The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-15 00:00:00

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

GLASGOW, SEPT. 13.
SECTION A.—MATHEMATICAL AND POYSICAL ScitifcE.
The Rev. Professor KELLAND in the chair.

A paper on Luminous Meteors, by Professor Powell ;
a paper on the Radiant Spectrum, by Sir David Brews-
ter ; an Account of Experiments on the Force of Eleo-
tro Magnets, by J. P. Jole, Esq. ; on the Effect of Me-
chanical Strain on the Thermo-Electric Qualities of
Metals, and on Peristaltic Induction of Electric Cur-
rents in Submarine Telegraph Wires, by Professor W.
Thomson ; on the Velocity of Transmission of the Elec-
tric Telegraph, by Mr. Whitehouse ; and on the Mag-
netism of Iron Ships, and its Changes, by Dr. Scoresby,
were read. After which the meeting adjourned till next
morning.

SECTION B.—CHEIIICAL SCIENCE.
The business before this section to day was not im•
portant. •

SECTION C.-GEOLOGY.

Sir R. I. MURCHISON in the chair.
Mr. HUGH MILLER 'read a paper of considerable
length on the Less Known Fos,il Floras of Scotland ;
and Professor HAnicxEss, on the Lowest Sedimentary
Rocks of Scotland.

SECTION D.-ZOOLOGY AND ROTA NY, INCLUDING

PHYSIOLOGY,

Professor FLEMMING in the chair.
The first paper read was on the ;fleets of last winter
upon vegetation at Aberdeen, by Dr. DIcKIE, Professor
of Natural History, Queen's College, Belfast.
A report on Typical Forms for Museums, by Profes-
sor Henslow, was read by Dr. LANKESTER, in the tem-
porary absence of the author.
Mr. R. PATTERSON exhibited a set of zoological draw-
ings, prepared for the Department of Science and Art.
The other papers read in the ►ection were the follow-

,ng,viz :

Mr. E. J. LOWE—On a Singular Mortality among
the Swallow tribe ; and Dr. DCNCAN on the Impregna-
tion of Phanerogamua Plants.

SECTION E. - GEOGRAPHY AND ETIINOLOGY.

Sir JOHN RICHARDSON in the chair.

Dr SHAW read the report of the late expedition up
the Niger and Tehadda rivers, addressed to the Lords of
the Admiralty, by Dr. W. Balfour Baikie,
F.R.G.S.

RICHARD Cum., EFq., read a paper " On come Water.
coliiur Portraits of Natives of Van Diemen's Land."

Dr. SHAW then read a paper by Dr. Barth, communi-
cated through the Foreign-office, and describing Tim-
huctoo. Before reading the paper, Dr. Shaw informed
the meeting that Dr. Barth had just arrived in London
in safety.

The next paper was by J. B. Davis, F.S.A., " Ou the
kulls of the Ancient Romans."

SECTION F. - STATISTICS.

Mr. NIONCKTON MILNES, M.P., in the chair.
Professor WALSH read a paper " On the condition of
the Labouring Population of,Tamaica, as connected with
the present state of Landed Property in that District."
Mr. W. NEwltancli delivered a paper On the Enn-
;ration of the last Ten Years from the United Ki'igdom
and from France, and from Germany." During the last
Eve years Mr. Newtnarch showed that 500,000 persons
Innually had passed from Europe to the North American
Continent and Australia ; 300,000 of these had gone from
the United Kingdom, and the remainder from Central
Europe. The increase in our population was thus being
annually drained off, and the result could not fail to have
material effects on the state of the population in this
country. Sixty or seventy per cent, of the emigration
from the United Kingdom has been from Ireland. The
ffect has materially raised the wages of the labourer.
France would seem to have been but little sift cted by
the desire to emigrate. Mr. Newmarch proceeded to
advert to the wonderful progress of the colonies of North
America and Australia--a progress altogether without
any parallel in the previous history of the world.
Mr. YATES referred to the passion which existed iu
Switzerland for leaving their country for another, where
they can acquire a small piece of ground.
Mr. HEYWOOD said a deliberate system of religious
persecution exists in some of the German States, which,
410 doubt, accounts for much of the emigration from that
quarter of the globe.

Mr. FARE remarked that the tide of emigration from
Ireland was evidently subsiding.
The Earl of HARROWBY said it was of great importance
to promote emigration. No doubt emigration took
away a great portion of the population, but then they
became our customers, arid we should rejoice that we
Ire able to become the fertile mother of nations.

Mr. NEWMARCH having brit-fly replied,
The CHAIRMAN communicated to him the thanks of
the section.

Professor ALLEN BUCHANAN, of Glasgow, read a
paper, "On the Physiological Law of Mortality, and on
,-ertniu Deviations from it, observed about the com-
mencement of Adult Life."

Dr. STRANG, of Glasgow, read a paper "On the Pro-
-rest 4, Extent, and Value of the Coal and Iron Trade of
'he West of Scotland."

Mr. NEWMARCE submitted a paper by John Glyde,
jun., E'-q , "On the Localities of Crime in Suffolk."
The statistics went to show that the greatest number of
criminals in that district came from villages, and not
large towns.

IBEGEION G.-MECHANICAL SCIENCE.

W. J. MACCTOZN RA.NIINE in th• chair.

Wm. FAIIIBAIRN, C.E., F.R.S., read a provisional
report "On the Strength of Iron Plates," and one upon
" Boiler Explosions," which were somewhat inconclusive
on account of the limited time which had been permitted
for experiment and observation.

W. J. M. RANKINE read a paper "On Practical Tables
of the Pressure and Latent Heat of Vapours," in which
,everal new facts and principles were brought before the
section.

C P. SMTTH, astronomer royal of Scotland, read a
paper " OLI the Transmission of Time Signals."
JAMES THOMSON, A.M. C.E., read a paper "On
Practical Details of the Measurement of Running Water
by Weir Boards."

THE CONVERSAZIONE.
On Thursday evening a conversazione of the ladies and
gentlemen belonging to the Association was held in the
Nl'Lellan Rooms and Gallery. It was altogether the
most brilliant affair of the kind which has ever taken
place in Glasgow. The company began to assemble a
little before nine o'clock, and poured in, without inter-
mission, until there were fully 1,500 ladies and gentle-
men present, the former in full dress. The crowd be-
came so dense that locomotion was almost impossible ;
good humour and gaiety, however, actuated every one.
About half•past nine the Lord Provost entered the halls,
leading in the Countess Campello, and accompanied by
Prince Lucier, Bonaparte, the baud playing " Partant
pour la Syrie." Their reception was of the most cordial
and respectful kind.