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 judgement 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 received them, are to be considered in no other light than as a matter of civility, in return for the respect shown to the Society by those communi- cations. 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. The Meteorological Journal hitherto kept by the Assistant Secretary at the Apart- ments of the Royal Society, by order of the President and Council, and published in the Philosophical Transactions, has been discontinued. The Government, on the recommendation of the President and Council, has established at the Royal Obser- vatory at Greenwich, under the superintendence of the Astronomer Royal, a Magnet- ical and Meteorological Observatory, where observations are made on an extended scale, which are regularly published. These, which correspond with the grand scheme of observations now carrying out in different parts of the globe, supersede the necessity of a continuance of the observations made at the Apartments of the Royal Society, which could not be rendered so perfect as was desirable, on account of the imperfections of the locality and the multiplied duties of the observer. A List of Public Institutions and Individuals, entitled to receive a copy of the Philosophical Transactions of each year, on making application for the same directly or through their respective agents, within five years of the date of publication. **Observatories.** - Armagh. - Cape of Good Hope. - Dublin. - Edinburgh. - Greenwich. - Madras. **Institutions.** - Barbadoes ..............Library and Museum. - Calcutta ................Asiatic Society. - Cambridge .............Philosophical Society. - Dublin ................Royal Dublin Society. - Royal Irish Academy. - Edinburgh ..............Royal Society. - London ................Admiralty Library. - Chemical Society. - Entomological Society. - Geological Society. - Geological Survey of Great Britain. - Horticultural Society. - Institute of British Architects. - Institution of Civil Engineers. - Linnean Society. - London Institution. - Medical and Chirurgical Society. - Queen's Library. - Royal Asiatic Society. - Royal Astronomical Society. - Royal College of Physicians. - Royal Geographical Society. - Royal Institution of Great Britain. - Royal Society of Literature. - Society of Antiquaries. - Society for the Encouragement of Arts. - United Service Museum. - Zoological Society. - Manchester ............Literary and Philosophical Society. - Oxford ................Ashmolean Society. - Radcliffe Library. - Swansea ...............Royal Institution. - Woolwich .............Royal Artillery Library. **Belgium.** - Brussels ...............Royal Academy of Sciences. **Denmark.** - Altona .................Royal Observatory. - Copenhagen ...........Royal Society of Sciences. **France.** - Paris ..................Academy of Sciences. - Dépôt de la Marine. - École des Mines. - Paris ..................Entomological Society. - Geographical Society. - Geological Society. - Jardin des Plantes. - Toulouse ..............Academy of Sciences. **Germany.** - Bonn ..................Caesarian Acad. of Naturalists. - Göttingen .............University. - Mannheim .............Observatory. - Munich ...............Royal Academy of Sciences. **Italy.** - Naples ................Institute of Sciences. - Milan ................Institute of Sciences, Letters and Arts. - Modena ...............Italian Society of Sciences. - Turin ................Royal Academy of Sciences. **Netherlands.** - Amsterdam .............Royal Institute. - Rotterdam ............Batavian Society of Experimental Philosophy. **Prussia.** - Berlin ................Royal Academy of Sciences. - Society of Experimental Philosophy. **Portugal.** - Lisbon ................Royal Academy of Sciences. **Russia.** - Pulkowa ...............Observatory. - St. Petersburgh ......Imperial Academy of Sciences. **Spain.** - Cadiz ................Observatory. **Sweden and Norway.** - Drontheim ............Royal Society of Sciences. - Stockholm ............Royal Academy of Sciences. **Switzerland.** - Geneva ................Société de Phys. et d'Hist. Naturelle. **United States.** - Boston ...............American Academy of Sciences. - Cambridge ...........Harvard University. - Philadelphia .........American Philosophical Society. - Washington ..........Smithsonian Institution. - Observatory. The fifty Foreign Members of the Royal Society. A List of Public Institutions and Individuals, entitled to receive a copy of the Astronomical Observations (including Magnetism and Meteorology) made at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, on making application for the same directly or through their respective agents, within two years of the date of publication. | Observatories | Institutions | |---------------|-------------| | Altona | Aberdeen University | | Armagh | Berlin Academy | | Berlin | Bologna Academy | | Breslau | Boston American Academy of Sciences | | Brussels | Brunswick U.S. Bowdoin College | | Cadiz | Cambridge Trinity College Library | | Cambridge | Cambridge U.S. Harvard University | | Cape of Good Hope | Dublin University | | Coimbra | Edinburgh University | | Copenhagen | Royal Society | | Dorpat | Glasgow University | | Dublin | Göttingen University | | Edinburgh | Leyden University | | Helsingfors | London Board of Ordnance | | Königsberg | Queen's Library | | Madras | Royal Institution | | Mannheim | Royal Society | | Marseilles | Oxford Savilian Library | | Milan | Paris Academy of Sciences | | Munich | Board of Longitude | | Oxford | Dépôt de la Marine | | Palermo | Philadelphia American Philosophical Society | | Paris | St. Andrews University | | Seeberg | St. Petersburg Imperial Academy | | Trevandrum | Stockholm Royal Academy of Sciences | | Tübingen | Upsal Royal Society | | Turin | Waterville(U.S.) College | | Vienna | Christie, S. H., Esq. Woolwich | | Wilna | Lubbock, Sir John William, Bart. London | | | Lowndes Professor of Astronomy Cambridge | | | Plumian Professor of Astronomy | | | President of the Royal Society London | | | Smyth, Captain W. H., R.N. Aylesbury | | | South, Sir James Kensington | Individuals: Christie, S. H., Esq. Woolwich Lubbock, Sir John William, Bart. London Lowndes Professor of Astronomy Cambridge Plumian Professor of Astronomy President of the Royal Society London Smyth, Captain W. H., R.N. Aylesbury South, Sir James Kensington List of Observatories, Institutions and Individuals, entitled to receive a Copy of the Magnetical and Meteorological Observations made at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. ### Observatories | Location | Name | |-------------------|-------------------------------| | Bombay | Capt. Monthiou | | Barnaoul | M. Prang, 1st | | Cairo | M. Lambert | | Cambridge, United States | Prof. Lovering | | Catherineburgh | M. Rochkoff | | Christiania | M. Hansteen | | Cincinnati | Dr. Locke | | Gotha | | | Hammerfest | | | Heidelberg | M. Tiedemann | | Hobarton | Commander Kay, R.N. | | Kasan | M. Simonoff | | Kew | F. Ronalds, Esq. | | Kremsmünster | Prof. Koller | | Leipsic | | | Marburg | Prof. Gerling | | Nertchinsk | M. Prang, 2nd | | Nikolaieff | Dr. Knorre | | Pekin | M. Gachkévitche | | Prague | M. Kreil | | Pulkowa | M. Struve | | St. Petersburgh | M. Kupffer | | Sitka | Messrs. Homann and Ivanoff | | Stockholm | Prof. Selander | | Teffis | M. Philadelphine | | Toronto | Captain Lefroy, R.A. | | Upsal | Prof. Svanberg | | Warsaw | Col. G. Du Plat (British Consul) | | Washington | Lt. Maury, U.S. Navy | ### Institutions | Location | Name | |-------------------|-------------------------------| | Bombay | Geographical Society | | Bonn | University | | Bowditch Library | United States | | Cambridge | Library, Philosophical Society| | Cherkow | University | | Kiew | University | | London | House of Lords, Library | | | House of Commons, Library | | | King's College | ### London | Institution | Name | |-------------------|-------------------------------| | Royal Institution | | | Royal Society | | | University | | | Moscow | University | | Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society | | | St. Bernard | Convent | | St. Petersburg | Geographical Society | | Washington | Smithsonian Institution | | Woolwich | Office of Mag. and Met. Publication | ### Individuals | Name | Location | |-------------------------------|-------------------| | Bache, Dr. A. D. | Washington | | Barlow, P. W., Esq. | Woolwich | | Colebrooke, Sir W. | Barbadoes | | Demidoff, Prince Anatole de Florence | Florence | | Dove, Prof. | Berlin | | Elliot, Capt. C. M. | | | Erman, Dr. Adolph | Berlin | | Fox, R. W., Esq. | Falmouth | | Gauss, Prof. | Göttingen | | Gilliss, Lt. J. M., U.S. Navy | Washington | | Harris, Sir W. Snow | Plymouth | | Howard, Luke, Esq. | Tottenham | | Humboldt, Baron von | Berlin | | Kaemtz, M. | Dorpat | | Kupffer, A. T. | St. Petersburgh | | Lawson, Henry G., Esq. | Bath | | Lloyd, Rev. Dr. | Dublin | | Loomis, Prof. | New York University| | Lütke, Vice-Admiral | St. Petersburgh | | Melvill, J. C., Esq. | East India House | | Mentchikoff, Prince | St. Petersburgh | | Phillips, John, Esq. | York | | Quetelet, A. | Brussels | | Redfield, W. C., Esq. | New York | | Reid, Lieut.-Col., R.E. | London | | Riddell, Capt., R.A. | Woolwich | | Roget, P. M., M.D. | London | | Sabine, Lieut.-Col., R.A. | Woolwich | | Senftenberg, Baron von | Prague | | Wartmann, Prof. Elie | Geneva | | Wrangell, Vice-Admiral | St. Petersburgh | | Younghusband, Capt., R.A. | Woolwich | ROYAL MEDALS. HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA, in restoring the Foundation of the Royal Medals, has been graciously pleased to approve the following regulations for the award of them: That the Royal Medals be given for such papers only as have been presented to the Royal Society, and inserted in their Transactions. That the triennial Cycle of subjects be the same as that hitherto in operation: viz. 1. Astronomy; Physiology, including the Natural History of Organized Beings. 2. Physics; Geology or Mineralogy. 3. Mathematics; Chemistry. That, in case no paper, coming within these stipulations, should be considered deserving of the Royal Medal, in any given year, the Council have the power of awarding such Medal to the author of any other paper on either of the several subjects forming the Cycle, that may have been presented to the Society and inserted in their Transactions; preference being given to the subjects of the year immediately preceding: the award being, in such case, subject to the approbation of Her Majesty. The Council propose to give one of the Royal Medals in the year 1851 for the most important paper in Astronomy, communicated to the Royal Society after the termination of the Session in June 1847, and prior to the termination of the Session in June 1850, and printed in the Philosophical Transactions. The Council propose also to give one of the Royal Medals in the year 1851 for the most important paper in Physiology, including the Natural History of Organized Beings, communicated to the Royal Society after the termination of the Session in June 1847, and prior to the termination of the Session in June 1850, and printed in the Philosophical Transactions. The Council propose to give one of the Royal Medals in the year 1852 for the most important paper in Physics, communicated to the Royal Society after the termination of the Session in June 1848, and prior to the termination of the Session in June 1851, and printed in the Philosophical Transactions. The Council propose also to give one of the Royal Medals in the year 1852 for the most important paper in Geology or Mineralogy, communicated to the Royal Society after the termination of the Session in June 1848, and prior to the termination of the Session in June 1851, and printed in the Philosophical Transactions. I. The Bakerian Lecture.—Experimental Researches in Electricity.—Twenty-fourth Series. By Michael Faraday, Esq., D.C.L., F.R.S., Fullerian Prof. Chem. Royal Institution, Foreign Associate of the Acad. Sciences, Paris, Ord. Boruss. Pour le Mérite, Eq., Memb. Royal and Imp. Acadd. of Sciences, Petersburgh, Florence, Copenhagen, Berlin, Göttingen, Modena, Stockholm, Munich, Bruxelles, Vienna, Bologna, &c. &c. &c. II. Experimental Researches in Electricity.—Twenty-fifth Series. By Michael Faraday, Esq., D.C.L., F.R.S., Fullerian Prof. Chem. Royal Institution, Foreign Associate of the Acad. Sciences, Paris, Ord. Boruss. Pour le Mérite, Eq., Memb. Royal and Imp. Acadd. of Sciences, Petersburgh, Florence, Copenhagen, Berlin, Göttingen, Modena, Stockholm, Munich, Bruxelles, Vienna, Bologna, &c. &c. &c. III. Experimental Researches in Electricity.—Twenty-sixth Series. By Michael Faraday, Esq., D.C.L., F.R.S., Fullerian Prof. Chem. Royal Institution, Foreign Associate of the Acad. Sciences, Paris, Ord. Boruss. Pour le Mérite, Eq., Memb. Royal and Imp. Acadd. of Sciences, Petersburgh, Florence, Copenhagen, Berlin, Göttingen, Modena, Stockholm, Munich, Bruxelles, Vienna, Bologna, &c. &c. &c. IV. Experimental Researches in Electricity.—Twenty-seventh Series. By Michael Faraday, Esq., D.C.L., F.R.S., Fullerian Prof. Chem. Royal Institution, Foreign Associate of the Acad. Sciences, Paris, Ord. Boruss. Pour le Mérite, Eq., Memb. Royal and Imp. Acadd. of Sciences, Petersburgh, Florence, Copenhagen, Berlin, Göttingen, Modena, Stockholm, Munich, Bruxelles, Vienna, Bologna, &c. &c. &c. V. On Periodical Laws discoverable in the mean effects of the larger Magnetic Disturbances. By Lieut.-Colonel Edward Sabine, R.A., Treas. & V.P.R.S. VI. On the Relation of the Air and Evaporation Temperatures to the Temperature of the Dew-Point, as determined by Mr. Glaisher's Hygrometrical Tables, founded on the Factors deduced from the six-hourly observations made at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. By John Fletcher Miller, F.R.S., F.R.A.S., Assoc. Inst. C.E. &c. Communicated by Lieut.-Col. Sabine, For. Sec. R.S. VII. On the Meteorology of the Lake District of Cumberland and Westmoreland; with a continuation of the Results of Experiments on the Fall of Rain at various heights, up to 3166 feet above the sea level. By John Fletcher Miller, F.R.S., F.R.A.S., Assoc. Inst. C.E. Communicated by Lieut.-Colonel Sabine, For. Sec. R.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 149 VIII. On the Structure of the Membrana Tympani in the Human Ear. By Joseph Toynbee, F.R.S., Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Aural Surgeon to St. Mary's Hospital, and Consulting Surgeon to the St. George's and St. James's General Dispensary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 IX. On the Impregnation of the Ovum in the Amphibia. (First Series.) By George Newport, F.R.S., F.L.S. &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 X. A Mathematical Theory of Magnetism. By William Thomson, Esq., M.A., F.R.S.E., Fellow of St. Peter's College, Cambridge, and Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Glasgow. Communicated by Lieut.-Colonel Sabine, R.A., For. Sec. R.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243 XI. A Mathematical Theory of Magnetism.—Continuation of Part I. By William Thomson, Esq., M.A., F.R.S.E., Fellow of St. Peter's College, Cambridge, and Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Glasgow. Communicated by Lieut.-Colonel Sabine, R.A., For. Sec. R.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269 XII. Magnetic Survey of the Eastern Archipelago. By Captain C. M. Elliot, of the Madras Engineers. Communicated by Lieut.-Col. Sabine, V.P. Treas. R.S. &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287 ADJUDICATION of the MEDALS of the ROYAL SOCIETY for the year 1851 by the PRESIDENT and COUNCIL. The Copley Medal to Professor Owen, for his important discoveries in Comparative Anatomy and Palæontology, contained in the Philosophical Transactions and numerous other works. The Royal Medal in the department of Astronomy, to The Earl of Rosse, for his "Observations on the Nebulae," published in the Philosophical Transactions for the year 1850. The Royal Medal in the department of Physiology, to George Newport, Esq., for his paper "On the Impregnation of the Ovum in the Amphibia" (First Series), published in the Philosophical Transactions for the year 1851. CONTENTS. XIII. On the Results of Periodical Observations of the Positions and Distances of Nineteen of the Stars in Sir John Herschel's Lists of Stars, favourably situated for the investigation of Parallax, contained in Part III. of the Philosophical Transactions for 1826, and Part I. 1827. By Lord Wrottesley, F.R.S. &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 333 XIV. Researches into the Molecular Constitution of the Organic Bases. By Dr. A. W. Hofmann, F.C.S., Professor of the Royal College of Chemistry of London. (Second Memoir.) Communicated by Sir James Clark, Bart., F.R.S. . . . . . . 357 XV. Contributions to Animal Chemistry.—Paper V. On the Oxidation of Ammonia in the Human Body, with some Remarks on Nitrification. By Henry Bence Jones, M.D., M.A. Cantab., F.R.S., Physician to St. George's Hospital. 399 XVI. On the Relation of the Direction of the Wind to the Age of the Moon, as inferred from Observations made at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, from 1840 November to 1847 December. By G. B. Airy, Esq., Astronomer Royal. . . . . . . . . . . . . 411 XVII. On the Action of Nitric Acid on various Vegetables, with a more particular Examination of Spartium scoparium, Linn., or Common Broom. By John Stenhouse, Esq., Ph.D., F.R.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413 XVIII. On Rubian and its Products of Decomposition.—Part I. By Edward Schunck, F.R.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 433 XIX. On the Solution of Linear Differential Equations. By the Rev. B. Bronwin. Communicated by Samuel Hunter Christie, Esq., Sec. R.S. &c. . . . . 461 XX. Additional Observations on the Diffusion of Liquids. (Third Memoir.) By Thomas Graham, Esq., F.R.S., F.C.S. &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 483 XXI. The Figure and Primitive Formation of the Earth, or Researches in Terrestrial Physics.—Part I. By Henry Hennessy, M.R.I.A. &c. Communicated by Major Ludlow Beamish, F.R.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 495 XXII. Researches in Terrestrial Physics.—Part II. By Henry Hennessy, M.R.I.A. &c. Communicated by Major Ludlow Beamish, F.R.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 511 XXIII. On the Rolling Motion of a Cylinder. By the Rev. Henry Moseley, M.A., F.R.S., Corresponding Member of the Institute of France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 549 XXIV. Observations upon the Anatomy and Physiology of Salpa and Pyrosoma. By Thomas Henry Huxley, Assistant-Surgeon R.N. (late of H.M.S. “Rattlesnake”). Communicated by Prof. Edward Forbes, F.R.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 567 XXV. Remarks upon Appendicularia and Doliolum, two genera of the Tunicata. By Thomas Henry Huxley, Assistant-Surgeon R.N. (late of H.M.S. “Rattlesnake”). Communicated by Prof. Edward Forbes, F.R.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 595 XXVI. Researches into the Structure of the Spinal Chord. By J. Lockhart Clarke, Esq. Communicated by Samuel Solly, Esq., F.R.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 607 XXVII. On the Meteorology of the Lake District of Cumberland and Westmoreland, including the Results of Experiments on the Fall of Rain at various heights, up to 3166 feet above the sea-level.—Fourth paper, for the year 1850. By John Fletcher Miller, F.R.S., F.R.A.S., Assoc. Inst. C.E. &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 623 XXVIII. On the Annual Variation of the Magnetic Declination, at different periods of the Day. By Lieut.-Col. Edward Sabine, R.A., V.P. and Treas. of the Royal Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 635 XXIX. Investigations into the Structure and Development of the Scales and Bones of Fishes. By W. C. Williamson, Esq., Professor of Natural History, Anatomy and Physiology, in Owens College, Manchester. Communicated by Edwin Lankester, M.D., F.R.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 643 XXX. Report of further Observations upon the Tidal Streams of the North Sea and English Channel, with Remarks upon the Laws by which those Streams appear to be governed. By Captain F. W. Beechey, R.N., F.R.S. Communicated to Sir Francis Beaufort, K.C.B., Hydrographer, and presented to the Royal Society by G. B. Airy, Esq., F.R.S., and Astronomer Royal, &c. . page 703 XXXI. On the Megatherium (Megatherium Americanum, Blumenbach). By Professor Owen, F.R.S. &c.—Part I. Preliminary Observations on the Exogenous Processes of Vertebrae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 765 APPENDIX. Presents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [ 1 ] ERRATA. Page 297, line 9 from the bottom, for garnet-octohedrons read garnet-dodecahedrons. —— 398, line 13 from the bottom, for $(H_4N)_2$ read $(H_4N)$. —— 500, line 16, for $J$ read $\frac{dJ}{dr}$. In Art. 6, page 519, change $\beta$ to $\beta_1$, wherever it is a factor of quantities containing $Y_2$ or other terms in the development of $y$. Page 522, line 13 from bottom, for $c_1$ read $C_1$. —— 531, line 14 from bottom, for (23.) read (33.) —— 539, line 2 from bottom, for $j_2$ read $j$. —— 703, for Hewitt read Hewett; for Beautems Beaupres read Beautemps Beaupré; for Engineers read Ingenieurs; for Française read Français. —— 709 and 712, for Lemon read Leman.