Society, with his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex at their head, proceeded, on the stage of the theatre, to distribute the various medals, &c. to the several successful candidates.

A great chair was placed behind a little table for the President, the Duke of Sussex; on seats on the stage sat the male and female dignitaries who were to witness the ceremonies: on one side the female candidates sat on raised steps; and on the other the successful male aspirants for the honours of the Society, By noon the house was filled throughout-the coup d'oeil was charming.

Mr. Aikin addressed the audience in a sensible and intelligent discourse, which he elucidated in a manner that did honour to this respected individual. After which the delivery of the medals commenced.

In the class Agriculture, a representative of Messrs. Cowley and Staines' of Windsor, Bucks, received a large gold medal, and a gold Ceres medal, for drawing turnips in November, and preserving them in a sound state to April; and for the cultivation of the white poppy, whence they extracted 60lbs. of opium, equal to Turkey opium. Mr. Peart was rewarded for redeeming fifty-six acres of waste moor-land.

In the Polite Arts sixty-nine medals were awarded; some to works of high promise; some to mere schoolpieces.

In Manufactures perhaps the most important improvement which was rewarded, was that on the silk ribbon loom, by Mr. J. Thomson, Jun. of Coventry.

A silver medal and twenty guineas were announced to Mrs. Wells of Connecticut, America, for a new material for plat in imitation of Leghorn. We once more call the Society's attention to the Bent growing so plentifully on

Edinburgh School of Arts.

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the sand hills on our shores, as an article every way likely to be beneficially manufactured into bonnets, &c. See p. 207 of our second volume.

-In Chemistry only two rewards were bestowed; these were, one to Mr. H. W. Reveley, King-street, Bryanstone Square, for his communication respecting the nature and preparation of the stones used in Tuscany for grinding flour; the large silver medal.

The other to J. Meigh, Esq. Shelton, Staffordshire, for the discovery of a glaze, for vessels of common red earthenware, not prejudicial to the health of those who make use of them; the large gold medal.

The remainder of the proceedings we have it not in our power to report; the remaining classes of Mechanics, and Colonies, and Trade, must therefore be left for the Society's Transactions.

It appears that no facilities for being accurately informed were accorded to any of those powerful engines which lend their impetus to such escapements. This, as we have again and again repeated, is not judicious, nor at all worthy of the age, nor the Society.-The French savans know better how to arrange these things-how to make echoes, more powerful than the original sound, spread their doings over the world. But we have heretofore said enough on this subject. Associated bodies do not often improve by age.

Edinburgh School of Arts.

On the 24th of April, the first session of the School of Arts was closed. After Dr, Fyffe had finished his lecture, Mr. L. Horner, gave an account of the proceedings of the session. The success of this school has far surpassed the expectations of its friends and supporters.

Nearly 400 individuals, chiefly mechanics, have entered as students. The principal classes have been well attended; and among many who distinguished themselves by scientific exercises, may be mentioned three individuals from the blind asylum. Why have we not such

a school or schools in the metropolis ?

Irish Academy.

THE artists of Ireland have been incorporated into a Society, similar to the Royal Academy in this country. A council of fourteen Academicians has been chosen, and ten Associates are to be elected next year from the exhibitors of Irish art.

Royal Society.

THE following papers have been read at this Society since our last.

April 25. On the Mechanism of the Spine, by Mr. Earle, Observations on the Eclipse of August, 1821, by Mr. Dawes.

May 2. On the Nerves which associate the Muscles of the Chest in the actions of Breathing, Speaking and Expression, by Charles Bell, Esq.

A short account of some Appearances in the Moon, on the 24th of April, by Mr. Lawson.

May 9. Experiments and Observations on the Newry Pitch-stone, and on the artificial formation of Pumice, by the Right Hon. J. Knox.

May 16. On the Changes which the Egg undergoes during Incubation, by Sir E. Home, Bart.

May 23. On the Mathematical Laws of Electro-magnetism, by P. Barlow, Esq.

On the Height of Places in the Trigonometrical Survey; by B. Bevan, Esq.

Horticultural Society.

(Concluded from our last.)

· Account of some standard Fig-trées, at Sompting near Worthing, Sussex. By J. SABINE, Esq.

Notices of new and remarkable varieties of Fruits ripened in the Summer and Autumn of the year 1820, which were exhibited at the meeting of the Horticultural Society.

Strawberries ;-the Rostock Vernon, or Bostock; a handsome fruit and very abundant bearer. The Mathven Castle Strawberry; fruit large, much knobbed, the fairest specimens resemble the Pine; a vivid scarlet all over; flesh very soft, bright red throughout; flavour resembling the old scarlet; bears abundantly in the light; ripens early in June, and continues bearing till the end of July, or beginning of August.

Cherries ;-The Early Black Cherry, described in a former volume of the Transactions; a valuable addition to our fruits. The Waterloo Cherry has also been noticed in a former volume. Cerise quatre à la livre is a tree received from France the name given from the gigantic character of the leaf; fruit small. Except, however, as an ornamental tree, which its large foliage and vigorous growth entitle it to be considered, it will scarcely be allowed a place in the garden.

Peaches.-The Flat Peach of China. This peach is cultivated in China, and is well known at Canton, where it is esteemed a good fruit. An exquisite drawing accompanies the description of this plant.-The Sulhamstead Peach, a seedling variety raised at Sulbamstead, near Reading, is a fine new variety. The Rosanne Peach bears in our climate as a standard; the fruit is small, but ripens well, and has a rich high flavour,

Melons;-The Green-fleshed Egyptian is one of great excellence. The Levant Melon is also an excellent one. Grapes-The Black Corinth Grape, is the variety so well known, in its dried state, as the currant, (or rather Corinth) of the shops. The vine was first introduced into this country in the year 1817, when Prince CORNETO sent twenty-one plants and some cuttings packed up in earth from Zante to Sir Herbert Taylor, for the Queen. Directions were sent by Prince Corneto for its cultivation, which were given, with a plant, to Sir Joseph Banks. It was planted in the hot-house at Spring Grove, where it has grown luxuriantly, and ripened its fruit well. High temperature, however, does not appear to be necessary to it: for it has been also planted against a south wall at Fangrove, near Chertsey; and has thriven well, borne plentifully, and ripened the fruit somewhat earlier than other sorts in the same situation, though all the berries on the branch have not ripened equally well. The fruit must be protected from birds and flies, which seem particularly fond of it.

The Wortley Hall Grape is a seedling similar in its appearance to the Black Hamburgh. The bunch exhibited weighed upwards of two pounds. The Poonah Grape is a very handsome variety received from Bombay. Colour. of the fruit when fully exposed to the sun, dark red; the vine a free bearer; the fruit keeps for a considerable time after it is ripe.

Walnuts;-The Highflyer Walnut is by far the best walnut grown.

Pears;-Knevett's Pear is long, somewhat fig-shaped; skin dull green, covered on the exposed side with brown-. ish red and sprinkled with minute brown spots. Flesh, white, firm, yet melting, very sweet with a bergamot perfume. Ripens toward the end of September. This is