1804.] 
curate and eafier. Certain fragments of 
ftone, placed permanently, and the level 
being once taken, would be all the ex- 
pence required. 
It would be likewife of importance to 
multiply the obfervations of the tides, in 
different partsof the globe, in the colonies, 
in feveral points of the large iflands, in 
the Archipelagos and the different 
ftreights which they form. It is well 
known that in certain regions of the globe, 
only one flux and one re-flux is obferved in 
the twenty-four hours, in lieu of two, ac- 
cording to the general law. It ts, like- 
wife, alcertained that there have been often 
feen, even on our own coatts, a riiing of 
the tide, then a ftoppage of its courfe, 
and even for fome time a falling, and thena 
rifing again and refuming of the ordinary 
courfe. All thefe fa&ts do not appear to 
have been obferved with the neceflary care, 
and it is much to be defired that they 
fhould be fo. In many places the currents 
of the fea have a periodical movement, 
which is the refult of the Surrounding 
pofitions and obftacles; this is proved by 
the multitude of iflands fituated to the 
weft of Scotland, in the Archipelagos of 
India, &c. To forma certain judgment 
on all thefe important objects, good ob- 
fervations are requifite; and moréover, 
an exact defcription of the figure, the fitu- 
ation and the extent of the adjacent coafts, 
as, likewife, a knowledge of all the local 
circumftances. It is much to be wifhed, 
that thefe obfervations, from which navi- 
gation mut derive the moft confiderable 
advantages, fhould make part of the in- 
ftru&ions which the minifter may give to 
Mavigators, and to fuch of the different 
agents of government employed in the 
colonies, as have a particular relation to 
the marine and to the fciences. 
Your commiffioners are, likewife, of 
Opinion, that it would be of importance to 
make good obfervations of the tidesin fuch 
parts of the courfes of rivers as are fub- 
ject to their infpe€tion, to determine with 
precifion the extent of the flood, as well 
in the fyzygies as in the quadratures, and 
its rapidity, as, likewife, that of the ebb, 
in the different ftates of the river. Accu- 
rate information on all thefe points would 
be not only ufeful to navigation and to 
the knowledge of the tides, but would 
likewife furnifh important lights for the 
accomplifhment of the purpofes, for which 
the engineers are appointed, as well for the 
amelioration of rivers, as for other dif- 
ferent objetts of public fervice. 
Thefe inftru&tions have appeared fufhi- 
tient to your commiffioners, and the more 
Proceedings of Learned Societies, 
139 
fo, as it may be expedient to abandon the 
other details to the fagacity and abilities - 
of the perfons that fhall be appointed to 
fuperintend or to make the obfervations. 
They judge, in confequence, that if the 
above plan fhould obtain the approbation 
of the clafs, that no means within the 
power and difpofition of the ciafs will be 
left unemployed in order to fecure the exe- 
cution of it. 
Your commiffioners are of opinion that 
the principal means of execution would be 
—i{t, to addrefs a copy of the prefent Me- 
moir to the Minifter of the Marine and 
Colonies, inviting him to iffue ont his orders 
to the profeffors of navigation at the ports, 
as alfo thee ginieers of maritime labours 
that are under his orders, to fuperintend 
or make the obfervations that are here 
treated of ; as, likewife, to give orders in 
the ports, efpecially at Breft, at L’Orient, 
at St. Maloes, at Cherbourg, at Havre, 
at Dunkirk and at Flufhing, to provide 
the neceflary materials and to facilitate the 
labours of the obfervators 5; and—2d, to 
addrefs a fimilar copy to the minifter of the 
interior, and to invite him to give analo- 
gous orders to the engineers that are im- 
mediately under his controul, in the cities 
and adjacent places, where fuch obfer- 
vations may be made. 
At the Louvre, 26 Floreal Year 11. 
Signed, La PLace, 
RocuHton and P. LEvEQUE. 
VACCINE POCK INSTITUTION. 
On Monday, April 30, ult. there was 
a moft refpettable and agreeable annual 
meeting of the governors of the original 
Vaccine Pock Inftitution, No. 44, Broad. 
ftreet, Golden-{quare, eftablifhed January, 
1800. Before dinner, the earl of Chol- 
mondeley; the Prefident, being inthe Chair, 
the continuation of the Report was read of 
the inveftigation of the laws of agency 
of the Vaccine Pock Matter, and of the 
Prattice and Proceedings of the Inftitution, 
as written by the Phyficians, Drs. Pearfon, 
Nihell, and Nelfon. The neceffity of fuch 
inquiries will be underitocd by all who 
are aware how littl was known on the 
firft promulgation of the Cow Pock Ino- 
culation in 1798, and, of courfe, how 
many errors mutt have been committed mn 
the fubfequent prattice. ‘The rude ftate 
in the firft, third, or fourth years, is 
clearly expofed by the Report publithed 
in a former year, and is again expofed by 
the numerous additional faéts related in 
the one read the other day. 
Among other Refolutions were, 
zy, That the thanks of this meeting be 
given 
