The Sun.
London, England, 1825-11-25 00:00:00

ROYAL. ACADEMY.

Mr. GREEN, the professor delivered his second
lecture yesterday evening. This lecture was upon the skeleton
—and he, with great judgment, avoided descending to a minute
and technical detail of the parts which can never be learnt at
a public lecture, but spoke only of the purposes of the bones
in their general classifications.
The only portion which was of general interest was that in
which he pointed out the astonishing intelligence which appear-
ed in the construction of the skeleton—in the complete adapta-
tion of the bones individually, and of their construction
when placed together to the uses for which they were
intended. 'ln contemplating the wonderful mechanism by
which they are adapted to motion, we may observe, that
where motion is not required, they are compact—as the
bones of the skull ; where motion is partials and concus-
sion likely, cartilage is interposed—as in the spine. The
articulation, or union of bones in joints, also displays sur-
prising mechanism. There are three different sorts : Ist,
the ball and socket, which admit of the most extensive and va-
ried movements of all mechanical contrivances ; hence these
joints are placed where the limbs are joined with the trunk—as
the shoulders anti hips ; 2d, the hinge joint, admitting of mo-
tion in one direction only, precisely like a hinge—as at the
elbow and knee ; and lastly, the sliding joint—as at the wrist
and ankle. The economy of the spine is also admirable; we
may observe that it curves outwards to allow room for the heart,
lungs, &c., and becomes concave immediately below, for the
purpose of supporting their weight. It also has a tendency to
concave above (in the neck), to keep the head forwards, and
poised in the centre of gravity, which is also admirably
' preserved through the spine, though its form resembles
an italic s. The mass of ribs, &c. called thorax, resemble
a cone in the skeleton ; they are convex outwards to afford
strength, and concave inwards to give room. The lower edge
of each of the ribs is also turned outwards, that in respiration
' the flat side may always he presented to the intestines. Between
the ilium bones, which form
`what is commonly called the hips,
and to the back, is placed a mass of hones, precisely 'like a
wedge, to receive the weight of the spine ; to this mass is at-
tached the as cocygis, which is the tail in animals, though in
man it is very small. In no part of the human skeleton is
the distinction between the sexes so plainly discerned as in the
pelvis, and the economy of nature here is wonderful ; this part
in the skeleton of a man being so truly adapted by its thick-
ness, firmness in its. junctions, and smallness of its apertures,
for stability, strength, and agility, and in the female by its pre-
cisely contrary properties for the purposes of parturition, which
gives that peculiar character which we admire as beauty to the
general female form. The Professor exhibited specimens of
them both. .

GENEUAL LAFAYETTE.--Genpral LAFAYETTE,
his return. The town of
from being the'' nation's guest" in America, has
of course obtained additional attentio
Firth-place, has testified its pride at
attention from his
rymen since
connected hit a citizen whom a peat
bcßoeruiiioiligut
people have so honoured, by repeating the treat-
ment which he there received. It is stated in a
French Paper of the 22d instant, that the chief
inhabitants of that town had given a grand enter-
tainment to celebrate the General's return, in
which the greatest patriotism and the greatest
zeal for liberty were cmaabined, with their admira-
tion of Lafayette's principles and character. • A
song of the ptipular poet, de Beranger, entitled
Lafiviette in America, was sung, and several-po-
pular toasts were drank, among which Washing-
ton and Bolivar were not forgotten.