The Sun.
London, England, 1836-08-29 00:00:00

BRITISH SCIENTIFIC

ASSOCIATION.

BRISTOL, FRIDAY EVENING, AUG. 26.
The three projected excursions were made this morning,
each of which was very numerously attended. At the
expedition to view the works of the Great Western Rail-
way, about seven miles up the river Avon, nearly eighty
boats were employed in conveying members, each of which
took four passengers. A general meeting of the subscribers
of this company was held yesterday at the Guildhall, at
which the London Board of Directors attended, who
availed themselves of this opportunity likewise of inspect-
ing the progress of the works. Considerable interest was
excited in the proceedings, and more particularly in the
tunnels which are being excavated through the sandstone,

in one of which an aperture has been made of nearly one-
third of a mile in length. The progress of the cavalcade
was ushered with the repeated discharges of pieces of
ordnance from the different vessels and foundries in the
harbour ; and every part of the river which could command
a view was crowded to excess. An excursion devoted to
entomology and botany took place from Miller's grounds,
at which most of the zoologists and botanists belonging to
the Association were present, and who, after a long ramble
devoted to the examination and collection of indigenous
plants and insects, were hospitably entertained at the resi-
dence of Mr. Fisher, in the vicinity. For the excursion
more particularly devoted to geology, the Killarney steam-
boat was engaged, which opportunity was eagerly embraced
by most of the geologists present, the Rev. Mr. Conybeare
occasionally offering observations on the different strata
exhibited in the picturesque views of the river, with which
he was particularly well acquainted, having made it the
subject of his inquiry for a great number of years. The
sections of geology, mathematics, and medicine likewise
held their various meetings for the purpose of bringing up
the arrears of business.

The soiree at. the theatre was this evening well attended ;
the Marquis of Northampton, president, in the chair, when
it was announced that the number of tickets which had been
issued was greater than that of any previous occasion of
meeting, being 1,305, the largest previous number, which
was at Dublin last year, being 1,220. After the various
presidents had given in a report of the proceedings of their
sections, a lecture was delivered by Professor Buckland on
some points in geology, and the whole of the evening's ar-
rangements terminated to the gratification of a highly nu-
merous and respectable audience.
SATURDAY EVENING.-At an early hour this morning
Bristol might be seen pouring its various inhabitants into all
, the channels which led to the great scene of attraction—the
ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the Clifton
Suspension Bridge. The procession commenced from the
Somersetshire side of the river, preceded by banners and
streamers, the Marquis of Northampton at its head, and
proceeded to the spot by Rownham-hill, through Leigh-
wood, about four hundred gentlemen following in a line of
four deep. The river, it being high water, was closely stud-
ded with wherries, engaged for the gratuitous accommoda-
tion of the members of the Association, followed by two steam-
packets. The side of St. Vincent's Rock presented a highly
animated appearance from the fringed mass of animated lite
which filled every part of the cliff which afforded standing
room. As soon as the procession reached the station, the
places reserved by the police were occupied by the gentle-
men of which it was composed, and the first stone was
laid by the Marquis of Northampton, which was an-
nounced to the assembled multitudes at a distance by the
flourish of trumpets. In the course of his observations his
Lordship complimented the trustees of this great work on
the attendance of so many distinguished persons, represent-
ing the science of the empire, to see the commencement
of a work which would be a perpetual monument of what
could be effected by commercial enterprise when directed by
science and skill. He also expressed on behalf of the Bri-
tish Association the sense of gratitude which the members
felt for the many acts of kindness manifested towards them,
and the honour which had been reserved of performing this
ceremony in their presence, and concluded with expressing
his wish that the prosperity of Bristol would be as per-
manent as that erection which they had countenanced by
their presence.
This speech, as well as several complimentary ones ad-
dressed to the inhabitants and those who had distinguished
themselves in the furtherance of the erection, were severally
responded to by hearty cheers from both sides of the river,
a numerous hand playing several popular airs, and dis-
charges taking place from several pieces of ordnance.
After the whole of the ceremony was completed, the
procession returned to the starting point, in the same order
in which it had arrived, the various gentlemen of which it
was composed retiring to the Gloucester Hotel, at Clifton,
where a sumptuous dejeuncr was provided for them, at
which the Marquis of Northamptom presided. The Noble
Cilairtnan, ia congratulating the meeting on the auspicious
commencement of their undertaking, proposed " The health

of Mr. Brunel, under whose superintendence the executive
was placed." As he observed several of the members of
the Association present, he would remark, that works of
public utility of magnitude like the present, could only be
carried into execution by the aid of science, and that as the
trowel with which he had performed his part of the cere-
mony had become his property, he should deposit it with
the most valuable of his jewels, as a memtnto to his family
of his having represented British science on this interesting
occasion. With regard to this gigantic undertaking, it
may be stated that the distance between the two points of
suspension will be 700 feet ; the length of the suspended
road-way 630 feet ; the height above high-water mark 230
feet ; and the total width of the floor 34 feet. An inte-
resting exhibition of fire-works was given in the evening, on
the opposite side of the shore from Clifton.
The inscription on the stone is as follows : -
The Foundation Stone
of the South Pier of this Bridge,
Erected under the provisions of an Act of Parliament of the
eleventh year of the reign of his Majesty
King George the Fourth,
By means of subscription raised in aid of a fund created by the
Will of Mr. William Vick,
Heretofore a Citizen of Bristol,
Was laid on the 27th day of August, 1836, in the seventh year
of the reign of his Majesty King William the Fourth,
By the Right Hon. the Marquis of Northampton,
President of the Sixth Annual Meeting of the British Associa-
tion for the Advancement of Science, held in Bristol,
Amidst the acclamations of a large concourse of the citizens,
and of their illustrious visitors, members of the Association.
Principal Dimensions of the Bridge :
Distance between the two points of suspension 7OO fee
Length of suspended roadway 630 do.
Height of roadway above high-water mark 230 do.
Total width of floor
I. K. Brunel, Esq., P.R. S., Engineer.

The Rev. VERNON HARCOURT read a list of the various
invitations that had been sent from different places to soli-
cit the attendance of the Association at its next period of
meeting, which were given according to the number of ap-
plications that had been made. These were from New-
castle-upon-Tyne, four ; Liverpool and Birmingham, two ;
Manchester, one ; Worcester, one ; and Leeds, one. A
considerable discussion ensued, and it was length decided
that the next meeting should be held at Liverpool, in the
'month of September, 1837. The Earl of Burlington was
appointed President ; Sir P. G. Egerton, Bart,, Dr. Dal-
ton, and the Rev. E. Stanley, Vice-Presidents ; the Rev.
James Yates and Dr. Turner, Secretaries ; and A. J.
Murchison, Esq., General Secretary, in the room of Mr.
Daly, who had resigned.
The last meeting for the transaction of the general busi-
ness of the Association was held this evening at the theatre,
the Marquis of Northampton in the Chair. His Lord-
ship, on taking the chair, reverted to the melancholy event
which had, at the commencement of the week, cast a
gloom upon the proceedings, and by which the Marquis
of Lansdowne had been prevented exercising his duties
as President. He would repeat what he had stated in
the morning, that science was the greatest connecting
link between one part of mankind and another. When,
during the progress of the ceremony, he had heard
the loud roar of the cannon, it had excited in him many
deep reflections. There was a time when it brought to
recollection the glories of the British arms ; but along with
these the groans and laments of widows and orphans. On
this occasion, however, no such gloom or sorrow could cross
the mind ; and it was a curious instance of the progress of
science in humanizing man, that an invention which had
been ascribed by one of our favourite poets to' the demons,
was now used to denote the triumphs of civilization. He
hoped that the time would soon arrive when, by the aid of
science, hostility would be driven from the world, and there
would exist nothing but a generous rivalry which nation
could most distinguish itself in the promotion of its noblest
objects. He next enumerated the various places from which
invitations had been sent for the next meeting- of the Asso-
ciation, and detailed the various measures that had received
the sanction of the Committee to its previous meeting.
The Rev. VERNON HARCOURT, the Secretary, announced
that a letter had been received from Dr. Faraday to Dr.
Daubeay, regretting his absence from the present meeting,
on account of ill halth. He next proceeded to read in
detail the various sums that had this morning been devoted
by the Committee for the furtherance of objects which had
received the recommendation of the several Sectional Com-
mittees. Amonst these were for a discussion on the observation
of the tides at Bristol, 2501. ; obsrvations on the tides at
Bristol, 150/. ; for a deduction of the constants in lunar
equations, seventy pounds ; for hourly observations on the
barometer, thermometer, and hydrometer, thirty pounds ;
meteorological observations and researches in subter-
ranean temperature, 100/. ; for determining an accurate
measurement of the permanent relative levels of the land
and sea, 500/. ; for a reduction of observations in the His-
toire Celeste and two volumes of the Academie de Science,
50)/. ; an experimental investigation on the form of waves
as influenced by winds, &c., 100/. ; experiments on the rock
salt lens, 80/. ; &c. In the department of chemistry, for
observations on the respective specific gravity of gases,
50/. ; for observations on the heat developed during com-
bustion, and in other chemical combinations, 151. ; and for
the strength of iron, as manufactured byhot and cold blasts,
501. In geology, for experiments on the quantity of mud
suspended in rivers, 20/. ; for researches in subterranean
temperature, 30/. ; and on the peat bogs in Ireland, 50/. ;
and in botany, for an investigation on plants growing within
a glass frame made air tight, 251. In mechanics, .50/. was
also awarded for an analysis of reports of the duty of
steam engines in Cornwall ; and in statistics 1501. for an
account of the actual state of schools in England on a nu-
merical analysis. 'ln the generality of cases these various
sums were noted to Committees who were held responsible
for their correct appropriation. Recommendations for re-
ports and researches connected with science were severally
read and adopted.
Sir WILLIAM HAMILTON proposed the first resolution,
that the thanks of the Meeting be given to the Mayor and
Corporation of Bristol for the use of the Council House

for the purposes of the Association. The resolution being
adopted,
Mr. PINNEY, in the unavoidable absence of the chief
magistrate through severe domestic affliction, acknowledged
the resolution of thanks, as well as the honour conferred on
the city by the visit of the Association.
The Rev. Dr. BUCKLAND, Professor of Geology in the
University of Oxford, proposed the thanks of the Asso-
ciation to the Dean and Chapter, for the use of the chap-
ter-room, in doing which he passed a high culogium on the
Dean for his steady and uniform patronage of every object
which had at heart the extension of literature and science.
The resolution was seconded by Professor Forbes, of
Edinburgh.

R. J. MundutsoN, Esq., Vice-President of the Geolo-
gical Society, proposed a resolution of thanks to the com-
mittee and officers of the Bristol Institution for their
valuable aid and co-operation to the Association, congra-
tulating the former particularly on the proficiency which
it had attained in geology. The resolution was seconded
by Profes'or Phillips.
Mr. JOHN TAYLOR, F.R.S., the Treasurer of the As-
sociation, proposed a vote of thanks to the Secretaries and
Treasurer of the Local Council, which was seconded by
F. Bailey,; Esq., Vice-President of the Royal Astrono-
mical Society, and Dr. Daubeny returned thanks on behalf
of himself and colleagues.
The Rev. EDWARD STANLEY proposed a vote of thanks
to the managers of the Infirmary, Medical School, Bristol
Library, and the Committee of the Mechanics' Institution,
in a very animated speech, giving several interesting in-
stances of the value of such associations in his own imme-
diate locality.

Dr. LARDNER proposed, and Mr. Greenhough seconded,
a resolution of thanks to the Steam-packet Company,
Great Western Railway Company, and Managers of the
Zoological and Horticultural Societies, for their several
exertions.

THOMAS MOORE, Esq. proposed a vote of thanks to
Messrs. Miles, M.P., and Acraman, and the Bristol So-
ciety of Artists, for their liberality in throwing open their
valuable collections to the inspection of the members of the
Association.
Professor HENSLOW and Mr. DAVIES GILBERT returned
thanks to the various proprietors of manufactories, who had
so liberally thrown them open to the inspection of the
members the latter remarking, that hitherto the preva-
lent and principal defect of such establishments was—that
they were kept secret, whereas, by the admission of men
of science, he felt persuaded that suggestions would fre-
quently be thrown out which might practically be acted
upon with the best advantage.
The Rev. VERNON HARCOURT proposed, and Dr. Ro-
GET seconded, a resolution of thanks to the various distin-
guished foreigners, who had honoured the Association by
their presence on this occasion.
The Baron CHARLES DUPIN, President of the Aca-
' damie des Sciences, in acknowledging the above, ex-
war' ra"nicteh,
ex-
pressed his gratification at that cordial feeling which
existed between Great Britain and p • • ,
sscientioc
objects. During the period Of
coun-
try, whenever Sir Joseph Banks made anapplication
nt'hi
to
the French Government for the restoration of any man
of science, or Fellow of the Royal Society,. he
.was al-
ways liberated. At the height
medal of the Royal S • of the war, likewise, the
Society had been voted to M. Males-
herbes, one of his countrymen. He had paid a visit to
Bristol about 18 years ago, and congratulated the meeting
on the improvements which since that time had taken place,
and in those efforts which she was the first to undertake of
establishing a steam communication with America. The
resolution was likewise acknowledged by Professor Hare, of
Philadelphia, and Dr. Simon.
Various other resolutions were proposed ; and after three
cheers had been given to the President, the meeting ad-
journed.