The Express.
London, England, 1852-09-04 00:00:00

be established, no one I believe entertains • doubt. The
importance was admitted by the ministry, to whom the re-
eouimendatioa was made, the only question with them ap-
pearls; to be one of time. When, therefore, we view the
intrins,c merit of the proposition itself, the general interest
which it has excited at home and abroad, and its already, to
i certain extent, favourable reeeleion by government we
cannot doubt that we have but to persevere, and by a judi-
cious selection of times and opportunities the object will be
secured. It will be for the members of the mathema-
tical and physical section to consider in the first in-
stance, and for the general committee, subsequently,
to consider and decide whether any official step
shall be taken by the British Association in the present
year. Should such be your decision, it will be the duty
of the officers and council of the association to confer with
the president and council of the Royal Society, and in con-
junction with them to take such steps as may appear mast
fitting to bring the subject again, and in the most im-
pressive manner, under the consideration of the authorities
of the state. On the former occasion it was thought inset
respectful to abstain from any suggestion in regard either
to a suitable locality, or to the astronomer who might be
advantageously selected to direct en establishment of
this novel description. Such may still be deemed, per-
haps, the least exceptionable course ; but, at the same
time, it may be desirable that it should be fully known,
that we aro not unprepared on these and other points if it
be the pleasure of her Majesty's government to desire our
opinion. liitherto the researches of sidereal astronomy,
oven in their widest extension, had manifested the exist-
ence of those forces only with which we 'refamiliar in
our own solar system. The refinements of modern obser-
vation and the perfection of theoretical representation, had
assured us that the orbits on which the double stars, im-
measurably distant from us, revolve around each other are
governed by the same laws of molecular attraction which
determine the orbits of the planetary bodies of our own
sonars stew. But the nebulm have revealed to us the
probable existence in the yet more distant universe of
forces with which we were previously wholly unacquainted.
The highest authorities in this most advanced of all the
sciences acknowledge themselves unable even to conjecture
the nature of the forces which have produced and main-
tain the diverse, yet obviously systematic arrangement
of the hosts of stars which constitute those few of
the spiral nebula, which have been hitherto exa-
mined. Hence the importance of increasing our knowledge
of the variety of forms in which the phenomena present
themselves, by a similar examination of the southern
heavens to;hat which Lord Roam is accomolishing in the
northern h ,• hence abso, we may believe, in great
measure, the devotion with which his lordship has directed
the unprecedented instrumental power which he has created
almost exclusively to the observation of nebula. But,
whilst we cannot but admire the steadiness of purpose with
which an object regarded as of paramount importance is
undeviatingly pursued, we can scarcely forbear to covet
at least an occasional glance at bodies which, from their
greater proximity, have more intimate relations with our-
selves, and which, when viewed with so vast an increase of
optical power, may afford instruction of the highest value
in many branches of physical science. In our own satel-
lite, fur example, we hart the opportunity of studying the
physical conformation and superficial phenomena of a body
composed, as we believe mainly at least, of the same ma-
terials as those of our own globe, but possessing neither
atmosphere nor sea. When we reflect how much of the
surface of the earth consists of sedimentary deposits, and
consequently how large a portion of the whole field of geo-
logical research is occupied with strata which owe their
principal characteristics to the cites% in which they were
deposited, we cannot but anticipate many instructive les-
sons which may be furnished by the points of eoatrut, as
well as of resemblance, which the surface of the moon,
viewed through Lord Rome's telescope, may present to the
best judgment we are able to form of what the appearance
of the earth would be, if similarly viewed, or with what may
bo more difficult, perhaps, to imagine—what we may sup-
pose the earth would appear if it could be stripped of
its sedimentary strata which conceal from us for the mat
part the traces of that internal action which has played so
urge a part in moulding the great outlines of the present
configuration of its surface. It is• understood that Lord
Ruse himself participates in the wish that such an exami-
nation of the surface of the moon should be made, and,
should the desire of the association be expressed to that
effect, is willing to undertake it in conjunction with one or
two other gentlemen possessing the necessary physical aid
geological knowledge. It will be for the members of the asso-
ciation to determine the form in which a report on the
" Physical Features of the Moon compared with those
of the Earth" may most apprors:it be requested.
The seatlematisal sad phrasal of light have
aihrderientioste he many inter=amd profitable dama-
sks@ fa lestisa A, sad have, , bed one day in the
sa speolally alleltal to them. Those nimmosions will derive
• mere then umbel Isar." at this meetly, from the re-
resekable diem/very Moistly math by l'refswere Stokes,
that, sailer certain circumstances, a amigo is tasted in
the rentoogibility of light, and, hem the advestagis we
wean to having smug* us, on thimessesion, the eminent
Enthusiast= sad physight by whom this meet important
esatributke te the meioses of physical spike Us been made.
As the interest of this discovery is set menilmed to a single
branch of science, the officers with the approbation of the
local committee, have recreated Kr. noshes to favour the
Association with an exposition of the subject at an evening
meeting, when the members of the different sections may
be able to attend without prejudice to their respective see-
tinsel duties. Among the subjects ineqquiry whisk may well
deserve the attention of • combined.. eg
peeler, few could more usefully essupy their Moan
time the revides of the equivalent numbers of the els-
mentary bodies. This is • task whisk must nosessarily
:rethe co-operation of isever:lual=ualified
tibluals, if It lie moomplished like a
resseem4o period of tins. Most of ea nomalime now in
sass upon imparlinents perfeemed Bosseliaa,
at whim the methods at issasesit theslosewa were
eves is mesh hawk to Minns* these
emmileals with is essereey andisiest Ass the wants of
name at this present day. Se mesh hen this bees felt to
be the ease, that many of the mon amessodiehod chemists
new living lave undertakonestmaims asell/slidews. though
issineed resesmiess, upoa the ornabinlag gsamlitim deem
oldie most importsat olemosts But ma k seems than has
been already postersaid etill release nohow Bush •
WOO it is Wined, might be highly proper he seaside.
ratissisuistteituniesl motiss, to whew Miss it would
be by the amiss Ds Aselsews,
who presides ever that,sd than wham se one
assid be amid m more sesepeleme to estimate the im-
rose et week a rethies. gratis ills more truly of
that weald be hells execution.
jirmteistrialragenetesetisi of the Amosiaties, I was
by
es the slats the epsamel
of meamittes, draw report
end the NOW
talrseeisd• the of the lisamsolatises to her
s gerrommat, in lees. I that, Gem the
ether very yore duties alias al= to, I have not
beim able to this regent in time to prossot at this
mot*
thatt, as may atoms ham the remeest thus made
me, the siblest eelethe. with the lidthh Loa-
farthe interest whisk it tithe se baggily tired,
e; mature to naS spelt et this epgoitmnity, to
make • very few ommein en semi of its inset important
tees* miming mpse t he the most pert, to results
Miined....42 poseens of our own. es:inatryres soLlltzgrzrut
eeaesgsseme Kim .11;osolialloo, Ineviog to a more Aging occasion
• nom and and smoremsivo view. We recognise in
asistsaise of • power present
aribsdillanerfacte of oar globe, and producing
everywheso Oben Jodi/naive of • systematic action ; bat or
lb.moisin.e, ibis power, the character Mite laws, and Its
empanclion orattlen, we have as yet scareely any kaow-
efferent complexity of the phases's& at their
molest may ressosably secribed to our igneessos of
*Kg /awe, whisk we shall doubtless lad, as vs advance in
heeerkihregieree the Nth remittable filieneter of
sells forth our agenlealign in the laws off
attieslies. It has hoes seshed, and
the matinipatioa is I bele a one,
that a power whisk, so far as we the mesas of
Lal`,...rea.,""b= d oar
Weems sumible to us, la the mos of rinse& mesa
math* by mad sestishhe Musses essenhis by
war ithiethisals. end issibmisgthsir *,.,.Nove seseese by
their poise and their swim As yet tare wither
steleseint ses het thinvelidate this ; bust, as
sissisa, mesh le inset it with • of int-
liability. Be however, es it may, we in est own
piss* as st pasessessa which near.
asthma es
the et the Indies of war messy on •
male of snaleisat and otherwise seamiest for
oar study. , the fat eldest which the
ISOM pm its •
attenties wee Mathis • wir-
Nth
_knewiedepe et the direction sod amewit et the the,
soli hose yam* over the whelp mime of the gigs
esiesepesdies le a Minh* 'pea. It has bees essisssery
• represent NNW of awes* observations by three
pit Yaws, sewally eilled impale, health. and
Vas_ Wass et equal isethrialei *mesa, of
yarded dieseliss. sad et-mud hies] In the maps I
these HMS gal*/ hint lege spate et the earth's
mew were either Meek on the lines I sang across them
wove very imports* supported by ebsenelonm. In the
stem frequented pith, where observations were mere ma-
ths et their dates impaired their
• lf i the whisk sod sodium
tion of the =lassie hen boss lima Is thaw a
continued presses of systanthis sisme, with she mum of
which we are se yet nawbolly uthesnaintea_ but which has
obtained the name of secular slow le gletisisisk it from
periodical variations of hews and Method duration.
Amongst the most marked Meioses is them maps,
were the greatebanir
lEhof the extra-tropiml poi of the
sentheva re, the British pemoseiso In North,
America, end India ; these* miner of these
were espies sessemesded, and the preetleability and
advantage of __Milan the elierwations as beard ship, and
of thus eeterAhe hen ever the surface of the ocean, were
pointed oat. It is meet te read to recollection,
and gratifying to this chair, the fa-
vourable manner is whisk resesameadations of the
British Armistice were meshed by her Meissty's govern-
ment and by the BM Wks Osseppi sod low promptly
and limy be Camled.ook The blanks in
the southern be have been WWI up by maritime
expeditions ap mpeemly hr the purpose. Magnetic
surveys have be ampliisd of British North America at
the evens of sew own government, and of the iodise
Arshipelemo thet et the Pciet India Company, and India
lied( h sew whilst from the zeal of our
lard Olsen etafrfbeYen have flowed in from almost
every eseerible peel of the ocean. The co-ordination
and mutual COMMASn of so large a mate of materials is
aecessarily • work of time, but is progressing steadily
towards completion, and when presented in one con-
nected view, will form the groundwork on which will
securely rest a general theory of terrestrial magnetism