The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-13 00:00:00

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.

The usual weekly meeting of this institution was held
on Tuesday ; James Simpson, Esq., president, in the
chair.

The proceedings of the evening were commenced by
an address from the president, on taking the chair for
the first time after his election. After expressing his
sense of the distinction conferred on him by his election
tion to the post of president, he embraced the oppor-
tunity of acknowledging the debt of gratitude he, in
common with many other members of the profession,
owed to the Institution of Civil Engineers, where they
had first found a field for the exhibition of their ta-
lents, and had there formed the valuable and last-
ing friendships to which might be attributed the good
feeling prevalent in the profession. He then alluded to

the difficulties formerly experienced by • young engi-
neers, at the commencement of their career, chiefly
from want of opportunity of contact with, and expe-
vience of, the proceedings of the older practitioners ;
contrasting it with their present freedom of commu-
nication with the seniors at the meeting of the insti-
tution, where all met on a footing of equality, and with
a predisposition to afford the aid or advice that might
be required. He then gave a slight sketch of the pro-
fessional career of his father, who entered the 'metro-
polis as a millwright in 1778, and, before his decease,
had raised himself to eminence as a civil engineer, and
was the coadjutor of Smeaton, Jessop, Watt, Rennie,
Telford, and others. Under him Mr. James Simpson
commenced his practical career, of which he gave a rapid
outline. As a very old member of the institution, having
been elected in 1825, and chosen a member of council in
1826, he ventured to give some sound practical advice
on the subject of agitation in societies. He then gave a
succinct account of the great engineering works in pro-
gress in India, Egypt, Sweden, Norway, Denmark,
Canada, Australia, Cuba—on the European continent
generally, and in Russia ; chiefly under the direction of
members of the institution. The maritime works on the
Thames, the Tyne, the Severn, the Clyde, the Avon,
&c.—the harbours and docks at Harwich, at Dover, at
Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Portland, Holyhead, Ply-
mouth, Leith, Hartlepool, and other places; the works at
the Norfolk Estuary, the reconstruction of the Bishop's
Rock Lighthouse, and other important labours of civil
engineers, were also noticed. He also alluded to the
subject of screw propulsion, and the valuable, and
hitherto unrewarded, labours of Mr. F. P. Smith, as
triumphantly demonstrated in the late naval review at
Spithead, and the general adoption of the system for an
improved class of steam and sailing vessels. The new
system of propulsion invented by Ruthven, and intro-
duced by Mr. Clark, for the Deep Sea Fishing Com-
pany, was also mentioned. The improvements in the
supplies of gas and water, particularly of the latter,
were noticed, in contradiction to assertions, made "by
authority," that little or no amelioration had taken
place. A short history of the waterworks of the me-
tropolis was given, to show that the extensions and
ameliorations of filtering and high service had closely
followed the facility for obtaining cast iron pipes, in

. .
large quantities, and at a reasonable rate ; and that the
improvement in steam-engines and pumping machinery
had also produced corresponding advantages. Attention
was directed to the present state of the sewerage of cities
and towns, and also that of the drainage of farm lands ;
for the former it was urged, that more had been done
than was generally admitted, and for the latter, the par-
tial steps hitherto taken were contended to be inef-
ficient, unless the system was introducedboa a larger
scale, and extended to arterial and trunk drainage,
and the improvement of the principal drains and water
courses in the lowlands. The regulations for the pre-
vention of the nuisance of smoke, from steam and other
boilers, were noticed, and the various trials already
made were examined. ?'he present general employment
of members of the profession was alluded to with plea-
sure, as demonstrating that the science and practice of
engineering had not expertenced any check ; and with a
tender to the junior members of the society, of any ad-
vice, or assistance in his power, the president concluded
his address, which was unanimously voted to be printed
and published with the :minutes of proceedings.
The discussion was resumed on Mr. Harrison's paper,
" On the Drainage of the District South of the Thames ;"
and was adjourned until Tuesday, January 17, when it
was announced that the whole evening would be de-
voted to the subject.