Observations on the Analysis of Organic Substances. By Dr. Prout Description of an Instrument to Measure the Rise and Fall of the Tide. Meteorological Table and Observations, Aug. 11 to 26..... Relation between the Specific Gravity of Bodies in their Gaseous State On the Absorption of the Gases by different Bodies. By M. de Saussure, Analysis of the Mineral Waters of Dunblane and Pitcaithly. By Dr. Geological Observations on North Wales. By Dr. Prichard... 363 Register of the Weather at Plymouth, January to June, 1815. By Mr..... Magnetical Observations at Hackney Wick. By Col. Beaufoy.......... 378 On the Theory of Radiant Heat; and on some Difficulties started against Account of a Work entitled Hints for establishing an Office in Newcastle for collecting Information on the State of the Collieries. By Mr. Essay on Rents in the Earth. By Mr. J. B. Longmire Further Observations on Fluxions. By Alexander Christison, Esq...... 420 Correction of some defective Statements in different Histories of the Intro- 418 ... On the Conversion of Starch into Sugar. By M. de Saussure..... Memoir on Iridium and Osmium. By M. Vauquelin... 433 Proceedings of the Royal Society, November 9, 16, 23....... ........... 453 ..... 475 XXXVII. A Fossil Fish found in a Stratum of Lime Stone:::....... 116 XXXVIII. On Rents in the earth... 214 XXXIX. Instrument for registering the Rise and Fall of the Tide 273 XL. Variations of the Barometer and Thermometer at Plymouth, 366 ..... XLI. Instrument for ensuring the Attention of Watchmen... 418 ANNALS OF { PHILOSOPHY. JULY, 1815. ARTICLE I. Some Account of the late Smithson Tennant, Esq. WE announced in a former number the death of Smithson Tennant, Esq. F. R.S. Professor of Chemistry in the University of Cambridge: we shall now proceed to lay before our readers some account of his life, studies, and character. Mr. Tennant may be considered as one of those "who, without much labour, have attained a high reputation, and are mentioned with reverence rather for the possession than the exertion of uncommon abilities." * Of such a man it is perhaps impossible to give an account, which will satisfy the judgment of his friends, without being suspected by others of considerable exaggeration. Mr. Tennant is only known to the public by his papers in the Philosophical Transactions, which, however admirable as specimens of his scientific powers, afford a very inadequate idea of the real extent of his genius and knowledge. These were in many respects so extraordinary, that it would be taking a most imperfect view of his intellectual character to consider him only as a man of science. Some attempt therefore ought to be made to do justice to his other distinguished attainments; although a certain degree of caution is obviously requisite in speaking of those qualities, however remarkable, which cannot be duly appreciated except by his particular friends. Smithson Tennant was the only child of the Rev. Calvert Tennant, younger son of a respectable family in Wensley-dale, near Richmond, in Yorkshire, and Vicar of Selby in that county, where * Dr. Johnson's Life of Edmund Smith. VOL, VI. N° I. |