The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-10 00:00:00

MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE.

Newton's theory that the white light of day is the
blending of the different coloured rays separated by the
prism is well known and generally accepted. Mr. Henry
Schaefer read • paper contributed by Mr. John Smith,
of Perth, following out the theory which he first brought
up at Aberdeen, that light is simple and homogeneous.
Mr. Smith believes that the varieties of colour are entirely
due to the alternations of light and shadow, and to the
different character of vibrations canoed by the introduction
of the prism. He attempts to confirm this theory by the
fact that certain opaque bodies under pressure may be
made to change colour.
To this section Oolonel Sncrs, H.P., also contributed •
paper on the subject of " Storm Signals," and advocated
their resumption. He spoke in term, of high admiration
of Admiral Fitzroy'. system of warnings, and averted that
they had been discontinued in obedience to the demands
of the pedantic affectation of science. In his opinion the
storm signals were of the utmost importance to the com-
mercial and maritime communities.

Mr. STUHROCH, president of the Dundee Chamber of
Commerce, agreed with the views broached by Colonel
Sykes.
Mr. GASSIOT defended the course taken by the Royal
Society, as airs did Mr. BALFOUR Stumm
Mr. )11u45 Hors, president of the Meteorological So-
ciety, moved • resolution, calling upon the council to
petition government to resume the storm signals.
The Duko of BCCCLEUCII, without entering into the
scientific question, expressed his belief that the warnings
were useful, and seconded the motion, which was sup-
ported by Sir J. OGILVT, M.P.
Mr. GLAISHEn caged that the warnings, and not me-
teorological notices, that might not be understood, should
be at once resumed.

Great interest was manifested in the question, the sec-
tion being crowded. Eventually the motion was carried.

GEOLOGY.

In this section, Mr. PENGILLY read the report of the
committee appointed to investigate the Kent's Cave, at
Brixham. He reported that they had found mammas
and traces of man. Amongst the teeth a mammoth molar.
Among human relics they had found bone implements, a
bone comb highly finished, a highly finished pin, a grit
spindle a whole and a portion of • nitched stool looking
measuring rod. The moat interesting discovery this year
was portions of a human skeleton, including vertebra.,
lower jaw, loose teeth, and part of skull. These remains
rendered it impossible to doubt that man occupied Ihvon.
shire while it was the home of extinct lions, hyenas, mam-
moth, and their contemporaries. The most finished tools
were at the lowest levels. There was a hope of finding
human remains in red earth. Thegoologicsl and archaeo-
logical evidences were concurrent, and caused great in-
terest. . .

Sir Camila. LT/2.1, emphatically praised the manner of
the explorations.
Mr. Wurr had found the same type of implements in
the low-level gravels of Bedford, associated with the bone
of the Elephus Antigun..
Other speakers concurred that the evidence was
conclusive. _ . _

Sir WILLIAM Triograms read a paper, written by Dr.
Schwartz, on " The Internal Heat of the Earth." The
writer denied that any perceptible effect could have been
produced by internal heat on the surface of the earth
within the last fifty million Team and called upon the
British Association to inquire into the alleged increase of
temperature in descending pits. Sir William Thompson
believed that a committee would be appointed to consider
the matter.