The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-11 00:00:00

BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY NIGHT.—The meetings
of the sections, which may be looked upon as the chief busi-
ness of the gathering, so far as the objects of the association
are concerned, commenced this morning, and will be conti-
nued de die in diens until Wednesday next. They are seven
in number, and are devoted to inquiries into as many prin.
cipel branches of science. Their arrangement is as follows :
—Section A, for Mathematical and Physical Science, is pre-
. sided over by Sir John F. W. Herschel, Bart. F.R.S., the
Secretaries being Dr. Seevelly and Messrs. Stokes and Drew.
Section B—Chemical Science, including its application to
Agriculture and the Arts • President, Michael Faraday,
LL.D. F.R.S. • secretaries, Dr. Miller, and Mesas". Hunt
and Randall. gection C.—Geology and Physical Geogra-
phy : President, Leonard Horner, Esq. ; Vice-President for
Geography, G. B. Greenough, Esq. ; Secretaries, Professor
Oldham, Dr. Norton, Dr. Beke, and Mr. Austen.—Section
D—Zoology and Botany : President, Sir John Richardson,
M.D. F.R.S. ; Secretaries, Dr. Liinkester, and Moors.
Wollaston and Wooldridge.—Section E—Pbysiology : Presi-
dent, Professor Owen, F.R S. • Secretaries, Dr. Sargent,
Dr. La Dock, and Mr. Keels.—Section F—Statistics : Presi-
dent, G. R. Porter, Esq. ; Secretary, Rev. J. L. Shupoott.—
Section G—Mechatacs : President, the Rev. Professor
Willis, F.ll. S. ; Secretaries, Messrs. Manby and Betts.
Section A held* its meetings at the Assembly Rooms ; B, at
the Polytechnic Institution ,• C, D, and F, at the Victoria
' Rooms • E, at the Bugle Hall ; and (1, at a room in the
High-street. All the sections except G sat to-day.
The papers read in section A were : " A report on Gauss's
Magnetic Constants," by Professor Erman ; " On the bands
formed by partial interception of the prismatic spectrum,"
by Professor Powell; "On the Constitution and Forces of
the Molecules of Matter," by Mr. R. Laming ; "On the
Variation of the Magnetic Needle," by J. 0. Hurtley ; and
a paper " Oo Magnetic Causation and Intrinsic Forces," by
0. Towler. In erection B the papers were: "On the Chemi-
cal Action of Water, in the suburbs of Southampton, on Lead
in solving the metal, and holding it in solution, to the detri-
ment of Health," by Mr. H. Osborne ; " A Report on the
Actinosraph, an.l notices of the progress of experiments on
the influence of Light en the Growth of Plants," by R. Hunt.
In section C, the first paper read was by R. Keels, Esq.,
" On the Artesian Well on the Southampton Common." This
paper appeared to be the main point of intezest, and
section C was consequently more fully attended than any of
the others. A discussion arose as to the probability of the
well yielding the expected supply of water, in the course
of which Prefereor Hopkins explained that theory was
against the success of the experiment. The artesian well
at Paris entered the chalk in the centre of a sort of
basin formed by the strata, where 'the wrier would bo in
the greate.st abundance at all times; and at a place where,
as far as was known, there had been no dislocation; whereas
the surface of the chalk formation at Southampton dipped
to the sea gradually, and ran abruptly on the other side at
the Isle of Wight, where there had evidently been a consi-
derable dislocation. Some of the subscribers complained
that, according to the Professor's statement, they had been
induced to throw away their money in an experi-
ment which could not be successful; but the Pro-
fessor advised the continuance of the work, as it was
possible that in practice the experiment might succeed.
The other papers in this section were—" On the Origin of
the Coal in the Silesian Coal-fields," by Professor Ooeppert,
of Breslau, communicated by Sir R. I. Murchison; and
a " Report on the Microscopic Structure of Shells," by
W. Carpenter, M.D. F.R.S. The papers read in section D
were : " Additions to a Synopsis of the Clas•ification of the
Genera of British Birds," by John Hogg, Esq. F.L.S. ;
" List of Periodical Birds at Llanrwst," by J. Blackwall,
Esq. ; " Notice of New Species of Marine Animals found on
the coast of Northumberland," by W. Kin", Esq. • "On
the Homologies of theVertebnr, and on the Temporal 'Bone,"
by Professor Owen; "On New British Nudihranchiate
Molluscs," by J. Alder, Esq. • " On the Pulmograde Me-
dusa of tho British Seas, with'Notices of the Meduste at pre-
sent abundant in Southampton Water," by Professor Forbes.
In section E, a paper " On the Cause of the Blood's Circu-
lation through the Liver," by Dr. Searle ,• and another " On
the Sense of Touch, in reference to the higher mental pro-
cesses of the Blind and Deaf," this paper was a sequel to a
previous one on the 6th, on muscular sense, by Dr. Fowler.
In section F, an interesting report was produced from Dr.
Alison, of Edinburgh, " On the Medical Relief to the Paro-
chial Poor of Scotland under the old law."—Dr. Alison
stated that the result of the relief, as formerly administered,
was a proof the inefficiency of the voluntary system.
That system was found to bo partial in its burden, and
inadequate and ineffectual in its olijects. Returns had been
obtained from 40 towns in Scotland, exclusive of Edinburgh
and Glasgow, from which it appeared that the medical
relief appointed by the parochial authorities was almost no-
thing. In 16 of these towns it was absolutely nothing. Few 1
of them had any dispensary or general relief of that kind,
and in others occasional payments of a few shillings were
given as medical relief. In others of the towns small sums
of 51. or 101. had been allowed for medical attendance on
the poor during the prevalence of some epidemic, and in 4
of the towns a small allowance was made for drugs. In
some places money had been allowed for medical attendance,
the poor being permitted to select the medical man, and this
was the mode of relief which the majority of the medical
profession seemed to prefer. The estimate of unrequited
medical labour given to the poor by the medical profession
in Scotland gave an average of 401. ss. 7d. a.year, in addition
Ito which they were often called upon to furnish wine and
I other assistance from their substance. More than 90 per
Icent. of tke profession contributed in this way to the relief
of the poor from their substance, besides giving gratuitous
advice. In most cases, when payments were made to
medical men for attending the poor, it was from the bounty
of private parties; and, in one instance, where the pay-
ments were made by the parochial authorities, a medical
man received only Is. for 12 years, during which he attended
on the average 70 paupers.
The PRESIDENT observed, that great credit was due to the
medical profession in Scotland for their self-devotion to the
wants of the poor. He trusted that the new Poor-law for
Scotland would receive some modifications, and become more
effectual than it now was for its object. In the first in-
stance, it might have been politic to consult the prejudices
of the people of Scotland, but ere long they would themselves
call for some chenge.
Professor Mons, of Edinburgh, stated that Dr. Chalmers
had been of opinion that voluntary relief would be sufficient
in Scotland ; but, on trial, it was found to be wholly inade-
quate. Dt. Alison took the other side, and that there was a
poor-law at all for Scotland was due to that gentleman.
A " Review of' the Mines and Mining Industry of Bel-
gium," by Richard Valpy, Esq., founded on the report of
the Minister of Public Works to the King, dated Brussels,
June 1, 1842, was also read.

GINEELLL MEETING.
The first general meeting of the Society was held in the
evening, in tie Victoria Assembly Room, which was illumi-
nated by handsome chandeliers and tilled by about 400
ladies and gentlemen attired in evening dress. Prince
Albert, who left Cowes in the Fairy at seven o'clock, and
was received on his arrival at Southampton by the Mayor
Mr. Joseph Lobb and Captain Ellice, did not reach the
Assembly Room until half-past eight o'clock—half-an-hour
after the appointed hour—the delay having been occasioned
by a fog which prevented the steamer from proceeding with
her accustomed velocity. On his Royal Highness being
conducted to the platform which was erected for the com-
mittee and distinguished visitors, he was warmly cheered by
the entire company, who rose and remainedstanding for some
minutes until his Royal Highness, after shaking hands with
several of the gentlemen on the platform, had taken the seat
thereon assigned to him. Amongst the distinguished per-
sons present were the Marquis of Northampton, the Marquis
of Winchester, Lord and Lady Palmerston, the Right Hon.
the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Bishop of
Norwich, the Dean of Westminster, Sir Hercules Paken-
ham, Sir J. Ross, Colonel Sabine, Professors Phillips and
and Owen, and Mr. M. Mikes, M.P.
Sir JOHN F. W. HIRSCHELL, F.R.S., then rose and said—
May it please your Royal Highness, Mr. Mayor, my Lords,
Ladies, and Gentlemen,—On this sixteenth anniversary on
which your kindness has brought us together it falls to my
lot, as the president for the expiring year. to open the busi-
ness of the session simply pro forma, and immediately after
to resign my place to my successor. I feel that 6 very few
words best befit the position I now occupy, bat still
there are some topics upon which I would solicit a few
moments of your attention. In the first place, it is my
bounden duty to congratulate the meeting on a presence
which gives a dignity and a sanction to our proceed-
tn ea, such as at no former occasion the society could
been: of. (Applause.) .cor the honour thus conferred upon
us we nfrest feel profoundly gratified, for it is a recognition
in the liig`aest quarter of the gie2Tiol4l trlllle ill which we are