Mortality," by Charles L. Jellicoe, esq. It was principally based on the experience of the Equitable Society.

Jan. 17. John Forbes Royle, M.D. V.P.-Beriah Botfield, esq. and Peter Hardy, esq. were elected Fellows. Read, 1. On the state of the interior of the Earth, by W. Hopkins, esq. M.A. Second Memoir, On the phenomena of Precession and Nutation, assuming the fluidity of the interior of the Earth; 2. On the Molecular constitution of Chrystals, by Mons. L. A. Necker, of Geneva.

Jan. 24. F. Baily, esq. V.P. Charles Darwin, esq. was elected Fellow. The paper read was, an account of Experiments made on a piece of Pena Silver, saved from the Lady Charlotte, wrecked on the coast of Ireland in Dec. 1838, as to its capability of holding water, by W. D. Haggard, esq.

The Joint Committee of Physics and Meteorology having reported to the Council their resolutions in favour of the establishment of fixed magnetic observatories, and the equipment of a naval expedition for magnetic observations in the Antarctic Seas, a deputation has waited upon Lord Melbourne on the subject, and his lordship stated in reply that he should urge her Majesty's Government to adopt measures for carrying the resolutions of the Council into immediate effect.

GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Dec. 19. The second part was read of Professor Owen's paper on the Fossil Jaws found at Stonesfield; also a paper on the structure and relations of the presumed Marsupial Remains from the oolite of Stonesfield, by Mr. Ogilby.

Jan. 9. The same subject was pursued by Dr. Harlan, of America, who read a notice of the discovery of a fossil reptile, on the marly banks of the Washeta river, Arkansas territory, which he had named Basilosaurus; and also of another extinct fossil, found in the territory of the Missouri, and named Batrachiosaurus Mis. souriensis. This was followed by a long memoir by Mr. Owen, in consequence of whose deductions Dr. Harlan admitted the mammiferous nature of the Basilosaurus, and agreed to alter its name to Zygodon, in reference to the posterior molar teeth resembling two simple teeth tied together.

A paper, On the Geology of the neighbourhood of Lisbon, by Mr. Daniel Sharpe, F.G.S. was commenced.

Jan. 23. Read, a notice by Mr. Lyell, on the occurrence of Graptolites in the slate of Galloway; and the conclusion of Mr. D. Sharpe's memoir.

STATISTICAL SOCIETY.

Nov. 19. At the first meeting for the season, was read the Third Report of the Society's Committee appointed to inquire into the state of Education in the Metropolis; containing a description of the schools in the parishes of St. George, St. James, and St. Anne, and completing the survey of the city of Westminster.

Dec. 17. Read, the Annual Report of the Rev. Mr. Clay, Chaplain to the Preston House of Correction, presented to the Visiting Justices at the October Sessions 1838.

Jan. 21. Read, On the value of the Numerical Method, as applied to Physiology and Medicine, by Dr. Guy, Professor of Forensic Medicine, King's Côllege, London.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.

Jan. 15. At the annual meeting of this Society, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year :-PresidentJames Walker, F.R.S. L. and E.-VicePresidents-W. Cubitt, F.R.S. Bryan Donkin, F.R.S. Joshua Field, F.R.S. Henry R. Palmer, F.R.S.-Other Members of the Council - Francis Bramah; I. K. Brunel, F.R.S.; James Howell; Joseph Locke, F.R.S.; Geo. Lowe, F.R.S.; John Macneill, F. R. S. M. A.; Provis. Major Robe, R.E.; James Simpson; R. Stephenson. Treasurer-W. A. Hankey. - Auditors-W. Freeman, Charles Manby. Secretary-Thomas Webster, M.A. It was stated in the Report, that "at the close of the preceding session, the Council issued a list of subjects, to adequate communications on which they would award premiums. The following communications were received: -" An elaborate and beautiful set of Drawings of the Shield at the Thames Tunnel," from Mr. Brunel, and two sets of Drawings of Huddart's Rope Machinery, the one from Mr. Birch, the other from Mr. Dempsey. The Council, feeling this communication and the invention of the shield were entitled to a high mark of approbation, determined on presenting Mr. Brunel with a silver medal, accompanied by a suitable record of the high sense entertained of the benefits conferred by him on the practice of the civil engineer. Feeling also that the beauty of the drawings justly merited some mark of approbation, they determined on presenting the draughtsman, Mr. Pinchback, with a bronze medal in testimony thereof. To the communications by Mr. Dempsey and Mr. Birch, on Huddart's Rope Machinery, they have awarded a Telford medal in silver, accompanied by books to the value of five guineas.

On the other subjects issued at the same time, the Council have not yet received communications of adequate merit; but they have the pleasure of announcing several to have been promised. These subjects have been again announced with others as prize subjects for the present session. But though the Council received no communication in which the subject of steam was treated with the generality and comprehensive. ness which they desired, they received the following on parts of this great subject, to each of which they awarded a silver medal: "On the effective pressure of Steam in the Cornish Condensing Engine," by Thomas Wicksteed; "On the Expansive Action of Steam in the Cylinder of some of the Cornish Engines," by W. J. Henwood; and "On the Evaporation of Water in the Boilers of Steam Engines," by Josiah Parkes.

The Council also awarded a silver me. dal to the communications of Lieut. Denison, "On the Strength of American Timber," and of Mr. Bramah, "On the Strength of Cast Iron." A silver medal has been awarded to Mr. Green, for his communication "On the Canal Lifts on the Grand Western Canal; to Mr. Harrison, for his communication "On the Drops on the Stanhope and Tyne Railway; " to Josiah Richards, for his elaborate Drawing of the Rhymney Ironworks; and to Francis Whishaw, for his

History of Westminster Bridge." On this last communication it is remarked, "It would be difficult to speak in adequate terms of the labour and research of Mr. Wishaw in collecting these documents. They are principally from voluminous records in the Bridge Office; where Mr. Swinburne furnished the author with every facility in executing his difficult task. This history of the only one of the old bridges now remaining, is interesting to the general reader, no less than to the engineer. The difficulties which presented themselves, gave rise to many ingenious contrivances, of which the introduction of caissons is not the least remarkable. The difficulties and progress of the work are well set forth in the reports of Labelye, of which the more interesting are embodied in the communication; and the account of the work furnishes a good history of the state of that department of practical engineering a century ago. This communication is accompanied by an atlas of eleven drawings.

The Institution received during last session from Mr. Rendel an elaborate and beautiful set of drawings, accompanied by a suitable description of the Torpoint Floating Bridge, to which the Council have awarded a silver medal.

10

A bronze medal has been awarded to Mr. Ballard for his ice-boat, and a description of his method of breaking ice by forcing it upwards. This simple method is applicable at about one-third the labour of the ordinary ice-boat. A bronze medal has also been awarded to Thomas M. Smith, for his drawing and account of Edward's or the Pont-y-tu Prydd Bridge, in South Wales; and five guineas to Mr. Guy for his method of making very accurate spheres of metal or other hard substance, a desideratum in mechanical art.

The Report concludes with a reference to the value of the numerous communications received during last session, and on the great interest of the discussions, the minutes of which are recorded. They especially refer to the discussions on the duty of steam-engines and on the explosions of steam-boilers, as having led to the collection of much valuable matter.

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH
ARCHITECTS.

Dec. 3. At the opening meeting of the session, Earl de Grey, the President, was in the chair.

A paper, by Mr. Shaw, a member of the Institute, was read, " On the History of Stained Glass, its manufacture, and appropriate application in buildings;" entering at length into its antiquity, general divisions, classification, different styles, and proper employment: and, in illustration of the subjects, Messrs. Hoadley and Oldfield, of the Hampstead-road, exhibited some beautiful specimens.

Mr. Papworth and Mr. Donaldson explained the mode of boring the stone pipes formerly used for the water mains in London, and the manner in which they were put together; and Mr. Godwin, jun. presented an engraving of Girard College, Philadelphia, now in progress of erection, by T. Q. Walters, esq. of that state.

Dec. 11. (This meeting has been already reported in p. 81.)

Jan. 7. Charles Barry, V. P. in the chair. The following architects were elected as Fellows : Messrs. Ferrey, Wyatt, Walker, and Watson; and Messrs. Brandon, Flower, Woodthorpe, Bury, Wright, Miles, Prichard, Peirce, and Eales, as Associates.

Letters were read from Herr Zanth, architect, of Stuttgard, and M. Roelants, acknowledging their election as Honorary Corresponding Members.-Amongst the various donations announced as having been received, was an Italian translation, published under the superintendence of the Academy of Fine Arts at Naples, of the rules and regulations of the Institute, together with the series of questions upon

subjects connected with architecture, drawn up by the Council.

A Paper was read "On the bond of Brickwork," by W. F. Pocock, Fellow.

The Secretary read a translation of the Report upon the Historical Monuments of France, presented by the members of the Commission to the French Minister, a copy of which had been transmitted by his Excellency to the Institute.

Jan. 21. Mr. Hardwick in the chair. Among the presents were some lithographic prints of the intended Hotel de Ville at Paris, in which the ancient building will be preserved, but will form not more than one-fourth of the whole structure.

It is judiciously designed to correspond with the original, and the architects are MM. Godde and Lasueur.

The first paper read consisted of "Observations on the Heights of Entablatures," by Joseph Gwilt, esq. illustrated by the examples of many ancient temples. It has been before remarked that in the Greek architecture the voids generally somewhat exceed the supports; but that in the early Doric they are nearly equal. The result of Mr. Gwilt's calculations is, that the entablatnres formed a third proportion, as nearly as possible equal to the voids and columns respectively; and that this was a principle which entered into the consideration of all the ancient architects. Mr. Gwilt stated that he was pursuing his investigations, and would hereafter communicate the results as they should be obtained; but that he had not extended them to Pointed architecture, as he was aware that Mr. Cresy was pursuing that subject, with a view to publication. Mr. Inman remarked that he had gone over part of the same ground, and had been led to take similar views with respect to Pointed architecture.

The second paper read was the Description of a Restoration of a Baronial Castle, being the subject proposed by the Society for the Soane medal. The drawings are founded upon the existing remains at Sheriff Hutton, ten miles north-east of York, once the prison of Elizabeth of York and her cousin Edward Earl of Warwick, the last male Plantagenet; a model of undoubted excellence, as Leland has related that "he had seen no castle so like a princely lodging in all the North parts." The architecture is not earlier than the reign of Edward the First; simple in style, but of magnificent size and noble appearance. The author of the restoration (whose name is not at present divulged) has supplied all the constituent parts of a castle now deficient at Sheriff Hutton, from Helmsley, Carnarvon, &c.

At the request of the meeting Mr. CaGENT. MAG. VOL. XI.

therwood, an architect resident in America, gave a vivá voce account of the mode in which the removal of standing houses is effected in the cities of the West. A street is sometimes widened many feet, and a whole row of houses put a considerable distance back, two or three toge. ther; and this without interruption to business, or the removal of a tradesman's stock. In one instance Mr. Catherwood knew a house divided into parts, and a new façade put to each, and it was thus divided into two. In another a church was moved some distance; its lower part was of granite, and the upper structure of brick it had no steeple. These wonderful performances are effected at a level about two feet lower than the surface, to which the soil is removed, and the building cut away. Large beams are inserted, below these rollers, and below them again other large beams; eight or ten screws are erected, each manned by two labourers; and the work then commences, when, after five or six hours, the structure is safely deposited on the new foundation previously prepared for it: nor do the buildings which have suffered this removal afterwards shew any signs of failure. The expense is about one-tenth of the cost of pulling down and re building.

The Council of this Society have made arrangements for the delivery of lectures on acoustics and geology, two important subjects connected with architecture; and it is also intended to enlarge the benefits of the Institute by the establishment of a Students' Class, to be composed of young men studying as architects, under 21 years of age. It is proposed that the rooms should be open to them two evenings in the week, and that one of the Fellows should attend, under whose superintendence they may sketch subjects. They are to pay one guinea per annum, and to have access to the books and collection, and admission to the lectures and ordinary meetings. Prizes, also, will be awarded to those who most distinguish themselves by their attendance and productions.

ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY.

Jan. 15. An extra meeting of this institution took place for the purpose of hearing the first lecture of a course "On the Properties and Natural History of the Mineral Substances employed in Architecture and Sculpture," by Mr. Brayley, jun. F.L.S. and F.G. S. The Presi dent, Mr. Tite, took the chair. The lecture was on the geology and mineralogy of the various stones used in building. The course will consist of three lectures, 2 C

The reading was concluded of the Life of Sir Peter Carew, giving minute particulars of his death and funeral.

G. F. Beltz, esq. F.S.A. communicated some particulars relative to the battle of Creci, and the positions and movements of the two armies immediately previous to the battle; a part of which was read.

Jan. 24. Mr. Hamilton in the chair. John Bruce, esq. F.S.A. communicated from the MS. called Warkworth's Chronicle in the Library of Peterhouse, Cambridge, a very particular and curious account of the comet which appeared in the year 1472, and which is not mentioned by any other English historian, though the observations made upon it at Nuremberg by John Muller, better known as Regiomontanus, are recorded in the chronicles of that city. It was the same comet which has since received the name of Halley. The MS. in which it is contained is one of those about to be printed at the expense of the Camden Society.

The reading of Mr. Beltz's paper was continued: it was composed of many interesting details of the principal circumstances of the great field of Creci; including several traditions and local illustrations which have been collected by the industry of some of the antiquaries of France.

ROMAN ANTIQUITIES AT PANGBOURN.

Further portions of the Roman remains recently found near Pangbourn, Berks, (and noticed in our Dec. Mag. p. 650,) have been uncovered. About two miles from the site of the former discovery, and in a pleasant valley of the Thames, a fine Mosaic pavement has been disclosed. It is formed of square tesseræ, and the figures said to be beautifully executed. Two skeletons, a sword, and a Roman coin, have been dug up. We have heard that the engineer intends to remove the pavement to London; and Messrs. Grissel and Peto have had a drawing made, which is intended to be lithographed.

ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE.

Nov. 22. Mr. Hamilton read a letter from Mr. Perring to Col. Howard Vyse, from Tourah, a place about four miles south of Cairo, at the foot of the Mohattan Hills, from which a railway is now being made to the Nile, for the conveyance of stones from the ancient quarries. In this letter Mr. Perring reports to Col. Vyse the progress of the excavations which he is conducting, on his account, among the Pyramids. After giving the dimensions of the Great Pyramid and the King's Chamber, Mr. P. states that they had discovered the entrance to the North Pyramid of Abooseer about a fortnight

before; though, as yet, difficulties had prevented their exploring the interior. They had also found indications of the entrance to the Centre Pyramid. Near Tourah the sand hills, on being cut through, had unfolded the remains of above twenty stone sarcophagi and skeletons-probably of the workmen belonging to the ancient quarries. A tablet and cartouche of Amenoph were also found; and it was hoped some light might be thrown on the history of the Shepherd Kings, as Manetho mentions that Amenoph sent 80,000 lepers and other diseased of that race to labour in these quarries. The coffins are of different shapes and sizes, for mature persons and children. One earthenware sarcophagus was dug up, but unfortunately broken. was composed of several pieces, and had a female face upon it, with hieroglyphics rudely painted. Many jars were discovered filled with black pulverised earth -or ox bones, horns, woollen shrouds, &c. &c.

It

Dec. 6. A paper by Mr. Tomlinson "On Egyptian Antiquities and Hieroglyphics' was read, in which new and interesting light was thrown upon the cartouches of the early divinities, and also upon the chronology in some of the royal dynasties.

Jan. 10. The paper read was by the Rev. Mr. Tomlinson, and related to a very important date in Egyptian antiquities. An inscription attached to an astronomical hieroglyph on the roof of the Memnonium, and confirmed by a like hieroglyph and inscription on a mummycase, determines the date of that celebrated building to be of the period of Ramses the Great, and above 1400 years before the Christian era. But it is more valuable, as it fixes the rising of the star Sophis, or Syrius (the dog-star), at the commencement of the month Thoth in the Egyptian calendar, and commences a year of 365 (not 360) days, at so precise a time as to enable us to determine a certain point of chronology within the brief space of four years, from which many other historical events may with accuracy be calculated. From the zodiacs figured and referred to by Biot, Burton, and others, Mr. Tomlinson shewed that the Greeks had changed the Egyptian forms to those we now see; the elder zodiacs having tortoises, alligators, &c. as signs. This discovery, if the inscription can be entirely depended upon, is of great importance to the Egyptian antiquary.

Jan. 24. Mr. Hamilton exhibited the drawing of a remarkable gem (green jasper), unfortunately destroyed in the burning of Sir Robert Gordon's residence, when ambassador at Constantinople. The