The Press.
London, England, 1857-08-29 00:00:00

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.
AFTER an interval of nearly flve•and-twenty years,
the savans of the British Association have again

visited Dublin.

The general committee met on

Wednesday, when some preliminary business was
transacted and several resolutions were passed ;
among them, one appointing the Lord Chancellor of
Ireland to the post of vice-president, vacant by the
resignation of J. E. Cooper, Esq., and the election of
the Right Hon. Joseph Napier, M.P., and Mr. J.
Cooper, of Makree Castle, as members of the par-
liamentary committee. From the statement of the
accounts, it appeared that the balance in hand of
estimated property amounts to 6,773/. 17s. 101
The inaugural meeting took place in the round room
of the Rotunda on the game evening, when the Rev.
Humphrey Lloyd, president of the association for
the evening, in the presence of a brilliant assembly,
delivered an eloquent address. Dr. Lloyd ranged over
many subjects. In his remarks on astronomy, he refer-
red to two extensive star catalcgues in progress. The
star catalogue of M. Chacornac, made at the observa-
tory of Marseilles, in course of publication by the
French Government; and that of Mr. Cooper, made at
his observatory at Mark ee, in Ireland, which is now
being published by the help of the parliamentary
grant of the Royal Society. It is a remarkable re-
sult of the latter labour that no fewer than seventy-
seven stars previously catalogued are now missing.
This, in some cases, no doubt, is to be ascribed to
the errors of former observations; bat it seems rea-
sonable to suppose that, to some extent at least, it
is the result of changes actually in progress in the
Sidereal system.
In connection with this subject, the speaker
said :
It is now well understood that the path of astronomical
discovery is obstructed much more by the earth's atmo-
sphere than by the limitation of telescopic powers. Im-
pressed with this conviction, the association has for some
time past urged upon her Majesty's Governm,nt the scien-
tific importance of establishing a large reflector at some
elevated station in the southern hemisphere. In the
meantime, end to gain as it were a sample of the results
which might be expected from a more systematic search,
Professor Piazzi Smyth undertook last summer the task
of transporting a large collection of instruments—meteoro-
logical and magn2tical, as well as astronomical—to a high
point on the Peak of Tenerife. His stations were two in
number, at the altitudes above the sea of 8,840 and 10,700
feet respectively; and the astronomical advantages gained
may be inferred from the fact that the heat radiated from
the moon, which has been so often sought for in vain in a
lower region, was distinctly perceptible even at the lower
of the two stations. I hope that some account of the
results will he laid before you by Professor Smyth himself
in the physical section.
We extract some other passages of interest :
MauNETie STonsts.—These phenomena, called by
Humboldt " magnetic storms," have been otssrved
to occur simultaneously in the most distant parts of
the earth, and thus to indicate a cause operating
upon the entire globe. But, casual as they seem,
these effects are found to be subject to laws of their
own. Professor Krell was the first to discover that,
at a given place, they recurred more frequently at
certain hours of the day than at others ; and that,
consequently, in their mean effects, they were subject
to petiodical laws, depending upon the hour at each
station. The laws of this periodicity have been ably
worked out by General Sabine in his discussion of
the results of the British colonial observatories; and
he has added the important facts, that the same
phenomena observe also the two other periods
already noticed—namely, the annual and the de-
cennial periods. This, however, is not all. He has
further arrived at the very remarkable result—that
the decennial magnetic period coincides, both in its
duration and in its epochs of maxima and minima,
with the decennial period observed by Schwabe in the
solar spots ; from which it is to be inferred that the
sun exercises a magnetic influence upon the earth
dependent on the condition of its luminous en-
velope. We are thus in the presence of two facts,
which appear at first sight opposed—namely, the
absolute simultaneity of magnetic d;sturbances at all
parts of the earth, and their predominance at certain
local hours at each place.
THE HEAT OF TIIE EARTH.—The resultant effect
of all the thermal agencies to which the earth is
exposed has undergone no perceptible change within
the historic period. We owe this fine deduction to
Arago. In order that the date palm should ripen its
fruit, the mean temperature of the place must
exceed 70 deg. Fahr.; and, on the other hand, the
vine cannot be cultivated successfully when the
temperature is 7.2 neg. or upwards. Hence the
mean temperature of any place at which these two
plants flourished and bore fruit must lie between
these narrow limits—i.e., could not differ from 71

851

deg. Fahr. by more than a single degree. Now,
from the Bible we learn that both plants were simul-
taneously cultivated in the central valleys of Pales-
tine, in the time of Moses, and its then temperature
is thus definitively determined. It is the same at
the present time, so that the mean temperature of
this portion of the globe has not sensibly altered in
the clime of thirty-three centuries. The future of
physical science seems to lie in the path upon
which three of our ablest British physicists have
so boldly entered, and in which they have already
made such large advances. I may, therefore, be
permitted briefly to touch upon the successive steps
in this lofty generalisation, and to indicate the goal
to which they tend. It has been long known that
many of the forces of nature are related. Thus,
heat is produced by mechanical action, when that is
applied in bringing the. atoms of bodies nearer by
compression, or when it i 3 expended in friction.
Heat is developed by electricity, when the free pas-
sage of the latter is impeded. It is produced when-
ever light is absorbed; and it is generated by
chemical action. A like interchangeability probably
exists among all the other forces of nature, although
in many the relations have not been so long per-
c-ived. Thus, the development of electricity teem
chemical action dates from the observations of
Galvani ; and the production of magnetism by
electricity from the discovery of Oersted. The next
great step was to perceive that the relation of the
physical forces was mutual ; and that of any two,
compared together, either may stand to the other in
the relation of cause.
GEOLOGY.—The science of geology appears to
have, of late years, entered upon a new phase of its
development—one characterised by a stricter refer-
ence of its speculative views to the principles of
those sciences with which it is connected, and upon
which it ought to be based. We have an example
of this in the able memoirs of Mr. Hopkins, on what
may be called dynamical geology, including the
changes which have taken place in the earth's crust
by the operation of internal forces. Another instance
of the application of sound physical principles to this
science is found in the explanations which have been
recently offered of the phenomena of slaty clevage.
A report on this interesting subject was presented to
the association by Professor Phillips at its last
meeting, and will be found in the volume just pub-
lished. These sounder views originate, I believe,
with himself and Mr. Sharpe ; but they have
been enlarged and confirmed by Mr. Sorby, Dr.
Tyndall, and Professor Haughton. We have another
interesting proof of the readiness of geologists of
the present day to submit their views to the test
of exact observation, in the measurement undertaken
by Mr. Horner for the purpose of approximating to
the age of sedimentary deposits. Of the geological
changes still in operation, none is more remark-
able than the formation of deltas at the mouths f
great rivers, and of alluvial land by their overflow.
Of changes of the latter kind perhaps the most
remarkable is the great:alluvial deposit formed in the
valley of the Nile by the annual innundations of that
river ; and here it fortunately happens that history
c Imes to the aid of the geologist. These sedimentary
deposits haee accumulated round the bases of monu-
ments of known age ; and be is therefore at once
furnished with a chronometric scale by which the rate
of their formation may be measured. The first of the
series of measurements undertaken by Mr. Homer
was made, with the cooperation of the Egyptian
Government, around the obelisk of Heliopolis, a
monument built, according to Lepsius, 2,300 years
n.c. A more extensive series of researches has
been undertaken in the district of Memphis ; but Mr.
Horner has not vet, I believe, published the results.
The problems now to be salved in Paleontology are
clearly defined in the enunciation of the problem
recently proposed by the French Academy of Sciences
as one of its prize questions, viz., to study the laws
of distribution of organic beings in the different
sedimentary rocks, according to the order of their
superposition ; to discuss the question of their
appearance or disappearance, whether simultaneous
or successive ; and to determine the nature of the
relations which subsist between the existing organic
kingdom and its anterior states. The prize was
obtained by Professor Bronn, of Heidelberg ; and
his memoir, of which I have only seen an outline,
appears to be characterised by views at once sound
and comprehensive. The leading result seems to
be, that the genera and species of plants and animals
which geology proves to have existed successively on
our globe were created in succession,in adaptation to
the existing state of their abode, and not transmuted
or modified, as the theory of Lanark supposes, by
the physical influences which surrounded them.
At the conclusion of the address, the Lard
Lieutenant and Lord Wrottesley;each paid a hand-
some compliment to Dr. Lloyd, and the meeting
adjourned.
PRESIDENT Fon NEXT YEAR.—The Archbishop of
Dublin, Dr. Whately, is elected the president of next
year.

852

THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE.
LORD BROUGHAM has consented to preside, and to
deliver the inaugural address, at the formation of an

association which is about to be established for the
purpose of bringing together the supporters of the
various efforts ;Cacti are now being made for social
improvement, and to elucidate by discussion the
connection between each, and the mutual assistance
they may render to each other. The new movement
will partake to some extent of the character of the
educational conference recently held in LDndon, over
which the Prince Consort presided, various branches
of social science being referred to " sections " or
"departments" conducted by gentlemen who have
paid attention to the subjects. The inaugural meet-
ing will be held in the Town-hall, Birmingham, on
Monday, October 12, when Lard Brougham will
deliver the introduetery address. The meeting will
then be divided into five departments, in each of
which papers will be re ad and discussions token
on the following subjects :-1. Jurisprudence and
amendment of the law. 2. Education. 3. Punish-
ment and reformation. 4. Public health. 5. Social
economy. On the mornings of Tuesday, Wednesday,
and Thursday, the 13th, 14th, and 15th of October,
the departments will meet at Queen's College, Bir•
mingliam, for the reading of papers and discussion.
On the evening of Tuesday a soiree will be held in
the Town-hall. On Wednesday evening, the 14th, a
public entertainment will be given to Lord Brougham
and other members of the association, by the Mayor
of Birmingham. On Thursday evening, the 15th, a
public meeting will take place in the Town-hall, on
the subject of the Refor natory movement. O❑
Friday morning, the 16th, the concluding meeting
will be held, to receive a report from the general
committee and on other business. There have
already been promised a large number of papers by
distinguished persons on the subjects for the dis-
cussion of which the new association is to be founded,
and the meeting seems likely to be one of unusual
interest and importance.

THE GENERAL D'ORGONL who has lately arrived
in Paris, it is said upon a special mission from the
King of Ava, to protest against the British occupa-
tion of is thus summed np by a correspondent
of the Tintos this week :

I met this person in BiirmAh in 1852.53. He was then
considered a doub•ful character, and was to a certain ex•
tent under surveillance; he was, however, an occasional
guest at most of the messes of the regiments occupying
Rangoon. He represented himself as a retired French
officer, a somewhat violent Legitimist, and not a little
opposed to the present Emperor. He was ultimately
taken prisoner by a party cf Burmese and conveyed to
Ava. It was generally thought the capture was pre-
arranged. 1 always understood his real name to be Du•
gorier.
TILE BRITISH ARCHIEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION have
during the week rendezvoused at King's Lynn, and
have made several interesting excursions in the
immediate neighbourhood.
A CORRESPONDENT of the Brussels Infipeniance
states that there have been six successful ascents of
M..mt Blanc this year. Chamouni is crowded with
tourists. Mr. E. S. Kennedy, writing to the Times
this week, gives an account of a successful ascent of
tht Finster-Aar•Horn

Our party (he writes) cons'ated of the Rev. J. F. Hardy,
J. l•. W. Ellis, 13. St. John Mathews, William Mathews,
an 1 E. S. Kennedy, Graduates of the University of Cain-
lit i and James Smith, a lad about sixteen, of the Grotto.
On the morning of the 13th of Ailgust, being aided by a
bright moon and encouraged by a cloubb-sa sky, we left our
rottAh m.mntain quarter (on Aeggisch•Horn) at 2.30 a.m. ;
t hard ice crunched beneath the tread of gnicklymoving
f. et, so that we were enabled to hail the rising sun from
the crest of the Grun•Hora-Lucke at 4.53, and, surrounded
by the lofty peaks of the Ob.-rland, all beautifully tinted by
the early rays of dawn, rapidly to cross the upper portion
of the Viesch glacier and reach the ba-e of the Finster-
A Q.-Horn at 5.25. Our route now led us np a narrow and
steep ridge of rock, and across slopes of snow, to a point
0.1 the sadd'e which commands the Strahleck Pass and
Finster-Air glacier, and is situated imtnediately at the base
of the final peak, about 1,200 feet below the summit.
Here one of ()or guide., who hid vainly endeavoured to
keep himself up to the mark by the aid of brandy, gave in ;
and here also it was thought advisable that the lad should
remain behind. Our course was now up an arrete formed
of rugged rock, with occasional patches of snow inclined
at a considerable angle; towards the south it runs rapidly
down to the glacier of Viesch, while towards the north it
is precipitous, and overhangs the Finster-Aar glacier. The
an omit was gained about noon. We deposited our names
in a bottle securely inserted in a cairn of stones ; we gave
three sheet"' in honour of the glorious old mountain ; and,
weather, enjoyed a view of the most
'resting character. After a pause of
I,ly rapid descent brought us rarely
ion of our party slept again at the
reached at S p.m., while two of us
Jtsch glacier, and arrived at the hotel
following morning.

three cheeks in nonour
b in fa mired by the
,wnilicent and inter?
h dt• an hour a tolerild
• down ; the nrj r porti,
Faulberg, wh,eh they r
pushed down the Met
at one o'clock the folio