1806. 
all the recipients filled ‘with irefpir- 
able and mephytic gafes, the yolk had 
had more confiftence, a different colour and 
tafte from what it has in its natural ftate, 
and not the leaft trace of the commence- 
ment of organization was found. Thefe 
experiments demon(trate that the hatching 
of egos ‘cannot take place in irrefpirable 
gafes, and confequently the Royal Society 
could not crown the memoir whatever ef- 
teem it may have for the talents and the 
Knowledge of the author. 
In the clafé of hiftory, mformation had. 
been required relative to the gold bugles, 
found in the earth near-Gallehuus in 1639 
and1734. Though feveral men of fcience 
have examined thefe horns, yet no pro- 
bable explanation has yet been given 
either of the figures, or of the place from 
which they came. Of late years various 
monuments have been difcovered that bear 
fome refemblance to the baffo-relievos and 
feulptures of thefe horns. The learned 
were invited to confolidate all the anterior 
of explanations, or to give new and more 
plaufible ones relative to thefe horns, which 
are highly valuable on account of their re- 
mote ahtiquity. 
The Royal Society received one anfwer, 
in Danifh, replete with fuch erudition that 
it was thought worthy of the prize. On 
opening the inclofed billet, it was found 
that its author is Mr. Peter Erafmus 
Miiller, profeffor of ‘theology at the uni- 
yertity of Copenhagen. 
The fubjects for the new prizes offered 
by the feciety for 1806, are as follows: 
_ 4. In the clafs of mathematics :—A 
new demontftration of the parallelogram of 
the powers or movements, which ought 
to be deduced from the frit principles of 
motion, is required. It appears that the 
labours of mathematicians have not yet 
exhaulted this fubjeét. It muft be ge- 
nerally thewn, that the diagonal power 
and motion may be fubiituted in the place 
of lateral powers and motions, and reci- 
procally lateral powers inftead_of the di- 
agonal power, fo that the powers and 
motions, in whatever direction they may 
be taken, remain the fame as before the 
dubititution. 
~ 2 In the clafs of natural philofophy :— 
Proceedings of Learned Societies. 44,8 
«¢ What influence has electricity, pofitive 
or negative, on the elafticity of the air, as 
well as on its capability to receive and con- 
tain water, either in the ‘form of vapour, 
or in that of gas?”. — ; 
During the experiments notice muft be 
taken of the ftate of the barometer, elec- 
trometer, and hygrometer, and of the in- 
tenfity of the electricity. The maffes and 
furfaces of the water and air, as wellas the 
time employed in the experime*ts, mut 
alfo be remarked.—The Royal Society 
had propofed this fubjeé&t for 1801, but 
having received no fatisfactory an(wer, it 
has thought this queftion, which is highly 
in‘erefting to natural philofophy in gene- 
ral and to meteorology in particular, wor- 
tny of being again repeated. 
3. Inthe clafs of hiftory:—*‘ Is there any 
refemblance between the language, man- 
ners, religious opinions, inftitutions, and 
works of art, of the ancient nations which 
have inhabited Siberian Tartary, and the 
ancient Celtic tribes that fettled in the 
welt of Europe? What inftruétive refults 
may thence be deduced, to illuftrate the 
ancient hiltory of thefe nations?” 
4. In the clafs of philofophy :—* Has 
purely fpeculative philofophy, and efpe- 
cially that of the prefent day, contributed 
to the progrefs of natural philofophy, or 
has it prevented us from acquiring a more 
accurate knowledge of that fcience ? How 
is it poflible to apply ideas and principles 
4 priori to natural philofophy, im fuch a 
manner that experience may be guided and 
not left unaided in the inveltigation of na- 
ture and of the properties of bodies ? 
How far is it permitted to make ufe of a 
reafonable rationalifm and empyrifm in 
natural philofophy ?” . 
The fociety offers a gold meda} of the 
value of one hundred Danith crowns for. 
the moft folid and fatisfeétery anfwer to 
each of the above queftions. Men of fci- 
ence of all nations may become candidates, 
excepting natives who are members of the 
fociety ; and memors in Latin, Englifh, 
French, German, Swedifh, and PDanifth, 
may be tran{mitted before the con¢lufion 
of the year 1806, to the fecretary‘of the 
fociety, Thomas Biigge, profefior Of aftro- 
nomy and mathematics at Copenhagen, 
PAID are 
We are much obliged to the Secretariés and Members of feveral diftinguifhéd Societies 
at Home and Abroad for Communication: to this Depariment of our Mifcellany, and 
ps 2 
beg Leave to inform [uch Correfpondents that their Favors will always 1 received 
nuith thankfulnefs, and inferted with Dijtinétion. ee 
ors VARIETIES 
