15 
Ordinary Meeting', December 15th, 1857. 
J. C. Dyer, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The Rev. H. H. Jones stated that Mr. Dawes, Mr. 
Lasse], and some others, had recently observed some 
remarkable spots on the disc of the planet Jupiter. They 
appeared to be about as large as the satellites, when seen 
as bright spots on the planet’s disc. From their form and 
brightness, they seemed to bear a strong resemblance to 
some bright spots sometimes seen on the disc of the moon. 
In answer to some questions Mr. Jones said, that whether 
these spots had formerly existed without being noticed, or 
whether they were phenomena of a recent formation, it 
was difficult to say. Their origin and nature, like the 
interior shadowy ring of Saturn, seemed to be at present 
involved in mystery. 
A conversation took place respecting the launching of 
the “ Leviathan,” in the course of which the Chairman 
described the means used in transporting the stone which 
forms the pedestal of the statue of Peter I. of Russia. 
An isolated rock was found at the distance of about 5 
versts from a bay in the Gulf of Finland, which was trans- 
ported to the shore and thence by water, about 20 versts, 
to Petersburgh. The rock was of the following dimen- 
sions: 42 feet long, 27 feet broad, and 21 feet high, and 
by computation its weight was about 2,000 tons. It was 
transported in the following manner. Two large wooden 
beams, made hollow on the upper sides to receive metal 
troughs about two inches thick, and made in pieces to 
extend the whole length of the beams, and two other beams 
with troughs of metal fixed to them on the under sides. 
These latter being inverted and placed over the former, 
formed the channels to receive iron balls to run loosely 
along those grooves. The top beams were tied together 
Pkoceedixgs No. 6. 
