The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-15 00:00:00

LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOOO9

The ordinary meeting of this society was held
in the Royal Institution, Colquitt-street. Mr.
Archer in the chair. member
The Rev. S. Minton was admitted on a ballot a raeln
of the society. last nigbo:

COMASS .
Dr. Thompson, then secretalP
y, laid beforeCOMMITTEE
the society tboar
report of the Liverpool compass committee, for the thelBss. The report commenced by setting forth that at
re
e
close of 1854, when the committee was formed, the,.
appeared a growing conviction in the minds of persons eeof
versant with maritime subjects, that the present ln,,,ed• ot
correcting or compensating compass errors
to meet the requirements of many ships, and more esps,
cially of those iron ships which trade to southern henntof
pheres ; that many apparently well authenticated as
sesthe
unlooked for and sudden compass changes called ferr,
immediate investigation of the merchant and underwn4%.
,eres to
and, generally, that full and trustworthy information "
ting to the magnetism of iron ships, and the chant' ded
which it is liable, was highly desirable, and was dem° ag
as much by the interests of the shipowner and buildenthe
was insanele
e_
for the general satisfaction and security ef the
public. The report then proceeded to state that
rs
enquiry should necessarily extend over two or three Yet'
before decisive information could be obtained and arranged
;
but from the information already obtained the co
rtan'od
felt bound to record their conviction that the
energy of the captains of iron craft have generallY betbe
sufficient to overcome all the difficulties arising
.frera of
magnetism of their ships, and to make the navigation s.
these vessels as safe, if not so easy, as that of wooden h,ltilies
It should not, however, be concealed that these fan
have sometimes been great, and that the navigation rto
iron ship on her first voyage, particularly if it extended fa ter.
the south, severely taxes the care and prudence of them asthat
These was reason to believe, the report further stated, that
compass disturbances may be very much lessened, and
talents a
en
it having been reported that ships with cargoes of trun'i
frequently leave this port without being swung'„: is
also that iron ships are not swung so often -,l,Tat
desirable, through the delay, expense, and risk, attenleho
on moving them into a dock suited for the purpose,
aw ,
committee are about to introduce a plan which will gre
facilitate the process of swinging ships, and that will enabl:
it to be satisfactorily gone through in the river, when
~94
opportunity in dock is not afforded. The mode propose" '0
very simple, requires only a short time, and involves no
additional expense. It will probably be in operation in

few weeks.
The expenses incurred up to the present amount to shatit
£4OO, and it is estimated that a similar sum will A bnef'
required annually for the next two years. The BoarA6:
Trade contributes £lOO a-year ; London Lloyds/
Trinity Board, £25 ; Colonial Land and Emigration C°"1":.
missioners, £25; Messrs. W. Denny and Co., Dumh3rlll,l;
£2O ; Liverpool Underwriters Association, £3O ; Mr. Jc`
Laird, £2O ; Shipowners' Association, £3O, &c., 8zo•tler!1 ev
tITA
The Rev. Mr. Higgins, the secretary, and other gen
commented on the smallness of the Liverpool subscriP
though few places could be more interested in the enqui
or derive greater benefit from its results. s of
The paper for the evening was upon 4, Adulteration
~.ed
Food," by H. S. Evans, Esq., F.C.S. The writer eg,,7,10
with some of Dr. Hassell's statements, but differed lir:in
him in others, and acquitted the retail dealer, particulaNle
the article of arrowroot, from any intention to defraile,4.o
public in selling an inferior or adulterated
superior, as the inferiority or adulteration could only
detected by the aid of a microscope. en, la
The Chairman, Dr. Edwards, and other gentlenitiaese
discussing the paper, regretted that Dr. Hassell, Odd not
allied with him in the adulteration enquiry! ha ts, to
explained their labours, and the nature of their tea
11,0
other scientific men and bodies before giving t Would
the result of their investigations; as, by so doing' theyfallen on
have been spared the errors into which they have d
i the
the subject of adulteration. All the speakers Pa.,r was
highest tribute to the ability with which the PePtvioj
atticle rbe
drawn up, and rejoiced that so important and Pr'!a,.
subject had been introduced to the notice of the sociebY•