The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-21 00:00:00

Lord Stanley at Liverpool.

Chamber, which contain, among a mass of other
matter, an elaborate, and, I don't doubt, to those
practically interested, a very valuable summary of the
industrial situation of the country. Thy have been
transplanted to Australia, and only ths other day I
saw it mentioned in the newspapers that, in a quar-
rel now going on in one of the Australian colonies
between different branches of the Legislature a me-
morial of the local Chamber of Commerce was
quoted as a document which ought to influence
opinion. (Cheers.) Now, I think we must admit
that they have in general thriven better on foreign
than on English soil. Those of England date only
from the beginning of this century, and of 48 or 49
now existing only few have occupied a really pro-
minent position. It is only justice to a community
to which some of us in this town look as a rival to
say that the Chamber of Commerce of Manchester
is, of all, that which has been most active and which
has exercised the greatest influence. Ours in Liver-
pool dates only from a period of 15 years back, and
it is, perhaps, as yet too early to boast of its past
history, but I think I am not mistaken in saying
that it is the main object of our meeting here to call
attention to the importance of an institution of this
kind in our town, and to express an earnest hope
that it may be more actively and continuously sup-
ported than has hitherto been the case by those
who take a leading part in our local affairs. (Ap-
plause.) Now, the question may be asked, what are
the Chambers of Commerce intended to do ? My
answer is, they serve as authoritative exponents of
commercial opinion. It is not always easy either
for the Board of Trade or for the House of Com-
mons to pick out the best individual opinions on
mercantile matters. It is the misfortune of men
engaged in public life that we are apt to hear
only those opinions which are most noisily ex-
pressed, and which, I need not tell you, are not
always either the most influential or the wisest.
Their discussions, their debates, serve to form local
opinion. If any measure is proposed hostile to the
interests of commerce their protecting power may
be valuable ; they can do Many things which every-
body in trade wants done, butwhich it is not exactly
any one's business to do in his individual capa-
city. I will take a single instance : a commission
is now sitting to inquire into the railway system
generally, of which your friend, Mr. Horsfall, and
I are both members. Many complaints are made
before us of the management of the railway com-
panies. It is not my business here to say whether
those complaints are in every respect well founded
or the reverse, but undoubtedly they are so numer-
ous and so grave that they deserve a full investiga-
tion. Now, in a matter of that kind individuals are
not very willing to put themselves forward. The
position of an accuser is an invidious one ; a man
who takes it up makes enemies. There is a loss of
time, and many men don't like to have it asked,
when they bring forward a complaint, " Who is this
person, and by what right does he speak as the re-
presentative of a trade ?" Now, the very best evi-
dence we have had on this question—evidence on
one side, I mean—has been that which has been
brought by individuals representing and delegated
from the local chambers of commerce. I cite that
simply as one instance among many that what has
been done in the case of railway management may
be done also in the case of any other matter equally
affecting the commercial or manufacturing interests.
You are aware that many of the chambers of the
smaller towns, and indeed some among the larger,
have formed themselves into an association, and
hold what may be called a little parliament of their
ownsyearly in London. I think in that they have
acted wisely. I think that it would be desirable
that that association should be joined by all the
chambers of commerce now existing, and it may in-
deedbe a question whether an association so formed
_might not extend beyond the limits of this country,
and invite at least expressions of opinion from the
representatives of great commercial centres in other
parts of the world. There is another question on
which I have not now time to touch—l mean that
proposition which has been often made to create tri-
bunals of commerce, special courts for the trial of
commercial questions in connection with these cham-
bers. You are, of course, aware that such tribunals
exist on the continent, and are said to work very
well in France, at least they possess large powers,
they are generally resorted to, and it is asserted the
number of appeals from them is fewer than from
the ordinary civil courts. I don't, however, wish
to be understood as giving a positive expression of
opinion upon that question ; it has never been fairly
analysed either as far as I have seen in print or
Parliamentary discussion. I know that there are
great obstacles to the establishment of such tri-
bunals, and I believe it would be fair to put the
matter in this way : that the preponderance of mer-
cantile opinion is in favour of their establishment,
and the preponderance of legal opinion is against it.
This much is certain, that Judges on the Bench
have complained of the difficulty of settling trade
i disputes from the special knowledge which they re-
quire, and that anything in the nature of a more
extended or authoritative system of arbitration
would by many persons engaged in business be con-
sidered a great boon. I repeat it, I don't go fur-
ther than that I feel this is a question ripe for con-
sideration, hardly ripe for action ; but I don't
forget, and I hope you will remember, that it is one
of those questions which were specially named at
the foundation of the Liverpool Chamber of Com-
merce, 15 years ago, as questions which that body
ought to consider, and with regard to which it ought,
if possible, to take some action.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed " The Members
for the Borough."
Mr. R. S. GRAVES, M.P., in reply, then said—
Since I have had the honour of being elected one of
your borough members my labours have been, com-
paratively speaking, so light that I feel I can lay
but little claim to share in the compliment you have
paid them. Happily, however, the period of Par-
liamentary inactivity is drawing rapidly to a close,
and members of the new House of Commons will
soon have an opportunity afforded them for enter-
ing on the more active discharge of their duties.
Speaking for myself, I look forward with pleasure
to sharing with my valued colleague the work
which I know well must be inseparable from the
faithful representation of such a community as
ours. (Applause.) It is true, I have been a
member of the Chamber of Commerce since its
formation, but I am nevertheless indebted to the
president for his official introduction this evening,
and I can assure the council and the representa-
tives of the commercial associations of the
town whom I see assembled here that it will afford
me very sincere gratification to help in promoting
their views whenever my services can be of the
slightest use to them in their corporate or individual
capacity. (Cheers.) It was but a few days since I
took up by accident a newspaper published in one
of the leading cities of . the United States, and read
a review of the proceedings of its Chamber of Com-
merce, which summed up by an announcement that
its mission was to "lubricate the wheels of crea-
tion." (Laughter and cheers.) We all know
the deep interest which the president has taken in
the affairs of the Chamber during his year of office,
and how earnestly he has endeavoured to extend its
usefulness ; but I venture to think that he never
aimed at so universal a sphere of action as the term
suggests. (Renewed laughter.) If, however, we
substitute " commerce" for " creation," we shall
have a most apt and happy illustration of the bene-
fits which such institutions confer on trade, in pre-
venting friction and removing obstructions; and
we must all appreciate the desire manifested by our
Chamber in at all times seeking to remove impedi-
ments which fettered the free current of the com-
merce of our port. (Applause.) Union is strength,
and I congratulate the president on the proof he has
afforded us to-night of his desire to bring into
closer harmony our commercial associations, and I
venture to hope that this social meeting may be at-
tended with beneficial results in strengthening and
consolidating the Chamber of Commerce. (Loud
cheers.)
Mr. Horsfall, M.P., and Mr. Laird, M.P. for
Birkenhead, also responded. .
Mr. T. G. Livingstone proposed " The Town
baiyidthrrerade bf Liverpool," which was acknowledged
Mayor, and by Mr. Ralph Brocklebank.
Sir CHARLES BRIGHT, M.P., then proposed "The
Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom,"

Yesterday evening Mr. Philip 11. Rathbone,
President of the Chamber of Commerce, enter-
tained Lord Stanley, Mr. T. B. Horsfall, Mr. John
Laird, M.P., Mr. S. R. Graves, M.P., Sir Charles
Bright, M.P., the Mayor (Mr. Farnworth), and a
number of gentlemen at a banquet held in the Law
Association Rooms, Liverpool.
After the usual toasts had been proposed,
in proposing the health of the
The CHAIRMAN,
Right Hon. Lord Stanley, M.P., said—We are very
fond of boasting of our advance in civilisation, and
far having
disposed of most of the questions
so as
which ever divided political parties I think with
justice ; but there surely remain problems to be
solved of hardly less importance—for instance, the
question of railways. (Hear.) The means of
communication are among the most important ele-
ments of the civilisation of a nation, and were so
considered by the greatest political nation of old—
the Romans. I suppose it is the first time in his-
tory that a country's means of communication have
been almost completely in the hands of private mo-
nopolists, and if it be true that nearly 200, or not
far from one-third, of the new House of Commons,
are railway directors, it is difficult to see how any
Government can carry a measure in the public in-
terest to which the railway companies are, as a
body, actively and unitedly opposed. (Hear, hear,
and cheers.) Again, few of us, I should presume,
could go into the courts and alleys that lie around
the spot where we now stand, and see the mass of
degradation, crime, and misery that settles there,
without a very strong conviction that our civilisa-
tion is far from being altogether a success, and
that the question of pauperism is one demanding
the statesman's most earnest attention. But
these are questions too delicate and difficult to be
dealt with as party questions. (Hear, hear.) They
cannot be formulated into those sharp and tell-
ing war cries which rouse popular enthusiasm,
and moreover it would be a most serious evil for
the country were such questions to fall into the
hands of those generous but mischievous poli-
ticians who mistake feelings for thoughts, passions
for principles, and too often credit to a warm heart
hasty and superficial utterances which they ought
rather to debit to a hot temper. (Applause.) Surely
it is most important that these questions should be
approached in the calm, philosophical temper of the
late Sir Cornewall Lewis, than whom England has
had few greater losses, and by statesmen who will
investigate the phenomena of political or social
science—call it which you will—with the same pa-
tient, searching, passionless, investigation with which
the naturalist examines the laws of physical science,
always recollecting that the laws of political eco-
nomy, for instance, are as much the laws of Provi-
dence, and that inquiries into them are as little
responsible for their existence—in short, that our
statesmen are perfectly careless as to what end such
investigations may lead, save only that the end is
the truth. It is because we believe that my Lord
Stanley, in common with a few of our statesmen on
both sides of the Houses, has undertaken the study
of politics as a science in this spirit, as well as its
practice as an art, that I ask all here of all shades
of politics—and I don't think there is an unrepre-
sented man—to do cordial respect to the manly,
conscientious thoroughness with which my Lord
Stanley grapples with any subject he undertakes.
(Cheers.) Gentlemen, the heart has its uses, though
thinking is not one of them. It is an excellent ser-
vant to the brain, though a bad master of it, and
one not unimportant use is when Englishmen ex-
press their candid admiration of and hearty sympathy
with those statesmen who show how profoundly
they love their country by sparing no work in her
service, no matter upon what side in politics they
may be. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, in your name
I beg to thank Lord Stanley for the honour he has
dose us in coming among us to-night, and I call
upon you to drink his health with all the honours.
The toast was received with enthusiasm.
Lord STANLEY on rising was received with loud
applause. After briefly acknowledging the kindness
of this reception, and dwelling upon the political
obligations of rank, he said,—But there is another
reason, and not one of a personal nature, why
I accept with pleasure the compliment you have
paid me. When I look around this room, having
been invited here as a neighbour and as one con-
nected with the landed interest of this county,
when I see around me able and worthy representa-
tives of the greatest mercantile and manufacturinp;
communities in the world, it seems that this meet-
ing is, so to speak, a type of that change which is
happily taking place, if, indeed, it has not been
completely effected, throughout the country—the
union, or fusion, as it were, into one body, with
common interests, with common objects, and, in
the main, common ideas, of the great mercantile
and manufacturing classes on the one hand, and
the great territorial body on the other. (Cheers.)
To see that union take place, not only in these dis-
tricts, but throughout the country, has always been
my earnest desire, and when I look round upon the
whole range of political and social questions which
have risen and are likely to rise in our day, I can
see as between these classes absolutely no serious
cause of disagreement or disunion. (Hear, hear,
• and cheers.) Individuals, of course, will differ in
opinion ; that is a matter of opinion and of tempe-
rament ; but, if we are to measure time, not by the
lapse of years, but by the progress of ideas, we are
essentially removed from the days when speakers
could get up at public meetings and talk about
government by a half -feudalised aristocracy, which
looked down with contempt upon trade, which was
always ready to drag the country into quarrels and
multiply military armaments for the sake of their
relatives and connexions. If any man were to hold
that language now, one would be tempted to ask
him if he had fallen from the moon, as it would be
clear he understood but little of what was passing
on this earth. (Cheers and laughter.) We are
all alike interested in the maintenance of peace, in
the enforcement of public economy, in the progress
of industrial enterprise, in the lightening of taxa-
tion, and the war upon our great national enemy,
pauperism. (Hear.) Material interests are not, I
trust, with any of us of primary importance, but
even as regards material interest you cannot enrich
the landlord without giving a stimulus to manu-
facturers and commerce, and you certainly cannot
enrich the trader and manufacturer without a
considerable portion of his gain passing into the
pockets of the owners of the soil. That is the econo-
mical view of the question from a social point of
view. While I see on the one hand, from the High-
lands of Scotland to the coast of Devonshire and
Cornwall, in every part of the country, among the
improving and most useful, and often the most in-
fluential landowners, those whose fortunes have been
more or less recently acquired in the great towns,
so, on the other hand, I perceive among the landed
classes a gradual but well-nigh complete disappear-
ance of that prejudice which undoubtedly existed 40
or 50 years ago against bringing up their children
to industrial occupations. (Hear, hear.) I have a
right, then, if this be so, to assert that co-operation,
and even, so to call it, that fusion between those two
great interests has taken place. And now allow me
to proceed, with a very few remarks, to the duty
'which your chairman imposed upon me, that of pro-
posing one of the toasts of the evening. I shall ask
You to drink " Prosperity to the Liverpool Chamber
of Commerce." It is singular that, while English
commerce well-nigh equals that of all Europe put
together, England has cared less than almost auy
other country to promote these local associations for
the discussion of mercantile matters. On the conti-
nent I need not tell you they are of considerable
antiquity and importance. In France
.they date
•
e
from the beginning of the 17th century, Marseilles
having taken the lead, and, wittheshortyhave interruptionsxiatedever
during revolutionary periods, they
since. Those French Chambers of Commerce are
more under State control than we should think de-
sirable, but their functions are extensive, and their
influence is considerable. (Hear.) I saw lately reports
from those of Havre and Bordeaux, andldon'tknow
which struck me as more remarkable--the variety of
the subjects discussed, or the ability with which they
were treated. In Belgium these institutions are nume-
rous and active. In the New World they flourish. I
have been able, through the kindness of a friend, to
examine the last volume of reports of the New York

and after referring to the beneficial influence exerted
by bodies representing the commercial interests of
the country, by which the views of the mercantile
community could be expressed with authority, ho
adverted to questions connected with telegraphic
communication which were then under the conside-
ration of the Chambers. The recently opened tele-

necessity of care when continuous declining read-
ings are proceeding. The barometer may be al-
most neglected by the sailor when its readings
range above the average, but when they descend
below the average it is a warning which ought never
to pass unheeded, and when the depression is sud-
den it is the sure and certain warning of the ap-
proach of storms. Such signs no sailor ought to
neglect ; yet they are neglected, and, what is more
sad still, too many barometers sold as marine
barometers are totally unfit for such an important
purpose. During the last few years I have seen
many of these instruments, and I have found them
imperfect in numerous ways. Some of these defects
I may enumerate here :
Firstly. The upper portion of the tube is too small.
Secondly. The relation of the :nterior bore of the
tube to that of the cistern is neglected, so that the
rise of the mercury in the cistern, caused by a fall
in the tube, is not allowed for on the scale.
Thirdly. The lower portion of the tube is gene-
rally too much contracted in the bore.
Fourthly. The cistern is too snail to contain the
mercury when the barometer realing is low.
Fifthly. The careless cleaning nit of the internal
bore of the tubes, and imperfectly freeing them
from damp.
The most serious of these errors is the third. It
is well known that the tubes of marine barometers
ought to have their bores contracmd so as to steady
the motion of the mercury when the ship is in a
heavy sea. This in some instants is so carelessly
done that it has not the desired efect ; but in most
cases it is carried to a great excess. For instance,
in some instruments the mercury will take from
from forty minutes to an hour to pass through the
first inch after suspension, and many are so slug-
gish in their action as not to inoicate any change
in less than twenty minutes.
This unnecessary contraction is very frequently
the cause of entirely stopping the nation of the baro-
meter, as the minutest particle of foreign matter, or
even the oxidation of the mercury itself, which, as
an impalpable powder forming on the surface of the
mercury in the cistern, on moving the barometer is
displaced, and this in its ascent to float on the top
of the mercury chokes and closes the fine bore of the
tube hermetically, rendering the instrument perfectly
useless; and this is often not found out till the ship
has left for sea. A barometer, therefore, acting well
till disturbed, may be quite useless afterwards.
The fourth-named error is also one of great
gravity ; and for this errorlow-priced manufacturers
are far more to be censured for their culpability
than for their ignorance or carelessness—the size of
the cistern is.reduced to enable them to save a quar-
ter of a pound of mercury. This great desire to
cheapen instruments is most serious, as the indica-
tions of such instruments are absolutely deceiving,
and at a time when the changes are of vital import-
ance. In many such barometers the mercury will
not fall below, even if so low, as 29 inches, although
a standard at such times may read 28.5 inches, or
even less. Nor will such an instrument show any
change till the mercury rises above 29 inches ; that
is, the barometer says the mercury is stationary and
steady at all times of the greatest phases of storms,
and when every change should be instantly known
by the sailor.
It is therefore not to be wondered at that some
master mariners hold the barometer in little esteem
if supplied with instruments of this class. Mr.
Pastorelli told me that he heard a captain say that
he had the barometer removed, as it occupied some
valuable space which was required for another pur-
pose, and on arriving in the port of Liverpool, that
very instrument was found broken in an obscure
nook of the ship. This is a sad illustration, and
proves the absolute necessity of improvement in the
make of these instruments. By using large cisterns,
tubes of proper capacity, scales which are known as
contracted scales, chemically clean tubes, pure mer-
cury, and properly contracted bores, instruments can
be made which shall read within 0.01 or 0 02 inch
at every part of their scales, when compared with, a
standard barometer, and they ought to, and can be,
sold at a moderate price.
The contraction of the tube in a marine barome-
ter ought to be carried only so far as to allow the
utmost freedom of action of the mercury without

graph to India had been the subject of special com-
plaints, and these were re-echoed by every mail from
Calcutta and Bombay. The irregularities were,
however, by no means incapable of remedy. The
service was very well done between this country and
the Turkish frontier, but thence by the Turkish tele-

graph through Asia Minor and Mesopotamia to the '
Persian Gulf it was execrable—(hear, hear)—and it
was from point to point of this section that the
principal delay and mangling of messages took place.
From the head of the Gulf, through the submarine
cable to Kurrachee, a distance of 1,330 English
miles, the work was very well done by an efficient
English staff, the messages averaging three hours in
transmission, and the percentage of error being low.
From Kurrachee to the different cities of India the
telegraph, which was worked by the Indian Govern-
ment, was the worst in administration and appliances
he bad ever seen. Thelines were badly constructed
and badly worked by an inefficient underpaid staff
of half-castes, and it was no uncommon occurrence
for a message to be several days passing from Kur-
rachee to Bombay, or between Calcutta and Bom-
bay and Madras. Nor was this all, for it had been
found that the native community were frequently in
possession of intelligence by telegraph when Euro-
peans in the same places could not obtain the mes-
sages sent by their correspondents from similar
points. There was no reason why messages should
not be regularly and correctly transmitted between
this country and all parts of India within 12 hours,
and there had, in fact, been many cases (for exam-
ple, the message from the Governor-General to Sir
Charles Wood announcing the termination of the
difficulty in Bhootan) in which messages had been
transmittedin much lesstime. (Applause.) It would
of course be utterly useless to attempt to proceed
with the extension of the telegraph beyond the In-
dian wires to Australia and China until the system
to and throughout India should be remodelled, or
duplicate routes were established ; and he was very
glad to find that mercantile associationswere taking
action on the subject of telegraphic communication,
which was almost unequalled as an adjunct to com-
merce if efficiently worked, but was otherwise an
agent of confusion and mischief. (Cheers.)
Mr. M. Ross, President of the Manchester Cham-
ber of Commerce, acknowledged the toast.
Mr. M. KING proposed the " Kindred Associa-
tions of the Town," which include the Law Society
and the commercial associations of Liverpool. These
associations, he said, were so numerous and so
varied in their character, that it would be impossible
to point to any description of industry throughout
the kingdom the prosperity of which is not affected
directly or indirectly by that of one or other of the
branches of commerce over which those associations
respectively presided. Thuswhile they were engaged
primarily in guarding their own interests their la-
bours had the further happy result of conducing
also to the common good of all. (Applause.) But
besides this general claim to our good will, these as-
sociations had a peculiar claim to the graceful ac-
knowledgment of all connected with the Liverpool
Chamber of Commerce for the readiness which they
had always shown to co-operate with the chamber in
giving it their advice, and that exact knowledge
which they alone possessed upon matters coming
under their special cognizance. They had thus ena-
bled the representations of the Liverpool Chamber
to headquarters to be made with a precision and a
force which had secured for them the desired atten-
tion. To none, perhaps, were the Liverpool Cham-
ber more indebted in this respect than to the Law
Society, whose technical information had been as
valuable as it had been freely imparted. (Cheers.)
Mr. A. T. SQUAREY responded to the toast.

On the Variations of the Weather during
the late Gales.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sir,—The variations of the readings of the baro
meter at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, in the
period from September 12 to November 30, making
altogether 80 days, are shown in tho diagram and
table, a copy of which I beg to send you herewith.
The general directions of the wind are also given on
every day, as determined from the records of Osler's
self-registering anemometer, and the number of
miles of horizontal movement of the air, as self-
registered by the use of Robinson's anemometer.
During the latter part of this period there have
been successive heavy gales of wind upon our coasts,
causing sad disasters at sea, and calling very fre-
quently into use the services of the lifeboats of the
National Lifeboat Institution, and these, in most
cases, have been attended with success in the saving
of life ; but unhappily in some few instances, as
must ever be the case, the gales have been so violent
that life has been lost ; and the most noble efforts
on the part of the lifeboat crews, after toiling in
some instances through the midnight' storms, have
failed entirely, the boats being:unable to reach the
distressed ships.
A few particulars of the readings of the barometer
during the period preceding these storms, and dur-
ing their continuance, cannot fail to be useful and
interesting to the brave men who are ever ready to
go off in those lifeboats, as well as to sailors and
fishermen generally.
The readings of the barometer from the Ist of
September to the 6th day were high, and above the
average. On the 7th day it decreased a little below
the average ; on the Bth the lowest reading in the
month took place, viz., 2916 in. ; and from the 9th
day it was constantly above the average to the end
of the month, being mostly above 30 in., as shown
in the diagram. The weather was exceedingly fine
throughout the month. The highest reading in the
month took place on the 23d. There was a little
decrease in the readings at the beginning of October,
but on the 3d day the reading again rose above 30
in., and began to declip on the sth, continuing to
decrease till the 11th. Up to the 10th day the air
had been mostly calm, and fog had been prevalent,
but on this day the wind began to blow strongly
from the -west and south-west. On the 11th the
readings began to increase, and from the 12th the
winds were light. A maximum barometer reading
was reached on the evening of the sth, day. During
the 16th the barometer readings decreased rapidly,
and the wind increased in strength. A minimum
reading of 28.89 in. was reached by 9 p.m. on the
18th, with strong wind blowing. Unsettled weather
followed this, and the barometer readings oscillated
up and dowil, as will be seen by reference to the
diagram, and the wind was frequently very strong,
reaching 201 b. on the square foot on the 25th day.
From this time to the end of the month, the oscilla-
tions of the barometer readings were very remark-
able ; a decrease of i of an inch was followed by an
increase to the like amount ; and then in very un-
usually quick succession, another decrease and in-
crease to almost the same amounts, these very large
and rapid changes extending over very considerable
tracts of country and sea. The large numbers at
the bottom of the table on those days will show how
strongly the wind was blowing.
From this time there is a general bold and conti-
nuous increase in the barometer curve to 301 in. on
Nov. 12, with mostly north and north-east winds
blowing, and sometimes strongly. From the 13th
day set in decreasing readings, which with checks,
as shown
A own in the diagram, fell to 28.82 in. on the 22d
ti
nn
ugpwt,
was
s cii
av
se.
,ripoowola
828 3iin ~ Observatory,as recordedo nthisdbayy
J,
othhne
and from this time to th
the director
e 2Bth o
day
a the h
there
eOr
eb swe
ar vs aat osruye
-;
cession of disastrous storms, some of the effects of
which were fully detailed in your journal.
If we collate the numbers in the lower part of the
chart with different readings of the barometer, we
shall find that when the readings exceed
e3loowin.,29tinhe.,
average daily horizontal movement of.the air was
babetowuteeln3o2.s
m9ilesapnedr
3doayin;., a2bloontd3itOtion; b
~ 160 it
320 ditto ; thus showing that whenever the baro-
meter reading has been above the average, the wind
has been moderate, and that as the barometer read-
ing decreases the motion of the wind increases, and
is the greatest at the lowest readings.
It is impossible for me to urge too strongly the

pumping.
When the ship is in a heavy sea, when first sus
pended, the screw at the bottfinn of the tubo bcin
withdrawn, as far as possible, the mercury should
fall in the tube through the first inch in 40 seconds
to 60 seconds. It should fall through the second
inch in less than two minutes, and should be at its
true reading within or about 15 minutes from the
time of first suspension. Such an instrument, how-
ever quickly atmospheric changes may be taking
place, will take up its true readings within 0.01 in.
within one or two minutes, and this degree of accu-
racy is practically correct. On removing such an
instrument befor3 packing, it should be taken down
without touching the screw at the bottom, and in-
clined with its cistern downwards, at an angle of 45
deg. to 60 deg. ; the tube will be filled in this posi-
tion in three or four minutes.; then hold the instru-
ment horizontally, and drive the screw at the bottom
nearly, but not quite, home. With these precautions,
the instrument will continue good for many years
—in fact, till broken. During the last few months
I have had frequent interviews with Mr. John
Browning, of 111, Minories ; Mr. F. Pastorelli, of
208, Piccadilly ; and Mr. Zambra, of 1, Hatton-
garden, who have undertaken to make marine and
upright barometers of this character for my exami-
nation ; and I have also undertaken to examine
every one made by these makers, and to give a cer-
tificate with every instrument which complies with
the above conditions. This will, I think, effectually
meet the difficulty to which I have referred.
I feel confident that if our seamen had been pro-
vided with truthful instruments during the fearful
storms of Wednesday the 22d November last, and
on the Friday following, the storms of those two
days and nights would not have proved so disastrous
as they did to life and property.
In corroboration of my remarks, I may mention
one or two cases. Some four or five years ago, her
Majesty's steamer Porcupine was cruising off St.
Kilda, in the Hebrides. Captain Otter, R.N.,
carefully observing the gradual fall of the mercury
to the extent of 11 in. between 8 a.m. on one day,
and 3 26 a.m. on the following 'day, at once or-
dered his ship to be made as snug and tight as pos-
sible. The hurricane at the latter hour burst out
with fearful violence, swept off the little island
nearly the whole of the agricultural produce of the
poor people, and caused lamentable havoc amongst
the shipping and fishing-boats that happened to be
out in these seas at the time. But the Porcupine
weathered out nobly the storm ;i and in lieu of being
in a thousand pieces, the good ship was engaged a
few days afterwards in a mission of mercy in bring-
ing food to the poor islanders.
I am sure that every assistance will be cheerfully
rendered by the National Lifeboat Institution to
save life—whether by lifeboats, ships' lifeboats,
seamen's life-belts, fishing lifeboats ; or, lastly, but
not least, in its great and good work, by helping
the sailor on board ship to possess a truthful and
cheap barometer—a scheme which is indeed only an
extension to the sea of the coast barometer system
of the Institution ; and thus prevent, as far as pos-
sible, by timely warnings on board ship, the neces-
sity of calling into use the last but most glorious
assistance—the services of the lifeboat itself.
Blackheath, Dec., 1865. JAMES GLAISHER.

ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.!—At the last sitting M.
Payen made some remarks on a recent communication re-
ceived from M. Personne, on the discolouring of iodide of
starch by heat. The learned academician remarked that he
himself had, since 1843, shown that at 64 deg. centigrade
the blue colour still remains, if the iodide contain an excess
of iodine, while at 66 deg. the iodide is completely dissolved
in water and loses its blue colour, which, however, it
regains in cooling if the operation has been conducted in a
close vessel. In the contrary case, the colour would lose in
intensity, owing to the evaporation of the iodine. M. Payen
therefore considers himself entitled to priority in this ques-
tion, though he courteously recognises the importance of M.
Personne's researches in the same field of inquiry. The Mi-
nister of Public Instruction sent a letter from Dr. Picker-
ing, of York, addressed to the Emperor, in which he states
that in 1858 he sent to the Academy of Sciences a medicine
which he considers to be a specific for cholera. He there-
fore considers himself entitled to the prize of sloo,ooof.
left by M. Breant, and announces that he will state the
composition of his medicine as soon As he has received the
sum in question. The Academy referred this letter to the
committee for the Breant Legacy; but it is easy to foresee
that the condition for receiving the prize beforehand will
not be complied with, it being contrary to the rules of the
Academy.-- Galignani.

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 21, 1865.