Front Matter

ADVERTISEMENT. The Committee appointed by the Royal Society to direct the publication of the Philosophical Transactions, take this opportunity to acquaint the Public, that it fully appears, as well from the council-books and journals of the Society, as from repeated declarations which have been made in several former Transactions, that the printing of them was always, from time to time, the single act of the respective Secretaries, till the Forty-seventh Volume: the Society, as a Body, never interesting themselves any further in their publication, than by occasionally recommending the revival of them to some of their Secretaries, when, from the particular circumstances of their affairs, the Transactions had happened for any length of time to be intermitted. And this seems principally to have been done with a view to satisfy the Public, that their usual meetings were then continued, for the improvement of knowledge, and benefit of mankind, the great ends of their first institution by the Royal Charters, and which they have ever since steadily pursued. But the Society being of late years greatly enlarged, and their communications more numerous, it was thought advisable, that a Committee of their members should be appointed, to reconsider the papers read before them, and select out of them such as they should judge most proper for publication in the future Transactions; which was accordingly done upon the 26th of March, 1752. And the grounds of their choice are, and will continue to be, the importance and singularity of the subjects, or the advantageous manner of treating them; without pretending to answer for the certainty of the facts, or propriety of the reasonings, contained in the several papers so published, which must still rest on the credit or judgment of their respective authors. It is likewise necessary on this occasion to remark, that it is an established rule of the Society, to which they will always adhere, never to give their opinion, as a Body, upon any subject, either of Nature or Art, that comes before them. And therefore the thanks which are frequently proposed from the Chair, to be given to the authors of such papers as are read at their accustomed meetings, or to the persons through whose hands they receive them, are to be considered in no other light than as a matter of civility, in return for the respect shewn to the Society by those communications. The like also is to be said with regard to the several projects, inventions, and curiosities of various kinds, which are often exhibited to the Society; the authors whereof, or those who exhibit them, frequently take the liberty to report, and even to certify in the public newspapers, that they have met with the highest applause and approbation. And therefore it is hoped, that no regard will hereafter be paid to such reports and public notices; which in some instances have been too lightly credited, to the dishonour of the Society. I. The Croonian Lecture. On the Irritability of Nerves. By Everard Home, Esq. F. R. S. page 1 II. The Bakerian Lecture. On the Mechanism of the Eye. By Thomas Young, M. D. F. R. S. p. 23 III. On the necessary Truth of certain Conclusions obtained by Means of imaginary Quantities. By Robert Woodhouse, A. M. Fellow of Caius College. Communicated by the Rev. S. Vince, A. M. Plumian Professor of Astronomy in the University of Cambridge. p. 89 IV. On the Production of artificial Cold by Means of Muriate of Lime. By Mr. Richard Walker. Communicated by Henry Cavendish, Esq. F. R. S. p. 120 V. Account of a monstrous Lamb. In a Letter from Mr. Anthony Carlisle, to the Right Honourable Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K. B. P. R. S. p. 139 VI. An anatomical Description of a male Rhinoceros. By Mr. H. Leigh Thomas, Surgeon. Communicated by George Fordyce, M. D. F. R. S. p. 145 VII. Demonstration of a Theorem, by which such Portions of the Solidity of a Sphere are assigned as admit an algebraic Expression. By Robert Woodhouse, A. M. Fellow of Caius College, Cambridge. Communicated by Joseph Planta, Esq. Sec. R. S. p. 153. VIII. Account of the Discovery of Silver in Herland Copper Mine. By the Rev. Malachy Hitchins. Communicated by the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K.B. P.R.S. page 159 IX. Account of an Elephant's Tusk, in which the Iron Head of a Spear was found imbedded. By Mr. Charles Combe. In a Letter to the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K.B. P.R.S. p. 165 X. Description of the Arseniates of Copper, and of Iron, from the County of Cornwall. By the Count de Bournon. Communicated by the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K.B. P.R.S. p. 169 XI. Analysis of the Arseniates of Copper, and of Iron, described in the preceding Paper; likewise an Analysis of the red octaedral Copper Ore of Cornwall; with Remarks on some particular Modes of Analysis. By Richard Chenevix, Esq. M.R.I.A. Communicated by the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K.B. P.R.S. p. 193 APPENDIX. Meteorological Journal kept at the Apartments of the Royal Society, by Order of the President and Council. The President and Council of the Royal Society adjudged, for the Year 1800, the Medal on Sir Godfrey Copley's Donation, to Edward Howard, Esq. for his Paper on a new fulminating Mercury. CONTENTS. XII. A HISTORICAL and Anatomical Description of a doubtful amphibious Animal of Germany, called, by Laurenti, Proteus Anguinus. By Charles Schreibers, M.D. of Vienna. Communicated by the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K.B. P.R.S. page 241 XIII. Observations tending to investigate the Nature of the Sun, in order to find the Causes or Symptoms of its variable Emission of Light and Heat; with Remarks on the Use that may possibly be drawn from Solar Observations. By William Herschel, L.L.D. F.R.S. p. 265 XIV. Observations on the Structure, and Mode of Growth, of the grinding Teeth of the Wild Boar, and Animal incognitum. By Everard Home, Esq. F.R.S. p. 319 XV. Account of some Experiments on the Ascent of the Sap in Trees. In a Letter from Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq. to the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K.B. P.R.S. p. 333 XVI. Additional Observations tending to investigate the Symptoms of the variable Emission of the Light and Heat of the Sun; with Trials to set aside darkening Glasses, by transmitting the Solar Rays through Liquids; and a few Remarks to remove Objections that might be made against some of the Arguments contained in the former Paper. By William Herschel, LL.D. F.R.S. p. 354 XVII. On an improved Reflecting Circle. By Joseph de Mendoza Rios, Esq. F. R. S. p. 363 XVIII. Observations and Experiments upon Dr. James's Powder; with a Method of preparing, in the humid Way, a similar Substance. By Richard Chenevix, Esq. F. R. S. M. R. I. A. p. 375 XIX. Case of a young Gentleman, who recovered his Sight when seven Years of Age, after having been deprived of it by Cataracts, before he was a Year old; with Remarks. By Mr. James Ware, Surgeon. Communicated by Maxwell Garthshore, M. D. F. R. S. p. 382 XX. An Account of some Galvanic Combinations, formed by the Arrangement of single metallic Plates and Fluids, analogous to the new Galvanic Apparatus of Mr. Volta. By Mr. Humphry Davy, Lecturer on Chemistry in the Royal Institution. Communicated by Benjamin Count of Rumford, V. P. R. S. p. 397 XXI. A Continuation of the Experiments and Observations on the Light which is spontaneously emitted from various Bodies; with some Experiments and Observations on solar Light, when imbibed by Canton's Phosphorus. By Nathaniel Hulme, M. D. F. R. S. and A. S. p. 403 XXII. Experiments on the chemical Production and Agency of Electricity. By William Hyde Wollaston, M. D. F. R. S. p. 427 XXIII. Farther Observations on the Effects which take Place from the Destruction of the Membrana Tympani of the Ear; with an Account of an Operation for the Removal of a particular Species of Deafness. By Mr. Astley Cooper. Communicated by Everard Home, Esq. F. R. S. p. 435