284 Scientific Meetings, 



these it appears, every person, without election, is a member, 

 who has written upon natural science or medicine : that a ma- 

 jority of voices decide every thing ; that the place of meeting 

 shall be variable, and be determined at each anniversary for the 

 ensuing year. One of the laws is, that the society shall form no 

 collections, and, except its records, possess no property. What- 

 ever is laid before them, shall be again withdrawn by its owner. 

 Another is, that the expenses of the meeting shall be defrayed 

 by the contributions of the members present. 



These preliminaries being gone through. Professor Struve de- 

 livered a long oration on the history, importance, and present 

 state of astronomy. After magnifying astronomy beyond all con- 

 ceivable studies, he decided that Germany, of all the countries of 

 Europe, held the highest rank in this branch, Russia next, then 

 England and Italy, and France last of all. The discourse is 

 thought to have savoured of self-adulation, and not to have been 

 well received. When the business of the first public sitting 

 was closed, the members retired to form themselves into sections, 

 and to choose their presidents. 



These sections, or committees, appear to have proceeded 

 smoothly, with the following exception : 



" On reading his report of the proceedings of the zoological section, Pro- 

 fessor Luckart took occasion to animadvert, in a few ill natured words, on the 

 appointment of Englishmen to preside in that section. ' It is the first time,' 

 said he, ' that a foreigner, who did not understand the language, has been 

 appointed to preside at a meeting of German naturalists.' " 



This was felt to be bad taste, and worse feeling, by all pre- 

 sent ; for this section had agreed to name a daily president, 

 and in this way Mr. Gray, and Dr. Traill, had each been honoured 

 with the chair. A Dr. Siemers, who followed him, by his judi- 

 cious conduct made amends for this breach of good manners. 



The hours not devoted to science, were most agreeably filled 

 up by parties of pleasure to the neighbouring gardens, to the 

 island of Heiligoland, to the theatres, and to evening re-unions 

 of a very agreeable kind, amongst the most distinguished natura- 

 lists. On the 25th, the last day of the convention, the whole 

 affair was finished off* by a splendid ball, at which all the beauty 

 of Hamburgh assisted. 



We have been exceedingly pleased with every part of Mr. 

 Johnston's narrative of this interesting meeting, with one excep- 



