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many meteors about equal in light to the brightness of any 
point in the Prsesepe, (by which I would be understood to 
mean not the aggregate light of the cluster, but the light 
which any part of it, if separated from the rest would appear 
to have,) were seen crossing the beam of light in various 
directions. The sky was quite clear, the morning just 
dawning, and the horizon to seaward covered, as is usual at 
that hour in summer at Smyrna with a low fog bank. Few 
or no meteors were at the- time of observation noticed in any 
other part of the sky.” 
Mr. W. L. Dickinson read a Note “ On the Transit of 
Mercury,” giving the results of his calculations for Man- 
chester. In these calculations he had used the Nautical 
Almanac Elements, and found that the planet would leave the 
Sun’s disc on the morning of the 12th instant, at 9h. 18m. 
44s., Greenwich mean time, at an angle from the north point 
of the Sun’s disc of 24° towards the west, and from the vortex 
of 1° towards the west for direct image. 
Mr. Vernon, F.R.A.S., exhibited diagrams, showing the 
variations of the barometer and thermometer at various 
stations in England and Scotland during the storm which 
occurred on the 2nd instant. 
December 5th, 1861. 
Murray Gladstone, Esq., F.R.A.S., was elected a Member 
of the Section. 
Mr. Baxendell, F.R.A.S., read a Paper “ On the 
Influence of the Seasons on the Rate of Decrease of the 
Temperature of the Atmosphere with Increase of Height in 
different Latitudes in Europe and Asia.” 
[This paper will be read at the Ordinary Meeting of the 
Society, to be held on the 24th instant.] 
