357 
S dent if c It i telligence . 
May 21. The II ev. Dr Somerville read a paper, entitled, 44 A 
Comparative View of the State of Society about seventy years 
ago, and at the present time.” 
June 4. The following Gentlemen were elected Ordinary 
Members of the Society : 
Robert Allan, Esq. Colonel Mair. 
Honourable Lord Succoth. A. N. Carson, Esq, 
Sir David Milne, Rart. Dr James Buchan, 
A paper by Dr Henry Dewar was read, 44 On the Influence 
of Chemical Laws on the Phenomena of Physiology.” 
At the same meeting, there was read a paper by Benjamin 
Bell, Esq. 4 On the combined action of the Salts of Copper, and 
of the Fixed Alkalies on Gelatine and Albumen.” 
June 18. A paper by Dr Francis Hamilton was read, enti- 
tled, 44 Notices regarding the Plants of various parts of India, 
and concerning the Sanscrita names of those regions.” 
At the same meeting, there was read a paper by Mr John 
Murray, 44 On Hydrocyanic Acid and Opium, in reference to 
their Coimterpoisons.” The following papers were laid on the 
table of the Society : 
1. On the application of the Magnet to the Decomposition of 
Bodies, by Mr John Murray. 
2. Abstract of Experiments on various Optical subjects, by 
Dr Brewster. 
The Society adjourned its Meetings till Monday, Nov. 5. 
Art. XXIV.— SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 
I. NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 
ASTRONOMY. 
1. On the Phases of the Comet o/ 1819 — M. Nicolas Caccia- 
tore, Director of the Observatory at Palermo, announces that 
he observed very distinctly the appearance of phases in the nu- 
cleus of the comet of 1819, and hence he concludes that comets 
are not luminous per se, but that their nucleus, their coma, and 
their tail, shine only by reflected light. 
