Proceedings of Scientific Institutions. 235 
met, and announced that the government of Vallais had given the Society a sum 
of 600 francs French, and that a Cantonal Society, of Natural History had been 
formed in Vallais. 
Necrological notices were read upon two members which the Society had the 
misfortune to lose last year, Messrs. Meckel of Berne and Scheurer of Saleure. , 
Mr. Horner of Zurich made a communication relative to the meteorological 
observations which have been carried on for the last three years in various parts 
of Switzerland. 
Mr. Ebel informed the Society, that the commission charged with the analy- 
sis of the thermal waters of Switzerland, has not finished its labours, but that 
they will be presented in the meeting of 1830. 
Dr. Mayer of Lausanne described a bed for moving diseased persons. 
Mr. de Charpentier read an itinerary of the road from Bex to the Great St. 
Bernard, with geological and botanical observations. 
Mr. Leopold de Buch presented a map of the formations comprised between 
lake Orta and Lugano. 
Mr. Gaudet de Neuchatel, gave some interesting descriptions of the plains at 
the northern foot of the Caucasus. 
Mr. Bouvard read a memoir on the Srna variations of the barometer. 
Mr. Usteri presented to the Society a memoir of Mr. Hegetscheviler, on the 
Phytewma orbiculare and P. betonicifoliwn. 
Mr. Baup of Vevez announced, that a great number of experiments had shown 
him that the weight of the atoms of simple bodies, are exact multiples of each 
other. 
Professor Gautier of Geneva, gave some details on the observatory which is 
about to be constructed at Geneva. He announced the publication of a Meteo- 
rological Journal at Yverdun, and read a memoir of Mr. d’Hombres Firmas, on 
Meteorology. 
Professor Aug. de la Rive of Geneva, stated that the results of some observa- 
tions on the dip of the needle, made by Professor Gautier and himself at Geneva, 
and at the Hospital, seem to indicate that, independently of the difference of la- 
titude, the dip would be less at the convent of St. Bernard than at Geneva. 
Mr. de la Rive laid before the Society some instruments for measuring the in- 
tensity of radiation, and others for ascertaining the little quantities of electricity, 
and more particularly of atmospheric electricity. It resulted from some obser- 
vations made on the St. Bernard, that the intensity of radiation is much greater 
there than at Geneva, nnd that atmospheric electricity is almost imperceptible. 
Mr. Lardy of Lausanne, read a memoir on the gevgnostic constitution of St. 
Gothard. 
- Mr. Venetz, engineer of the canton of Vallais, read a memoir on the transpor- 
tation of glaciers, and on the phenomena to which these discharges give rise. 
Mr. de Luc read a memoir on the fossil shells of the valley of the Reposoir. 
The Rector of Sion read a very extensive paper on meteorological observations 
in general, and more particularly on those of the barometer. 
Mr. Michaud laid before the Society a specimen of the wood of the Planera 
crenata, a tree which grows on the banks of the Caspian Sea, and which appears, 
by its elasticity and tenacity, to be superior to the elm and the ash. 
St. Gall was chosen for the place of meeting of the Society in 1830, and Dr. 
Zollikoffer was named president for the same year. 
Northern Institution.—( From the Inverness Courier of 30th October, 1829. ) 
—The Annual General Meeting of this Society was held on Friday last, Captain 
Fraser of Balnain in the chair. The following gentlemen were elected ordinary 
members :—The Hon. Col. Grant, M. P.; J. A. Robertson, Esq. W.S., Ed- 
inburgh; J. B. Fraser, Esq. younger of Relig, (author of ‘* Travels in the Hi- 
mala Mountains’”— Kuzzilbash,” &c.) Sir Francis Mackenzie of Gairloch, 
Bart, Office-bearers were also appointed for the ensuing year, his Grace the 
