The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-27 00:00:00

LIFE BRANC

The very gratifying duty now falls upon the Directors to
state the sum assured on n.w policies for fhe year 1862
exceeds even that of the yesr 1861 by £lBO,OOO, and has arrived
at the almost unexampled amount for a single year of
£701,427 on 1,498 new policies issued. Until within the last
few years it is believed that such a sum assured as that which
has just been announced as the result of one year's business
was all but unheard of.

This portion of the Company's business has been carefully
watched, and cannot fail to give much satisfaction to the
shareholder, as well as no small encouragement fbr the
future to the participatinz life assurer.
Evidence of continued care in the selection of lives is amply
afforded by a statement of the number rejected. These have
amounted to 311 for the year, on which the aggregate sum
proposed for assurance Amounts to 43,281. Various degrees
of ineligibility have led to these lives being declined.
No small number of the Assurance Companies of the day
record their accepted lives annually at a sum not much. if at
all, exceedin9:, those which the Royal has declared as inadmis-
sink in a single year from deterioration of some kind or
another.

If, to complete their review, the Directors now advert
briefly to the United Kingdom, they have to announce that
in Fire Business its progress has been undoubtedly more
rapid than that of any other Company established either in
Landau or elsewhere, except when amalgamations have taken
place. The returns of duty have proved this. In Life, the
amount of New Policies already reported make all other
evidence needless.

The Directors conclude their present Report with the
expression of an opinion that the prospects of the Royal
Insuranca Company were never brighter, and of a consequent
hope, founded on a grateful remembrance of the past, that
the future may unfold for it a sphere of still greater magni-
tude, combining distinguished commercial success to the
Office with a lengthened career of usefulness and protection
to the public.
PERCY M. DOVE, Manager and Actuary.
JOHN B. JOHNSTON, Secretary in London.

NORWICH UNION FIRE INSURANCE
SOCIETY.

The business of the Company exceeds £70,000,000.
The duty paid to Government for the year 1862 was
£88,062, and the amount insured on farming stock,
£10,086,332.
A bonus of three-fifths of the profits periodically made to
parties insuring, who have thus. from time to time. received
sums amounting in the aggregate to Lit 0,000 : and the Society
now holds a large Resr.rve applizable to a future Bonus.
The rates of premium are in no case higher than those
charged by the other principal offices making no returns to
their insurers.

For pro4pectuses apply at the Society's Offices, Surrey.
street, Norwich ; and 8, Crescent, New Bridge-street, Black.
friars, E.C.

PROVIDENT CLER.
ASSOC',
Establish
TRUST

KS' MUTUAL LIFE
ATION.
hed 1840.

Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P. I Wm. Geo. Prescott, Esq.
Thomson Hankey, Esq., M.P. I Baron L. de Rothschild, M.P.
Mutual Life Assurance for all classes.
This Association has now in existence 6,000 policies, for a
total suns of £1,500,000.
The Annual Income i s £51,000
The Accumulated Fund exceeds .. 2 0,, 00
It has paid in Claims .. 112,0u0
The whole of the profits are divided quinquennially among
the Members. Three divisions have already been made'
when the following sums have been added as bonuses to the
policies
Dec. 31, 1847 ..
„ 1852 .
„ 1857 .. •• ..
1862
makinir the total bonus additions, £96,600. •
Bonuses may be received in clsli or appliei to the rPduc
tion of premiums at the option of the assured, in lieu of an
addition to the r obey.
Attention is especially invited to the system of free or paid-
up policies introduced by this Association, by which the
sacrifice so often submitted to on the relinquishment of
po icy is wholly avoided.
The balance-sheets of the Association are open to all,
whether assurers or otherwise.
Active and influential agents will be appointed in unrepre-
sented districts.

£5,400
• • 11,500
• • 23 200
• • 56,500

WM. THOS. LINFORD, Seeretaiy,
Chief Office, 15, Moorgate-street, E.C., Aug 1, 1863.

A.D. 1720.
ROYAL EXCHANGE ASSURANCE
CORPORATION
(Established by Charter of his Majesty George the First)
FOR SEA, FIRE, LIFE, AND ANNUITIES.
Offices, Royal Exchange, London.
Branch Office, 29, Pall-mall.
OCTAVIUS WIGRA. Governor.
GEORGE PE ARRES BARCLAYIL
Esq
, Esq., , Sub-Governor.
Sir Jour? HENRY PELLE, Bart., Deputy-Governor.
DIRECTORS.
Henry Bainbridge, Esq. Wiimot Holland, Esq.
Robert Barclay, Esq. Earl of Leven and Melville.
ohn Garrett Cattlev, Esq. Chas. Jno. Manning, Esq.
Mark Currie Close, Esq. Henry Nelson, Esq.
William Davidson, Esq. The Hon. Josceline W. Percy.
Thomas Dent, Esq. Charles Robinson, Esq.
Alexander Druce, E'sq. Samuel Leo Schuster, Esq.
Fredk. Jos. Edlmann, Esq. Eric Carrington Smith, Esq.
Riversdale W. Grenfell, Esq. William Soltau, Esq.
Vat. Amadeus Heath, Esq. Joseph Somes, Esq., M.P.
Wm. Tetlow Hibbert, Esq.: William Wallace, Esq.
Jas. Stewart Hodgson, Esq. Chas. Baring Young, Esq.
Medical Referee, SAMUEL SOLLY, Esq., F.R.S.
FIRE and LIFE ASSURANCES may be effected with this
Corporation on advantageous terms.
In the Life Department, assurances are granted with par-
ticipation in Profits, or, at lower Premiums, without such
participation.
The Reversionary Bonus on British Policies has averaged
nearly 2 per cent. per annum on the sum assured.
Equivalent reductions have been made in the Premiums
Payable by persons who preferred that form of Bonus.
The divisions of Profit take place every Five years.
Any sum not exceeding £15,000 may be insured on one
Life.

This Corporation affords to the Assured—
Liberal participation in Profits—with exemption from
the liabilities of partnership.
A rate of Bonus equal to the average returns of Mutual
Societies—with the guarantee of a large invested Capital
Stock.
The advantages of modern practice,—with the security
of an Office whose resources have been tested by the ex-
perience of nearly a CENTURY AND A HALF.
The Corporation have always allowed the Assured to serve
it the ),tilltia, Yeomanry, or Volunteer Corps within the
tinted liingdom, free of charge.

ROYAL EXCHANGE, LONDON.
ROBT. P. STEELE, Secretary.

CONTRACT FOR PROVISIONS.

Royal Hospital, Chelsea,
14th Aug., 1E63.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE the LORDS
and OTHERS, COMMISSIONERS of this HOS-
PITAL, do hereby give NOTICE, That they are ready to
rnieceive TENDERS from and to treat with such persons as
_,,tY be to Contract for victualling the in-pensioners
ogerittheTne dillstmai ospital, from thelst October, 1863 to the 30th
Briewith the
following
r, 1861 both days inclusive,
Cheese.c't Provisions, &c,, viz. :—Beef and Mutton, Bread,
Peppe,.. ,I.,i.utter, Potatoes, Salt, Oatmeal, Barley or Rice,
or I,,,,e*L"!?lir, Suet, Cocoa, Black Tea, Sugar, Milk, Onions
and I.Zie,i3arrots. Celery, Thyme, Marjoram, Winter Savory
ration acca:htnallY, at per head per diem for the whole
specified
thehli to the established allowances of the house, as
office osee'rartm of Tender, which may be obtained at the
at the Hoard-ron
o'clock, which Teenzany day between the hours of 10 and 3
must be filled up and delivered, sealed,
parties tenderino.rn of tan said Hospital by the party or
which time their u ;..i "
behalf, on Tues'd'a7 birl,., an agent appointed onis or their
Ist of September at
It is to be obrserved that 1 ho'clock. at
into Consideration. '"ahtlur will be preparedto take the same
to find Security to the crat the
Contract, and that no Contractors will be required
and hour above mess Tell). for the due performanre of the
will be received after the day
west T lowest Tender. do 11-o.t Pledge themselves to atcept the

A. J. MOORHEAD,
Eeeretary and Registrar

RUPTURES.—By itoyAL LE ;
IVRITE'S MOC_AIAIN Tyltatz rAT N
beihurtful El T
7 (PERFECTED AND ExT,,,,„_•"-P-4VER .
EXHIBITIONS 01, 1851 AND 1862):—`-'l3 IN TRUSS
Two Hundred Medical Gentlee IS anOwed ,TnE GuEAT
be the ;',3: uPwards of
Invention in the curative en to
The use of a steel spring, E, ottleirnt ot Ei°;t effective
is here avoided—a sett bandage lu It
N I A*
body, while the requisite resisting 110,e71 worn ,0 efreets,
rind
liloc-Main rad and Patent Lever, fitting. ~,q,8,,upp1i,,, b the
and closeness that it cannot be detected, a,V,i_B° llinetlYe.t.!e
during sleep. A descriptive circular may be had, be ato-r'ne
truss, which cannot fail to tit, forwarded by post "' and the
eumference of the body, two inches below the fpse eh..
Sent to the manufacturer, , being
Mr. WHITE, M, Piccadilly.
ft /1 Single Truss, lea. 218., 265. , and 31s gd. 1,,,
,stas-stage' 19.
Double Truss, 31s. '6d., 425., and 525. 6d. Pe "
-'ll Umbilical Truss, 425. and 52e. 6d. Postage, ls. foli: le rdd.
lost-office Orders to be made payable to Jam White, p°
at
° e'ea'fccadilly. .
NEW PATENT
IRLAST IC STOCKINGS
Arc. They are
Iliorwocr,"ollW,-CA PS, ttc., for Varicose Veins and all cases of
'Porous",, and Swelling a ille Legs, Sprains,
lire nor ght in texture, and inexpensive, and are drawn on
e 9.411. po'ularY stocling. nice 43. 61, 7s. 6d., 10s, to ltis.
a st..ge Gd.
Qlls InliTE, 11141.11dgitir 4r 1 V'',% riNt.dills.

xjARD PLATES ENGRAVED.
Any Pattern
50 BEST CARDS, Print( d from Plate
PEAL SIOROCCO CARD CASES
1,000 BUSINE-;S ENVELOPES, gummed 35.
NEWSPAPER ENVELOPES, 4'doz Gd.
F. ARNOLD, Manufacturing Stationer,B6, Fleet-street, E.C.

CELEBRATION of the TERCENTENARY of
the BIRTH of SHAKSPE ARE, at Stratford-upon-
Avon. The Tercentenary Committee (of which Sir Robert
N. C. Hamilton, Bart., K.C.8.. Is Chairman) are now receiv-
ing SUBSCRIPTIONS, and they may also be paid to the
account ot the Tercentenary Committee. at the Stourbridge
asninditlc,idderminster or Warwick and Leamington Banks,
Stratford-upon-Avon ; Messrs. Greenway, Smith, and
Gre.enh way, Warwick ; or their London agents, Messrs.
and Coe, ,e, and Co Messrs llanburys and Co., or Messrs.
Glyn and Co.. bankers, London.
The. Tercentenary Committee, in submitting the subscrip-
totem list to the nation, most earnestly appeal to the admirers
ref Sthakspeare for their aid and assistance. The Committee
thes claims upon the ground that Stratford is not only
all birthplace
of Shakspeare. but the centre ot attraction to
mirera of the ()Teat Poet's works, and that it was his
home, the town he loved, and where he' lived and died.

Rail-
Rway
TeirnmithneuisTamt
OYAL FREE HOSPITAL. Gray's-inn-road,
exdijnatge,sv.iccirnositsy of the Great Northern
Patron—The QUEEN.
President—The Duke of BUCCLEUCTI, E.G.
Treasurer—Edward Masterman, Esq.
This was the first hospital to introduce the principle of free
and instant admission to the destitute sick, without the for-
mality of Governors' letters. It is entirely devoted to desti-
tution in its most pitiable form—viz., that which is accom-
panied by sickness and disease, ad is now of sufficient
magnitude that, with adequate support, it may be rendered
capable of admitting into its wards a very large proportion of
the casual sick of this great metropolis. It requires but the
funds in order to have 500 beds available for the reception of
these the most wretched of our fellow-creatures. Moreover,
it gratuitously affords medical advice and medicine to more,
on the average, than 3,000 out a week.
The Weekly Board feel it their imperative duty to make an
EARNEST APPEAL to the public for continued support,
to enable them to admit and relieve the distressing cases that
daily present themselves.
Contributions are received by the Treasurer, Edward
Mas erman, Esq. Nicholas-lane; also by Messrs. Coutts and
Co. ; Drummond and Co. ; Herries and Co. ; Ransom and
Co.;• Prescott, Grote. and Co.; Smith, Payne, and Co. ; Glyn
and Co. ; Jones Loyd and Co. ; Barclay and Co. ; Denison
and Co.; W lliamso,
zaesDeacon,srs. j.
and.
BCaorn. ;
efd)vaena
rn&, Gurney, and
Co. ; Nisbet and c
and at the HospitaL
STANFORD S. SMITH. Secretary.

RO YAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT
INSTITUTION
(Incorporated by Royal Charter).
PATRONESS—Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen.
PRESIDENT—Vice-Admiral the Duke of Northumberland,
K. G., F.R. S.
CHAIRMAN—Thos. Baring, Esq., M.P.,F.R
FR
S:,
Y.P.
DEPUTY-CIIAIRMAN—Thomas Chapman, Esq.,
APPEAL.
The Committee of Management have to state that, since
,lie beginning' of the year 1860, the Royai National Lifeboat
Institution has expended £32,000 on various Lifeboat Estab-
lishments on the Coasts of England. Scotland, and Ireland.
The number of lives saved by the Life-boats of the
Society. :snd other means, since its formation, is 12,800;
tor which services 82 Gold Medals, 718 Silver Medals, and
£16,480 in cash have been paid in rewards. The Institu-
tion has also expended £67,000 on Life-boats, Life-boat
Transporting-cart cages, and Boat-houses.
The Committee desire to express their grateful sense of
the generous support which they have received from the
British public during the past few years, a support wnich
has enabled them to establish their present magnificent fleet
of 123 Lifeboats on the shores of the United Kingdom.
Deeply sensible, however, of the great responsibility that
rests on them to maintaineffected
it
practised
ri f ebetyth iean
lmaa
rat;4.nheao
~_,raoenmu
dgehnl
ty
permofefficient
:e ni
their
they earnestly appeal to all classe' of their
boats,astnant
ue,a annual
income,
orne.
whichit its
can eownsl
countrymen to aid them in pholdino, and
(neat and truly national a wourk. Perpetuating so
acknowledge. the following eon-
The Committee gratefully
tributions

Mrs... G, 7: £ s. d
•... .... annual 50 0 0
Fier Majesty the Queen
annual 5 0 0
t Clerk,;'am pbce 1011,
on theel , Tip. nA..
Coutts and Co., Messr-_,.• Bankers •• .. annual 11 0
.. . • annual 10 0 0
Currie, Wm., 1i69.-
Eric, Lord Chir . • • -• .. 4th don.lo 0 0
~.. •fustice`
.. • • .. don. 10 10 0
Fanshawe, Vice-Admiral Sir A., K.C.B. . 2d don. 25 0 0
Fenwick, 'O. J., Esq., cost of a Lifeboat and Tran-
.. •• .. don. 15 15 0
spor•in, Carriage .. • • • • • • ,• • 250 0 0
Ha- ' -
.-vey, Rev. G. G. and Mrs. • • • • 4011. 30 0
-.I artin, Sir Henry, Bart. .. • • .. 7th don. 10 0 0
Moore, Rev. G. B. ..
mith, Mrs. George, Greenwich . . • • • • 30 0
e
Stirling, Col. Sir Anthony, K.C.B. .. .. annual 20 0
Thomas,s, Lady, Weston-super-Mare, collected by her •
Ladyship • • • • • • 0
•• •• •
Willoughby d'Eresby, Lord .. • • ' • annual 16
5 1 0
Punations and Annual Subscriptions will be thankfully re-
'T''''ecl by the Bankers of the Institution, Messrs. Willis,
Corcival•s9
j, •• • ;Q trand ; stessrs Berries, Farquhar, and Co., 16, st.
and Co., 76, Lombard-,treet ; Messrs. Coutts and
'fluesstreet .;
b a 1 the Collectors of Customs artniediparadnkircrs thehiduounited
fully
Joha_st,...e.wie, sq, at the 0 •
?lice of the 10!titutiou, /i,
gdom ; and by the Secretary-
Lect Acio,,l- - y .4,- ,--
> ..,..11, :...-T24,vm, no--

it the greatest honour of my life that I am called
upon to assume the office of your President. In that
capacity, and as representing your body, I may be
allowed to advert to the gratifying reception which
the British Association met with on their former
visit to this region of mining and manufacturing in-
dustry; and, as a member of the community which
you have again honoured with a visit, I undertake
to convey to you the assurance of a renewed and
hearty welcome. A quarter of a century has elapsed
since the association assembled in this town, and in
no former period of equal duration has so great a
progress been made in physical knowledge. In
mechanical science, and especially in those branches
of it which are concerned in the application of steam
power to effect interchange between distant com-
munities, the progress made since 1838 has no
parallel in history. The railway system was then
in its infancy, and the great problem of trans-
Atlantic steam navigation had only received its
complete solution in the preceding year. Since that
time railways have extended to every continent, and
steamships have covered the ocean. These reflec-
tions claim our attention on this occasion, because
the locality in which we hold our present meeting
is the birthplace of railways, and because the coal
mines of this district have contributed more largely

than any others to supply the motive power by
which steam communication by land and water has
been established on so gigantic a scale.

The history of railways shows what grand results
may have their origin in small beginnings. When
coal was first convoyed in this neighbourhood from
g place on the Tyne, the pack-
thhoer
se pit tocarrying
s shipping nnbiurden of 3 cwt., was the only
mode of transport employed. The railway system,
like all large inventions, has risen to its present im-
portance by a series of steps ; and so gradual has
been its progress, that Europe finds itself committed
to a gauge fortuitously determined by the distance
between the wheels of the carts for which wooden
rails were originally laid down.
Last of all came the locomotive engine, that
crowning achievement of mechanical science, which
enables us to convey a lo ad of 200 tons at a cost of
fuel scarcely exceeding that of the corn and hay
which the original pack-horse consumed in convey-
ing its load of 3 cwt. an equal distance.
It was chiefly in this locality that the railway
system was thus reared from earliest infancy to full
maturity; and amongst the many names associated
with its growth, that of George Stephenson stands
pre-eminent.
The coal fields of this district, so intimately
connected with the railway system both in its origin
and maintenance, will doubtless receive much
attention from the association at their present meet-
ing.
Estimates have been made at various periods of
the time which would be required to produce com-
plete exhaustion of all the accessible coal in the
British Islands. These estimates are extremely
discordant; but the discrepancies arise, not from
any important disagreement as to the available
quantity of coal, but from the enormous difference
in the rate of consumption at the various dates when
the Estimates were made, and also from the different
views which have been entertained as to the probable
increase of consumption in future years. The
quantity of coal yearly worked from British
mines has been almost trebled during the last
twenty
the years,
c commencement
m andmen
che has probably
of the
robablyincrperaesseednttenefeonld
since .
tug ; but as this increase has taken place
pending the introduction of steam navigation and
railway transit, and under exceptional conditions of
manufacturing development, it would be too much

to assume that it will continue to advance with
equal rapidity. The statistics collected by Mr.
Hunt, of the Mining Record Office, show that at
the end of 1861 the quantity of coal raised in the
United Kingdom had reached the enormous total of
86 millions of tons, and that the average annual in-
crease of the eight preceding years amounted to 21-,
millions of tons. Let us inquire, then, what will be
the duration of our coal-fields if this more moderate
rate of increase be maintained.
There is another source of motive power to which
I am induced to refer, as exhibiting an instance in
water
which solar influence afford the means of obtaining
mechanical effects from inanimate agents. I allude
descending
the
evaporative
from heights
action
of to
twohtihehe pitowhaeer
beenof
lifted by
of the sun. To illustrate the great advantage of
collecting water for power in elevated situations, I
may refer to the waterworks of Greenock, where
the collecting reservoirs are situated at an elevation
of 512 feet above the river Clyde. The daily yield
of these reservoirs is said to be nearly 100,000 tons
of water, which is derived from the rainfall on the
area of 5,000 acres. The power abtainable from
this quantity and head of water is equal to that of
a steam engine of about 2,000 horse power, and the
whole effect might be realised on the margin of the
river by bringing down the water in a pipe of
sufficient capacity, and causing it to act as a column
on suitable machinery at the foot of the descent.
I have hitherto spoken of coal only as a source of
mechanical power, but it is also extensively used
for the kindred purpose of relaxing those cohesive
forces which resist our efforts to give new forms
and conditions to solid substances. In these appli-
cations, which are generally of a metallurgical
nature, the same wasteful expenditure of fuel is
everywhere observable. In an ordinary furnace
employed to fuse or soften any solid substance,
it is the excess of the heat of combustion over
that of the body heated which alone is
rendered available for the purpose intended.
The rest of the heat, which in many :n-
-stances constitutes by far the greater proportion of
the whole, is allowed to escape uselessly into the
chimney. The combustion, also, in common furnaces
is so imperfect, that clouds of powdered carbon, in
the form of smoke, envelope our manufacturing
towns, and gases, which ought to be completely
oxygenised in the fire, pass into the air with twce
thirds of their heating -
power undeveloped.
Some remedy for this state of things, we may
hope, is at hand, in the gas regenerative furnaces
recently introduced by Mr. Siemens.
With regard to k ,
smo e which is at once a waste
and a nuisance, having myself taken part with Dr.
Richardson and Mr. Longridge in a series of ex-
periments made in this neighbourhood in the years
1837.58 for the purpose of testing the practicability
of preventing smoke in the combustion of bitumin-
ous coal in steam-engine boilers, I can state with
perfect confidence that, so far as the raising of steam
is concerned, the production of smoke is unnecessary
and inexcusable. The experiments to which I refer
proved beyond doubt, that by an easy method of
firing, combined with a due admission of air and a
proper arrangement of fire ,grate, not involving any
complexity, the emission of smoke might be per-
fectly avoided, and that the prevention of the smoke
increased the economic value of the fuel and the
•
evaporating power of the boiler. As a rule there
is more smoke evolved from the fires of steam-
engines than from any others, and it is in these fires
that it may be most easily prevented. But in the
furnaces used for most manufacturing operations
the prevention of smoke is much more difficult, and
will probably not be effected until a radical change
is made in the s..y stem of applying fuel for such ope-

Not ins wasteful and eztravagantiztlisr mode o:

The increase of the earth's temperature as we
descend below the surface is a subject which has
been discus ed at previous meetings of the British
Association. It possesses great scientific interest,
as affecting the computed thickness of the crust
which covers the molten mass assumed to constitute
the interior portions of the earth, and it is also of
great practical importance as determining the depth
at which it would be possible to pursue the working
of coal and other minerals. The deepest coal mine
in this district is the: Monkwearmouth Colliery,
which reaches a depth of 1,800 feet below the
surface of the ground, and nearly as much below
the level of the sea. The observed temperature of
the strata at this depth agree pretty closely with
what has been ascertained in other localities, and
shows that the increase takes place at the rate of 1
degree Fahr. to about 60 feet of depth. Assuming
the temperature of subterranean fusion to be 3,000
deg., and that the increase of heat at greater depths
continues uniform (which, however, is by no
means certain), the thickness of the film which
separates us from the fiery ocean beneath will
be about thirty-four miles—a thickness which
may be fairly represented by the skin of a
peach taken in relation to the body of the fruit
which it covers. The depth of 4,000 feet, which
has been assumed as the limit at which coal could
be worked, would probably be attended by an in-
crease of heat exceeding the powers of human en-
durance. In the Monk wearnaouth colliery, which
is less than half that depth, the temperature of the
air in the workings is about 84 deg. Fehr., which is
considered to be nearly as high as is consistent with
the great bodily exertion necessary in the operation
of mining. The computations, therefore, of the
duration of coal would probably require a conside-
rable reduction in consequence of too great a depth
being assumed as practicable,
At the last meeting of the British Association in
this town, the importance of establishing an office
for mining records was brought under the notice of
the Council by Mr. Sopwith, and measures were
taken which resulted in the formation of the present
Mining Records Office.
In the course of the preceding observations I
have had occasion to speak of the sun as the great
source of motive power on our earth, and I must
not omit to refer to recent discoveries connected
with that most glorious body. Of all the results
which science has produced within the last few
years, none has been more unexpected than that by
which we are enabled to test the materials of which
the sun is made, and prove their identity, in part
at least, with those of our planet. The spectrum
experiments of Bunsen and Kirchhoff have not only
shown all this, but they have also corroborated
previous conjectures as to the luminous envelope of
the sun. I have still to advert to Mr. Nasmyth's
remarkable discovery, that the bright surface of
the sun is composed of an aggregation of apparently
solid forms, shaped like willow-leaves or some well-
known forms of Diatoroaccw, and interlacing one
another in every shape as to have led to a suggestion
from one of our profoundest phi:osophers of their
being organisms possibly even partaking of the
nature of life, but at all events closely connected
with the .heating and vivifying influences of the
sun. These mysterious objects, which, since Mr.
Nasmyth discovered them, have been seen by
other observers as well, are computed to be each
not lees than 1,000 miles in length and about 100
miles in breadth. The enormous chasms in the
sun's photosphere, to which we apply the diminu-
tive term " spots," exhibit the extremities of these
leaf-like bodies pointing inwards, and fringing the
sides of the cavern far down into the abyss. Some-
times they form a sort of rope or bridge across the
chasm, and appear to adhere to one another by
lateral attraction. I can imagine nothing more
deserving of the scrutiny of observers than these
extraordinary forms. The sympathy also which
appears to exist between forces operating in the
sun and magnetic forces belonging to the earth
merits a continuance of that close attention which
it has already received from tae British Association,
and of labours such as General Sabine has with so
much ability and effect devoted to the elucidation
of the subject. I may here notice that moat remark-
, able phenomenon which was seen by independent
observers at two different places on the Ist Sept.,
1859. A sudden outburst of light, far exceeding
the brightness of the sun's surface, was seen to take
place, and sweep like a drifting cloud over a portion
of the solar face. This was attended with magnetic
disturbances of unusual intensity, and with exhi
bitions of aurora of extraordinary brilliancy. The
identical instant at which the effusion of light was
observed was recorded by an abrupt and strongly
marked deflection in the self-registering instru-
ments at Kew. The phenomenon, as seen, was
probably only part of what actually took place, for
the ner,gnetie storm in the midst of which it oc-
curred commenced before and continued after the
event. If conjecture be allowable in such a case,
we may suppose that this remarkable event had
1
some connection with the means by which the sun's
heat is renovated. It is a reasonable supposition that
the sun was at that time in the act of receiving a
more than usual accession of new energy ; and the
theory which assigns the maintenance of its power
to costnical matter, plunging into it with that
prodigious velocity which gravitation would im-
press upon it as it approached to actual contact
with the solar orb, would afford an explanation
of this sudden exhibition of intensified light
in harmony with the knowledge we have now at-
tained that arrested motion is represented by
equivalent heat. Telescopic observations will pro-
bably add new facts to guide our judgment on this
subject, and, taken in connection with observations
on terrestrial magnetism, may enlarge and correct
our views rcapecting the nature of heat, light, and
electricity. Much as we have yet to learn respe.ct-
ills, these agencies, we know suflicient to infer that
they cannot be transmitted from the sun to the earth
except by communication from particle to particle
of intervening matter. Not that I speak of particles
in the sense of the atomist. -Whatever our views
may be of the nature of particles, we must conceive
them as centres invested with surrounding forces.
We have no evidence, either from our senses or
otherwise, of these centres being out-tided by solid
cores of indivieible, incompressible matter essentially
distinct from force. Dr. Young has shown that,
even in so dense a body as water, these nuclei, if
they exist at all, must be so small in relation to the
intervening space that a hundred men distributed
at equal distances over the whole surface of Bog.
laud would represent their relative magnitude and
distance. What then must be these relative dinieu-
' sions in highly rarefied matter? But why encutue

ber our conceptions of material forces by this un-
necessary imagining of a central molecule? If we
retain the forces and reject the molecule,w© shall
still have every property we can recognise in matter
by the use of our senses or by the aid of our reason.
Viewed in this light, matter is not merely a thing
subject to force, but is itself composed and consti-
tuted of force.
The science of gunnery, to which I shall make but
slight allusion on this occasion, is intimately con-
nected with the dynamical theory of heat. When
gunpowder is exploded in a cannon, the immediate
effect of the affinities by which the materials of the
powder are caused to enter into new combinations,
is to liberate a force which first appears as heat, and
then takes the form of mechanical power communi-
cated in part to the shot and in part to the pro-
ducts of explosion which are also propelled from
the gun. The mechanical force of the shot is re-
converted into heat when the motion is arrested by
striking an object, and this heat is divided between
the shot and the object struck, in the proportion of
the work done or damage inflicted upon each.
These considerations recently led me, in conjunction
with my friend Captain Noble, to determine experi-
mentally, by the heat. elicited in the shot, the loss
of effect due to its crushing when fired against iron
plates. Joule's law, and the known velocity of the
shot, enabled us to compute the number of dyna-
mical units of heat representing the whole mecha-
nical power in the projectile; and by ascertaining
the number of units developed in it by impact, we
arrived at the power which took effect upon the
shot instead of the plate. These experiments showed
an enormous absorption of power to be caused by,
the yielding nature of the materials of which pro-
jectiles are usually formed; but further experi-
ments are required to complete the inquiry.
While speaking of the subject of gunnery, I must
pay a passing tribute of praise to that beautiful in-
strument invented and perfected by Major Navez,
of the Belgian artillery, for determining, by means
of electro-magnetism, the velocity of projectiles.
This instrument has been of great value in recent
investigations, and there are questions affecting
projectiles which we can only hope to solve by its
assistance. Experiments are still required to clear
up several apparently anomalous effects in gunnery,
and to determine the conditions most conducive to
efficiency both as regards attack and defence. It is
gratifying to see our Government acting in accord-
ance with the enlightened principles of the age by
carrying on scientific experiments to arrive at
knowledge, which, in the arts of war as well as in
those of peace, is proverbially recognised as the true
source of human power.
Professor Tyndall's recant discoveries respect-
ing the absorption and radiation of heat by va-
pours and permanent gases constitute important
additions to our knowledge. The extreme deli-
cacy of his experiments and the remarkable
distinctness of their results render them beauti-

ful examples of physical research. They are o.
great value as affording further illustrations of the
vibratory actions in matter which constitute heat ;
but it is in connection with the science of meteoro-
logy that they chiefly command our attention. From
these experiments we learn that the minute quan-
tity of water suspended as invisible vapour in the
atmosphere acts as a warm clothing to the earth.
The efficacy of this vapour in arresting heat is, in
comparison with that of air, perfectly astound-
ing. Although the atmosphere contains on an ave-
rage but one particle of aqueous vapour to 200 of
air, yet that single particle absorbs 80 times as much
heat as the collective 200 particles of air. Remove,
says Professor Tyndall, for a single summer night,
the aqueous vapour from the air which overspreads
this country, and you would assuredly destroy every
plant incapable of bearing extreme cold. The
warmth of our fields and gardens would pour itself
unrequitted into space, and the sun would rise upon
as island held fast in the grip of frost. Many me-
teorological phenomena receive a feasible explana-
tion from these investigations, which arc probably
destined to throw further light upon the functions
of our atmosphere.
Few sciences have more practical value than me-
teorology, and there are few of which we as yet
know so little. Nothing would contribute more to
the saving of life and property, and to augmenting
the general wealth of the world, than the ability to
foresee with certainty impending changes of the
weather. At present our means of doing so are ex-
ceedingly imperfect, but, such as they are, they
have been employed with considerable effect by Ad-
miral. Fitzroy in warning mariners of the probable
approach of storms. We may hope that so good an
object will be effected with more unvarying success
when we attain a better knowledge of the causes by
whin wind and rain, heat and cold, are determined.
The balloon explorations conducted with so much
intrepidity by Mr. (3 laisher, under the auspices 01
the British Association, may perhaps in some de-
gree assist in enlightening us upon these important
subjects. We have learnt from Mr. Glaisher's ob-
servations that the decrease of temperature with
elevation does not follow the law previously as-
sum of 1 deg. in 300 feet, and that in fact it follows
no definite law at all. Mr. Glaisher appears also
to have ascertained the interesting fact that rain is
only precipitated when clouds exist in a double
layer. Rain-drops, he has found, diminish in size
with elevation, merging into wet mist and ulti-
mately into dry fog. Mr. Glaisher met with snow
for a mile in thickness below rain, white is at vali-
ance with our preconceived ideas. He has also
rendered good service by testing the efficiency of
various instruments at heights which cannot be
visited without personal danger.
The facility now given to the transmission of in-
telligence and the interchange of thought, is one of
tho most remarkable features of the present age.
Cheap and rapid postage to all parts of the world—
paper and printing reduced to the lowest possible
cost—electric telegraphs between nation and nation,
town and town, and now even (thanks to the beau-
tiful inventions of Professor Wheatstone) between
house and house—all contribute to aid that com-
merce of ideas by which wealth and knowledge are
augmented.
Another subject of a social character which de-
mands our consideration is the much debated ques-
tion of weights and measures. Whatever difference
of opinion there may be as to the comparative
merits of decimal and duodecimal division, there
can at all events be none as to the importance of
assimilating the systems of measurement in different
countries. It is much to be regretted that two
standards of measure so nearly alike as the English
yard and the French metre should not be made
absolutely identical. The metric system has already
been adopted by other nations besides France, and
is the only one which has any chance of becoming
universal. We in England, therefore, have no alter-
native but to conform with France, if we desire
general uniformity. The change might easily be
introduced in scientific literature, and in that case
it would probably extend itself by degrees among
the commercial classes without much legislative
pressure. Besides the advantages which would thus
be gained in regard to uniformity,
I am con-
vinced that the adoption of the decimal divi-
sion of the French scale would be attended with
great convenience both in science and commerce. I
in ll r
can speak from personal experience
a of e
cases whethe superio-
rity of decimal measurement
accuracy is required in mechanical construction. In
the Elswick Works, as well as in some other large
establishments of the same description,
fractional
inch is
adoptedex parts are
and
ie Lis
" need in habituating the workmento tae
pressedasintdbeeciumn:::.
Noybeen
ex.
use of
pone
' ' method, and it has greatly contributed t
tel'islisonof w
orkmanship. 0 pre-
The inch, however, is too
„nail a unit, and it would he advantageous to sub-
stitute the- metre if
originally founded
coneurrence could be
obtained.
As to our thermometric sole, it was
founded in error ; it is also most incon-
venient in diTif:oll, c‘ u'l ought 4t °Dee to be tiban-

favour than is consistent with that dispas-
sionate spirit which it is so necessary to
preserve in the pursuit of truth. The Dar-
winian theory, when fully enunciated, founds the
pedigree of living nature upon the most elementary
form of vitalised matter. One step further
would carry us back, without greater violence to
probability, to inorganic rudiments, and then we
should be called upon to recognise in ourselves,
and in the exquisite elaborations of the ani-
mal and vegetable kingdoms, the ultimate results of
mere material forces left free to follow their own
unguided tendencies. Surely our minds would in
. . .

ttnhiartaecualsneubee
thmaonrethopeyprnenssd
weare withi a n
in attributing
attsreibusteinothe
gf
the
wondrous things around us to the creative hand of
a Great presiding Intelligence.
The evidences bearing upon the antiquity of man
have been recently produced, in a collected and
most logically treated form, by Sir Charles
Lyell. It seems no longer possible to doubt
that the human race has existed on the earth in a
barbarian state for a period far exceeding the limit
of historical record; but, notwithstanding this great
antiquity, the proofs still remain unaltered that man
is the latest as well as the noblest work of God.
I will not run the risk of wearying this assembly
by extending my remarks to other branches
of science. In conclusion I will express a hope
that when the time again comes round to receive
the British Association in this town, its
members will find the interval to have been
as fruitful as the corresponding period on
which we now look back. The tendency
of progress is to quicken progress, because
every acquisition in science is so much vantage
ground for fresh attainment. We may expect,
therefore, to increase our speed as we struggle
forward; but however high we climb in the pursuit
of knowledge, we shall still see heights above us;
and the more we extend our view, the more con-
scious we shall be of the immensity which lies
beyond.

Fatal Balloon Accident near Nottingham.

The inquest upon the body of the unfortunate
man Chambers, who met with his death on Monday
night at Arno Vale, near Nottingham (the begin-
ning of which we reported yesterday), came to a
conclusion on Tuesday evening.
In reply to a question by the foreman of the jury,
Mr. Coxwell said had the gas in ths bel•
loon been ordinary gas, purified in the proper way,
that which came into the face of the deceased
would not have hurt him. It was gas made with
more regard to quantity than quality. The works at
which it was made were but small, and they ac-
cordingly tried to produce as much gas as possible ;
therefore the possibility is that coal was used which
would give a greater volume of gas from a smaller
quantity of ordinary coal.
The foreman—How could you bring your mind
to allow an ascent under these circumstances ?
Mr. Coxwell said he could not have thought that
any one who had the balooning experience of de-
ceased would have so mismanaged the balloon as to
allow a sufficient quantity of gas to go into his face
to render him insensible.
By a Juryman—When he was standing in the
car the balloon, from which the gas escaped, would
be about six feet from the mouth of the deceased.
Mr. Colwell further said that when Mr. Glaisher
and himself ascended to great heights the gas in the
balloon proportionately expanded. The gas that
would occupy a space of 90,000 feet at a height of
seven miles from the earth would not occupy more
than a fourth of that space on the earth's surface.
If a balloon were to go up only half full it would
rise and rise unless checked until perfectly full. At
three and three quarter miles from the earth a
volume of gas will double its bulk. Now, he told
this poor man not to go too high, but to check the
at the dis-
balloon and come down if it was only
tance of a mile. juryman, the witness
In reply to questions by a
said the danger of insensibility and death from
breathing gas was in proportion to its parity or im-
purity. He had no doubt that some portion of gas
had been inhaled into the lungs of the deceased.
He also said that when Mr. Glaisher and himself
made their high ascent about six weeks ago the
as drifting out to sea, and they made a
balloon w
very rapid descent. They came down two miles in
about four minutes, and the valve of his large bal-
which was three times as large as this, was
loon,
a similar way.
bro
itken in The balloon came over
on s side and completely disarranged the whole

thing.
The Coroner—Then you are of opinion that tbe,
fall to the earth fractured the valve and thespring
Mr. Colwell—Decidedly.
Mr. Wells (solicitor on behalf of deceased's rela-
tives)—What was your balloon calculated to lift
it would lift
Mr. Coxwell—With ordinary gas
of the balloon,
14,0001 b., deducting the weight
3501 b., and then it should have lifting power equal
to three or four persons and the usual ballast.
ppling-irons were, I sup-
A Juryman—The gra
pose left out unintentionally P _
Mr. Colwell—They wereleft out intentionally;
the balloon would not rise with the grappling-irons.
The Foreman—Bat would a man safely descend
without grappling"
have frequently
Mr. Coitsvell-4 have done it myself
evenings. I have 4 rope in the balloon,
on calm
and by his not lowering the rope provided for him
in the balloon it proves to me t:ae.t he wee in an in-
sensible state. •
Tee Coroner—You do not attribute the accident
to the gas ?
Mr. Colwell—Oh no ; had it been lighter gas,
though, I should have gone up myself, but knowing
this
prior fellow to be experienced, and not wishing,
to disappoint the visitors, I accepted his offer.
The Voreman—Supposing the man had not gone
up, what should you have done?
Mr. Colwell.l had made ample provision in
that case. I had two tickets being written, " Mr.
Cox.well's balloon from Basford Park ;" with direc-
tions to whoever should find it to return it. One of
these tickets wes written, and while the other was
being written the deceased got into the car, and
went up.
I The Coroner summed up ; and
The Jury returned the following verdict :—That
the deceased James Chambers, ascended tl.e car at-
tached to a balloon during fair weather; that he
ascended in a voluntary manner and by his own free
will ; that through inhaling gas he became insen-
sible, and was unable to work the batten properly,
and the balloon coming into violent collision with
the earth caused his death.

Full benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur-
chasing liornimat's lure Tea ; St ry cloice at 3s. 4d. and
Iligh Standard." at 44.43. (forturly 4s. Sd.), is the
ttrougest and most deliCous L.Tpottod. 4,C12115 is CliCrY
tows PPPIY it i packets.

The improvements lately introduced by the Ad-
miralty into iron shipbuilding, and more particu-
larly those made in the construction of the Bellero-
phon, have bad the effect of stimulating the private
same
pbuilding interest to unwonted activity in the
direction. The committee of Lloyds' have
submitted their rules and regulations for the build-
ing of iron ships to a thorough revision, based on
communications which have been furnished by all
the principal iron shipbuilders tlhvre been brought throughout the coun-
try. The suggestions v
in
this way to the notice of the committee
have been
well considered, and made tho basis
of
of regulations, compiled by Messrs. i‘alanret7n cod
Ritchie, the principal shipbuilding surveyorsl
Llo) cis'. In order to render this code fully intell7t
gible to the profession, the committee have offered
to their large staff of surveyors a series of prizes to
those who should succeed in producing the best
and most exact set of illustroted drawings
of everything relating to iron shipbuilding. In order
at the same time to secure a thoroughly independent
adjudication upon the various competitive plans, the
committee requested Mr. Reed, the recently-
appointed chief constructor at the Admiralty, to
award the prizes. He has done so, and also prepared
an official report, which is about to be printed and
circulated by the committee for the information of
the surveyors and agents throughout the world.
The first prize has been awarded to Mr. Cornish,
the youngest surveyor on the staff at Lloyds'.
Prizes of a second-class have also been awarded to
Messrs. Boolds, Davey, Light, and Luae. The re-
port of Mr. Reed was so satisfactory to the commit-
tee, and afforded such evidence of the professional
skill evinced by Lloyds' surveyors, that the com-
mittee have trebled the sum which they originally
appropriated as prizes and gratuities to the compe-
titors. The prize drawings will be engraved and
published for the guidance of the shipbuilding pro-
fession.

A number of workmen are now busily employed
at Chatham in cutting away the solid granite Sides
at the entrance to No. 2 dock, in which the iron
ship Achilles is under construction, in readiness
for that vessel being floated out. As much as 2ft.
Sin., or 16in. on each side, will have to be cut away
from the entire length of the solid wall on both
sides the dock in order to admit of the Achilles being
floated out without touching the sides.
Major-Gen. Bloomfield, Inspector-General of the
Royal Artillery, returned to town last evening from
a tour of inspection in Scotland and the northern
districts.

The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty—Lieut. W. Howorth to the Hogue,
for service in the Harpy ; Lieut. Richard H. Napier
to the Duke of Wellington ; Sub-Lieut. Edward S.
Beliett and Sub-Lieut. Francis H. Chapman to the
Marlborough.