The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-11 00:00:00

CHARACTER OF THE NEGRO.

The next paw taken up vae one by Dr. Joint DIM,
"On the Character of the Negro, chiefly in relation to
industrial habits."
A discussion ensued.

STORM WARNINGS.

Colonel Srega,l;ati; I.4.l,;;;l:failSectioe, read a
paper on the subj,ct of " Storm W • their import-
ance and practicability." He began by showing the great
importance of the signals lately in practice both
in a humane and commercial point of view,
and then stated that out of 403 warnings given by
Admiral Fitzroy in three yam, the prognostications were
correct in 305 times. No one could tell the possible num-
ber of lives which bad thus been saved •• and he eked if
such results did not sufficiently justify the continuance of
them storm warnings. But these had been donned ; and
for what! A piece of pedantic affectation of alma.
(Hear, bear, end applause.) Literally the cogoombry of
science. (Laughter.) He waa a scientific man, and had
studied the matter for half a century, and did not hesitate
to pronounce his opinion in the most emphatic manner.
The scientific committee of the Royal Society had declined
to continue these warnings, on the ground that Admiral
Fitzroy had obtained his oonclusionsprosisioonolay
to on empirical
data. And now the committee establish
e'ght additional observatories throng out the empire ;
and at the end of fifteen years they expected to be able
to predict storms on philosophical data, and not on
zintencal
had ndaotta. Brit
been abido
todurtonbirtanth:b last
ese results, how
conrd they expect to do so during the next fifteen years?
Colonel Sykes next read a series of petitions which had
been sent petitioning for the resumption of these storm
signals. As a specimen of the opinions of the " sensible
people of Dundee," he said Mr. Anthony Trill bad sent
the following reply to a query :—" The correctness of the
storm signals at this port is a matter of common remark.
The are very generally appreciated." He held he had
poduoed ample evidence of the importance of the signals,
and then spoke regarding their practicability. He
thought the committee were afraid of compromising
their reputation in continuing to do what Admiral Fitzroy
bad done; and therefore the country was to be de-
prived of so many advantages from the mere crotchet
of certain individuals. (Laughter.) In speaking of
the practicability of working these signals, he said that
storms generally ounefrom the westward, ar d that notice
of the advent of these storms could be telegraphed from
the west of Ireland to England several hours before the
wind actually reached those parts. Indeed, he had been
informed by one of the most eminent electricians that, me
storms generally travelled across the Atlantic to this
country, they would bare a week's warning of them before
they reached Britain by means of the Atlantis cable.
(Applause.) He then sat down, saying that he thought he
had given ample evidence why the storm signal should be
resumed. (Applause.)
A discussion took place, in which Mr. J. P. Gwent, Mr.
John Don (President of the Dundee Chamber of Com.
merge), Mr. Milne Home (President of the Meteorologic!
Society of Sealandl, the Duke of Buosienolt, Sir John
Ogilvy, Dr. B. Stewart, Mr. Glaisher, sad Admiral
Belcher took part, and ultimately the following resolution
was carried by acclamation:—" Resolve that this /11.0011