*L'Académie Royale. *La Société Royale des Antiquaires du Nord. La Société de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle. Der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften. The University. *La Société Hollandaise des Sciences. *La Société des Sciences de Finlande. Der Königlichen Physikalisch-ökonomischen *La Reale Instituto Lombardo. *Der Königlichen Akademie der Wissen schaften. *L'Ecole Polytechnique. Vereins fur Natur und Heil-Kunde. *L'Académie Imperiale des Sciences. L'Académie Royal Suedoise des Sciences. La Bibliothèque Municipale. Der Kaiserliche Universitäts und Landes- The University. L'Observatoire Astronomique. *Der Kaiserliche Akademie der Wissen schaften. *Der Geographischen Gesellschaft. Dr. TREASURER'S ACCOUNT, 1882-83. The LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, in Account with R. C. JOHNSON, Treasurer. 1882-83. To Cash paid D. Marples & Co. Limited (Printing Volume) Cr. .... 181 Annual Subscriptions, at 21s......... 9 Arrears.. 190 1 0 990 ROYAL INSTITUTION, October 1st, 1883. EDWARD DAVIES, F.C.S., F.I.C., PRESIDENT, in the Chair. THE Minutes of the last Meeting of the previous session were read and confirmed. The Honorary Secretary read the following REPORT. The seventy-second Session of the Literary and Philosophical Society has been one of considerable activity; the meetings have been largely attended, and the members have been assiduous to maintain the Society's intellectual vigour. The numerous Papers which have been read have excited much interest, and have induced animated discussions; and while all of them have in this way proved beneficial to the Society, it should be noted that some are of exceptional value, and have added to the sum of human knowledge. Our active corresponding member, Mr. Dukinfield Jones, has communicated an account of his further observations of the ways and habits of the Lepidoptera of Brazil; and a report by Professor Herdman on the "Phosphorescence of Milky Sea" is a valuable epitome of what is so far known of that curious phenomenon. The much debated subject of Thought Reading, or Thought Transference, has been brought under discussion in a short Paper by the Rev. H. H. Higgins, and also in a subsequent report of some experiments thereon by Mr. Guthrie. Neither the Council nor the Society commits itself to any opinion on this matter; but whatever may be the present scientific worth of such experiments the record of them will possibly be of some service in future investigations. The Session has been marked by some alterations in the Laws. The old edition of the Laws being exhausted, it was considered advisable to revise them throughout, previous to their being reprinted. Advantage was taken of this opportunity to settle the question of Lady-membership, which had from time to time been discussed in the Society, and a new law was added declaring that "Ladies are eligible to become members, with the same duties and privileges as other members." It was a gratifying coincidence with this change that the first contribution to the Society's Proceedings by a lady, was read to the members. This Paper was communicated by Miss HEATH, of University College, Liverpool, and is descriptive of her original researches in the "Structure of the Polycarp and the Endocarp in the Tunicata." The financial condition of the Society continues to be satisfactory. The number of Ordinary Members remains at the same figure as last year, namely 258-nineteen members having replaced as many who have resigned. |