798 
complete an uninterrupted chain from 
Dunkirk to Barcelona, which includes 
an aecurate knowledge of the arch of 
the meridian fituated between the two 
€ities. 
FLAUGERGUE tranfmitted a differ- 
tation on the rotatory motion of the 
planet Venus. He conceives, that the 
rotation of this planet is made in 24 
days; a movement fimilar to that for- 
merly eftablifhed by Bianchini, but very 
different from the conclufions of Ca/ffixi 
and Schroeter, who maintained, that Ve- 
nus finifhed her revolution in lefs than 
24 hours. A little obfcure fpot in this 
planet, regularly obferved two hours to- 
gether, without fenfible change, has 
ferved as the bafis of this curious dif- 
covery. FLAUGERGUE has alfo attempted 
to afcertain the pofition of Venus’s equa- 
tor. 
In the Phyfical claf, Meffrs. Four- 
¢RoY and VAUQUELIN have continued 
their labours relative to the Barytes and 
the Stronthian earth. M. Gren, pro- 
feffor of chemiftry. at Haile, has fent them 
{pecimens of the laft earth. it appears 
from thefe experiments, that if thefe 
earths poffefs fimilar properties, a greater 
number of different ones are to be found 
in them : fuch are, particularly, the infu- 
ibility of the Stronthian earth when 
expofed to the blowpipe ; its lefs folubi- 
lity, its weaker affinity with the acids, 
from which Barytes and the fixed 
cauftic alkalis feparate it; the greater 
quantity of thofe acids which it abforbs, 
and the figure, the folubility, and the 
laws of decompofition of the falts which it 
forms with the fame acids. By compar- 
ing the obfervations of the cheimift 
KLAPROTH with their experiments, they 
conclude, that thefe two earths are of 
the fame nature, and that the Stronthian 
muft be confidered as a new earth, and 
fhould be arranged next to the Barytes 
in the chemical fyftem of minerals. 
GUYTON communicated fome new 
inveftigations, from which he inferred 
the identity obferved between the aétion 
of the falt called ovp-muriate of pot-ath, 
and that of the falt called wtrate of potath. 
He fubmitted piatina to the action of oxy- 
genated muriate, and he found that this 
metal, when made red-hot, is oxydated at 
“its furface by the oxygenated-muriate of 
potaih, although the falt, to which oxy- 
gene gives a very remarkable property, is 
{oon fubhmated, and forms only for the 
moment a fluid bath upon the platina. 
Proceedings of the Inftitute of Arts and Scienc ese 
[Noy, 
LaMarekK read a differtation on 
the primogenial particles of compound 
bodies ; in which he endeavours to point 
out the immutability of their form, and 
the unity of their nature. He concluded, 
by obferving, that the primogenial par- 
ticles of every compofition are neceffarily 
fimple and identical, and that the he- 
terogenitty of any matter is folely occa- 
fioned by the aggregation of various 
kinds of thofe particles, and never de- 
pends on their combination. 
BERTHOLLET, MONGEZ,and THovu- 
IN, now in Italy; Huzarp, on the 
banks of the Rhine; BRoussonetT, in 
Portugal; and Giroust, in St. Domin- 
go, have tranfmitted important obferva- 
tions on chemiftry, natural hiftory, and 
rural ceconomy. 
DAUBENTON, in a differtation on 
the generic charaéters made ufe of in 
natural hiftory, exhibited a number of 
principles on the advantages of the methods 
practifed in the ftudy of this fcience ; 
and on the abufes to which it is liable; 
the falfe notions adopted by certain no- 
menclators, and on the manner in which 
the methods ought to be arranged to har- 
monize with nature. : 
Cuvier has, alfo been employed 
upon 2 new clailification of beings. He 
fhows that the divifions into which they 
may be arranged, ought, in proportion 
as they become more elevated, to be 
founded on more general charaéters. He 
propofes, by an application of this theory, 
to afcertain in fuccellion, by the nature 
ef the blood, the mode of refpiration, 
the ftate of the embryo, the organs of 
motion and thofe of fenfation, the cha- 
racteriftics which are to diftinguifh living 
and fenfible beings, and the gradual di- 
vifions by which we proceed from the 
confideration of the clafs to that of the 
{pecies. 
LAUMONIER prefented fome curious 
anatomical preparations in coloured wax, 
calculated to reprefent, as it were vifibly, 
the moft curious, delicate, and even fu- 
gitive obfervations, on thofe interior ~ 
parts of man which are the moft difficult 
to be underftood. 
Desessarts read the continuation 
of his remarks on the fmall pox, and 
its complications with ether difeafes, the 
refult of 40 years’ experience. 
CELs communicated fome praétical ob« 
fervations on the effeéts produced by in- 
undation, with refpeét to meadows, crops 
ef hay, the provender of cattle, &c.— 
In 
