The MARQUIS of NORTHAMPTON, President, in the Chair.

His Grace the Duke of Richmond and John Gwyn Jefferys, Esq., were balloted for, and duly elected into the Society.

The following papers were read, viz. :

"Additional note to the Eleventh Series of Researches on the Tides." By the Rev. William Whewell, B.D., F.R.S., &c.

As an appendix to his former memoir on tide observations, the author gives in the present paper the results of observations made at Petropaulofsk, in the bay of Avatcha, in Kamtchatka, lat. 53° l' N., long. 158° 44′ E., by the officers and men of the Seuivine, commanded by the present Russian Admiral Lütke; and which were conducted with great care and perseverance. The height of the surface was noted every ten minutes, both day and night, and when near its maximum every two minutes.

It appears from these observations that the high water is affected in its time by a very large diurnal inequality, reaching the enormous amount of above four hours; while its height is only slightly affected by an inequality of that kind; the greatest alternate inequalities of height were something more than a foot. In the low waters, there appears a much smaller inequality in the times, seldom amounting to more than one hour; but with regard to height, the diurnal inequality is much larger than that for high water, reaching to three, or even four feet; and this in a tide of which the whole rise, from the lowest to the highest, rarely exceeds five feet. The theory of these phenomena is then discussed.

The results of another series of observations made in July 1827, at the port of Novo-Arkhangelsk, in the island of Sitkhoe, in Norfolk Sound (lat. 57° 2′ N., long. 135° 18′ W.), are also given, and their theory considered.

A paper was also in part read, entitled, On the Nervous System." By Sir Charles Bell, F.R.S.

April 9, 1840.

The MARQUIS of NORTHAMPTON, President, in the Chair.

John P. Gassiot and Thomas Henderson, Esqrs., were balloted for, and duly elected into the Society.

The reading of a paper, entitled, "On the Nervous System." By Sir Charles Bell, F.R.S., was resumed and concluded.

The author adverting to the papers on the nervous system, which he presented to the Royal Society nearly twenty years ago, recapitulates the train of reasoning which originally led him to the inquiries in which he has been so long engaged, on the different functions of different classes of nerves, and adduces various pathological facts in corroboration of the correctness of the views he then entertained. With regard to the spinal nerves, cases are related where, in consequence of disease of the bodies of the vertebræ, the anterior columns of the spinal cord, and anterior roots of the nerves were affected, and paralysis of the muscles to which those nerves are distributed was produced, while the posterior column of the cord was uninjured, and the sensibility unimpaired. The author next considers the respiratory system of nerves, which he regards as being both muscular and sensitive, and describes as arising from a tract of the spinal cord, on the outside of the corpus olivare, and anterior to the processus ad cerebellum; and which constitute columns having no decussations with one another, as is the case with the other systems. The conclusion he originally formed, that both the phrenic and the spinal accessory nerves are provided for motion, which he had deduced from the anatomical fact of the former taking a direct course to the diaphragm, and the latter a circuitous one for the purpose of associating the muscles of the respiratory organs with those which act on the chest, is, he thinks, amply confirmed by subsequent experiments. He concludes his paper with some remarks on the supply of blood to the respiratory system of nerves, which supply, being derived from branches of the vertebral arteries, affords an explanation of several pathological phenomena.

A paper was also read, entitled, "On the constitution of the Resins. Part IV." By James F. W. Johnston, Esq., M.A., F.R.S. This paper contains the account of the continuation of the author's previous researches into the constitution of the resins, both as they occur in nature, and as they appear when extracted from the natural products by the agency of alcohol or ether. The great difficulty in this inquiry is to determine when the resin to be analysed is obtained in its normal state; and the author has endeavoured in each case to ascertain this point by repeated analyses of the resins prepared under different conditions. He thus arrives at the conclusion, that the resin of scammony extracted from crude scammony by alcohol, and heated to 260° Fahr., is represented by C40 H39 020, con

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taining the largest amount of oxygen of any resin hitherto analysed. The resin of jalap, obtained by evaporating the alcoholic extract, and afterwards boiling it in water, is represented by C40 H34 O18, and in the amount of oxygen it contains is only surpassed by the resin of scammony. It is interesting to remark that these two resins in their effects on the animal economy are as nearly related as these formulæ show them to be in chemical constitution.

The resin of labdanum, extracted by alcohol from the crude labdanum and evaporated, gave the formula C4 H, O; but this extract, softened in the air and water, took up from it a bitter substance of a brown colour. After boiling in water, the pure resin is represented by C40 H33 07.

The Berengela resin, previously analysed by the author before he was aware of the conditions necessary to be attended to in order to obtain a resin in its normal state, is expressed by the formula C40 H30 O,; and the resin of Retin asphalt, also previously analysed by the author, by C40 H27 06.

The resin of ammonia, extracted by alcohol from the crude gum resin, is represented by C40 H25 09; the resin of opoponax by C40 H25 O14; and that of assafoetida by C40 H26 O10

A striking relation appears between the formulæ for the resins of ammonia and assafoetida, the former being C40 H25 Og, the latter C40 H26 O10, as if the latter were merely a hydrate of the former. The author considers this relation, and concludes that it is only apparent, and that probably in neither of the resins does any of the hydrogen exist in combination with oxygen in the state of water.

This leads the author to inquire into the general action of a slightly elevated temperature on the resins, and he concludes that in all cases when a resin in its normal state is heated a few degrees above its melting point, it begins to suffer partial decomposition, accompanied by the solution of water, and always by more or less of a volatile, generally oily compound, sometimes containing less and sometimes more oxygen than the resin which has been subjected to heat. In the case of some resins, especially such as are agreeably fragrant, and are expressed by the second of the author's general formulæ C40 H24 ± 0,, benzoic acid is one of the products of decomposition at a moderate temperature. Thus the resin of dragon's blood gives only a trace of benzoic acid, with water and a red volatile compound; while the resin of benzoin gives much benzoic acid. Some resins give off volatile matters and diminish in weight long before they reach the fusing point; as is the case with the resin of benzoin, of which the melting point is high. With regard to the special action of such temperatures in altering the atomic constitution of the resins, the author finds that each resin undergoes a change, probably peculiar to itself, and probably depending on the nature of the organic radical it contains. Thus, the formula for the resin of retin asphalt (=C40 H27 O6) by prolonged heating at the melting point becomes C40 H27 05. Ammonia resin (= C40 H2s Op) by heating at 270°

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Fahr. approaches to C40 H O; there being, however, a slight excess of oxygen, and water not being the only volatile compound driven off.

The resin of opoponax, when thus heated the hydrogen, as in that of retin asphalt, remains nearly constant = = C40 H25 O14, approaching to C40 H25 O12. The same is the case with the resin of assafoetida (=C40 H26 O10), which by prolonged heating at about 250° Fahr., becomes C40 H6 O9- These observations when multiplied are likely to assist materially in leading to rational formulæ, expressive of the molecular constitution of the resins.

In reference to the general questions, with a view to the solution of which the author undertook this investigation, he concludes:

1. That the resins are not to be considered as different compounds of one and the same radical, but rather as analogous groups of compounds of analogous radicals.

2. That as far as our present knowledge extends, all the true resins are capable of being represented by irrational formula, in which C40 is a constant quantity.

3. That the analyses contained in the present paper render necessary a slight modification in the general formulæ previously announced. The formula for the group of which colophony is the type, being C40 H32 + x Oy; and that for the group of which gamboge or dragon's blood is the type, being C40 H24 ± x Oy.

The author announces a further continuation of these researches, in which the constitution of other resins will be given, and the relations of the resins to certain chemical reagents will be explained and illustrated.

The Society then adjourned over the Easter Recess, to meet again on the 30th instant.

April 30, 1840.

The MARQUIS of NORTHAMPTON, President, in the Chair.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert, of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, K.G., was proposed as a Fellow of the Royal Society by the President, seconded by John W. Lubbock, Esq., V.P. and Treasurer R.S., and, being put to the ballot, H.R.H. was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Lord Lyttleton was also, pursuant to a notice given at the last meeting, put to the ballot, and elected a Fellow of this Society. Thomas Wharton Jones, Esq., and John Grant Malcolmson, M.D., were also balloted for, and duly elected into the Society.

The following communications were read :—

1. A Letter from Sir John Barrow, Bart., V.P., addressed to the President, accompanying a series of Magnetic Observations made on

shore, and on board Her Majesty's ships Erebus' and 'Terror,' under the direction of Captain James Clark Ross, R.N., together with a Series of Observations made on the temperature and specific gravity of the ocean at various depths, and at the surface, namely, "Observations of the magnetic intensity on shore, and on board H.M.S. Erebus, with needle F. 1.

Magnetic dip observations on shore, and on board H.M.S. Erebus, with needle F. 1.

Observations for the magnetic dip on shore, and on board H.M.S.

Terror.

Observations of the magnetic dip by needle F. C. 5. on shore, and on board H.M.S. Terror.

"Observations in magnetic intensity by needle F. C. 5. on shore, and on board H.M.S. Terror."

The whole of these observations are up to the 31st December, 1839. They are transmitted to the Royal Society from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

2. Postscript to Major Sabine's paper, entitled "Contributions to Terrestrial Magnetism," which was read at the last meeting; containing an extract from a letter from Capt. James Clark Ross, commanding the Antarctic expedition, dated from St. Helena, February 9th, 1840; noticing the success which had attended the employment of Mr. Fox's instrument, in observations of the magnetic dip and intensity on shipboard.

3.

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A few remarks on a Rain Table and Map," drawn up by Joseph Atkinson, Esq. Communicated by P. M. Roget, M.D., Sec. R.S.

The table and map which accompany this paper exhibit the average annual depth of rain falling in different places in Great Britain.

4. Extracts from a Meteorological Journal kept at Allenheads, in the county of Northumberland," by the Rev. W. Walton, F.R.S. The general result of these observations, which were recorded twice each day, namely, at 9 A.M., and at 3 P.M., during the whole of the year 1839, is, that the mean temperature taken at those times was 44° 8'; the mean height of the barometer, corrected and reduced to the temperature of 32°, was 28 401 inches, and the quantity of rain in the year was 55 71 inches. The author subjoins several remarks on the conclusions deducible from an examination of the tables.

5. "

Description of an Astronomical Clock invented by the late Captain Henry Kater, F.R.S.," drawn up from his own memorandums by his son Edward Kater, Esq. Communicated by Sir John F. W. Herschel, Bart., V.P.R.S.

The great object aimed at by Captain Kater in the construction of the escapement of a chronometer, is to communicate equal impulses