Notes

Abstract

IN mediaeval ages Rheims was a seat of learning, and in 1547 the Cardinal of Lorraine established there a university, which flourished until it was suppressed at the French Revolution. But although the present Republican Government has instituted in this ancient city a school of medicine, the liberal arts are little cultivated by the inhabitants, who are mostly engaged in commercial and manufacturing occupations. Rheims possesses the greatest wine trade in the world and the richest woollen manufactories in France, So, although the French Association has met with a very handsome reception, the local budget of scientific contributions was very meagre indeed, except in the sections of anthropology and archæology, which were a local success. M. Cotteau gave an address describing the geological character of the Rheims district, and illustrated by the local exhibition which had been arranged in one of the halls of the Lycée by M. Perron. M. Lemoine, Professor in the School of Medicine of Rheims, exhibited a rich collection of objects of palæontological interest which had been formed by him from the surrounding district. This was exceptionally rich in objects of the cretaceous period, mostly of polished stone, and wonderfully preserved in the caves so numerous in the cretaceous formation, and which are now utilised to protect against variations of temperature an immense quantity of bottled wine destined to be sent to all parts of the world. An excursion specially interesting for archæologists was organised to Epernay, where M. Baye, a rich proprietor, had collected in his château a number of curiosities belonging to the Carlovingian periods. Two other special excursions were organised, the first to the ruins of old Courcy Castle and St. Gobain, the largest glass foundry in France, where a large lump was cast in presence of the visitors, and the second to St. Menehould which was supposed in, former times to be the key of French independence. The most attractive excursion was undoubtedly to the caves where champagne is manufactured by the old process, which was scientifically described by M. Francois a chemist of Châions-sur Marne. A demonstration of the principled of the operation was given in the caves of Pommery, where Madame Pommery kindly permitted the visitors to make a practical test of the quality of her celebrated produce. Synoptical tables had been prepared exhibiting the progress of the manufacture. The superiority of the champagne manufactured in Rheims and vicinity is attributed not only to the long experience of the workmen and the excellence of the receipts used, but to the perfect equality of temperature maintained in the old galleries where it is stored. Some of these are several acres in area, and are quite full of bottles. After the final meeting a general excursion was made to the celebrated grotto of Han in Belgium. The two lectures by M. Perier on “Transformism,” and M. Garel on “Radiant Matter,” were delivered, at the solicitation of the local committee for their information; the lecturers confined themselves to the clear enunciation of known facts, and to experiments already well known to the scientific world. M. Javal gave a public lecture on the Hygiene of the Eye, and M. Richet on the Symptoms of Somnambulism. About 500 members were present at the meeting this year, exclusive of local members. Among foreign visitors were Professors Sylvester and Hennessy. At the final session M. Janssen was elected president for 1882, when the meeting will be held at La Rochelle, and M. Emile Trelat will be general secretary; they will act as vice-president and vice-secretary respectively for the session of 1881, which will be held at Algiers in the first week after Easter. The president of the Algiers session will be M. Chauveau, Professor at the Veterinary School of Lyons, and the secretary will be M. Maunoir, general secretary of the French Geographical Society. A very large attendance is anticipated, as a diminution of 50 per cent. on the fares is expected, and the visit will take place at an exceptionally advantageous season. A general committee has been formed, having at its head M. Tomel, senator of Oran, and director of the newly-created School of Sciences. The Governor-General will be honorary president, and M. MacCarthy, president of the Algiers Society of Natural Sciences, has been nominated by the General Committee of Rheims president of the Section of Geography. The Rheims authorities and citizens have done everything within their power to welcome their guests, and the meeting has been on the whole successful.