144 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
elected Fellows:— Neil Arnott, M.D., the Rev. William Cureton, M.A.,. 
Charles Lock Eastlake, Esq., R.A. 
A paper was read, entitled “ Fourth Letter on Voltaic Combination,” addressed 
to Professor Faraday, by Professor Daniell. 
ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 
Her Majesty’s government have just granted to this Society the sum of £500, 
for defraying the expenses of repeating the celebrated and interesting experiment 
of the late Mr. Cavendish, for determining the mean density of the earth, and 
for considering the practicability of which a Committee was appointed about two 
years since. The apparatus is at present in the course of erection at Mr. Baily’s 
house, and, as soon as it is completed, the experiments will be commenced. 
ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. 
A very full meeting of members was held on the 22nd of January, for the 
purpose of hearing the report of Captain Alexander, of Ms late expedition in 
the interior of Central Africa, directed towards the north-west coast and the 
Damhara country. This expedition, originating with the Society by whom the 
expenses were paid, with the assistance of a grant from government, was delayed 
some time till the termination of the Caffre war; but in September, 1836, Capt. 
Alexander started on his journey, from which he returned home to the Cape on 
the 20th of September, 1837. During this period he traversed an extent of 
4,000 miles, of which 2,000 were by walking, 1,000 by Horses, and 1,000 on 
the backs of oxen. With the exception of four or five German missionaries, the 
whole country was new to Europeans for a distance of 1,000 miles. The paper 
was replete with interesting details. The tribes visited were the Namacquas, 
Bushmen, and the two great nations of the Plain and Hill Damharas, all of whom 
showed a friendly spirit to the members of the expedition, and exhibited a wish 
for further intercourse with Europeans. The two latter are negroes, partaking of 
all their marked characters, and beyond them resides a nation of red men, whom, 
however, it was found impossible to visit, on account of a war which was raging 
between the Damharas. From a female belonging to the Hill Damharas he 
purchased, for two cotton handkerchiefs and two strings of beads, a little boy, 
about seven years of age, who was in a half- starved condition, and employed in 
hunting Lizards for food. The appearance of this singular juvenile native in the 
room, along with a great variety of their domestic and warlike implements, 
excited considerable curiosity and attention. At different periods the expedition 
suffered much for want of water, of which they were at one period destitute for 
nearly three days, with the thermometer upwards of 100 degrees in the shade, 
and losing several of their oxen, Sheeps, and Dogs; and at one time they were so 
