 James Hannay, Esq., William Jameson, Esq., India, Hon. Lord 

 Jerviswoode, Charles Lawson, Esq., Hon. G-. Waldegrave Leslie, 

 G-. R. Maitland, Esq., W.S., Edward Meldium, Esq., Rev. Dr 



