Dec. 1861.] Science at Konigsb erg. 271 



doubled, for the Narrikal Mud-Bank is undoubtedly a rich Diato- 

 maceaus deposit and will well reward any one who has sufficient 

 leisure to examine it thoroughly. 



I said in the commencement of this paper that the earth had 

 a dark brown colour, but that received since, and which is quite 

 wet has a somewhat greenish tinge, the colour in fact depends 

 upon the quantity of water present. Some that I exposed for 

 several days to the sun became almost white, but I have not ascer- 

 tained to what this colour is due for it was unfortunately caught 

 in a shower, and the process of drying has to be repeated when the 

 weather permits. 



XVIII. — Schriften der Koniglichen Physikalish- Oehonojnischen Ge~ 

 sellschaft Zu Konigsberg, Nos. I and II. 



We have to acknowledge with thanks the first two numbers of 

 the Journal of the Royal Physical and Economic Society of East 

 Prussia, established in the ancient city of Konigsberg, which has 

 so lately attracted visitors from all parts of Europe to witness the 

 Coronation of King William the 1st. 



This Society had its origin in the year 1789 in the proposal of 

 two Government officials in East Prussia to form an Association 

 for the improvement of Agriculture : the idea was caught up, and 

 the Society receiving the Royal patronage was founded in the year 

 1790, under its present name. It continued in full operation until 

 the foreign occupation consequent on the disastrous overthrow at 

 Jena, during which it was suppressed by the French, and remained 

 dormant till the close of the year 1813 ; at which period it was 

 reconstituted and obtained an accession of very able men, such as 

 Hagen, Bessel, Muller, Burdach, Gaspari and others. 



Its character now underwent a change, and from an Agricul- 

 tural and Geological Society, it became one of Science generally. 

 Thus we see the illustrious Bessel reading his first Essay on Co- 



metary Orbits before the Society in 1816. Amongst the Presidents 

 of the Association we notice the names of Professors Eisenhardt, 

 Meyer, Dove and Zaddach, all well known throughout Europe as 

 true philosophers and sound scholars, 



