The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-14 00:00:00

THE SUN

Oh, Hudson ! Hudson, oh! Here we rapidly ap-
proached the Needles, and the lady who had been
reclining on our shoulder, which we had recommended
as a specific for sea-sickness, and who ought to have
inspired us with other emotions than the tergiversation
and knavery of railway chairmen, suddenly found it
necessary to be escorted to the taffrail to pay her
respects to Old Neptune. After securing the lady
in the most approved position for her devotional ex-
ercises, we retreated to our former position, the boat
serning to rise when we expected it to fall, and to slip
from under our feet when we thought it about to rise
up to them. Even the seamen and stewards,who appeared
sometimes to have one leg a foot long and the other
a yard in length at the same time,were, nevertheless,
obliged to grasp with their hands at any object within
reach. The skipper, in his attempts to gallant a lady,
who was not very agreeable a-weather, to the leeward
of the vessel, had no light task, and the two cut more
capers, scans pede in nab, than Taglioni and Vestris
ever exhibited in the ballet. All the ladies did, in fact,
pay their nautical respects to the Needles. One wag
observed that it was remarkable that ladies should
have any difficulty in passing the Needles ; to
which a medical student added, " that in passing the
Needles nothing had been left on the stomach."
Before reaching the Needles, the chalk cliffs pre-
sented, on their projecting faces huge beds or patches
of sasaphire, producing remarkable groups, out of
which a lively imagination might compound as many
forms as can be seen in the shadows of rocks, or in
the glowing embers of the fire. From the tops of
the cliffs—

" Half-way down,
Hangs one that gathers samphire—dreadful trade."
His occupation combined also that of catching plovers
as they emerged from their nests in the rocks, and
robbing them of their eggs.
The geologic formation of the Needles—detached
masses of chalk-rock—is on this wise. The chalk for-
mation extending from the eastern to the western
extremities of the isle, a promontory of this mineral
projects far into the sea westward, and is gradually
washed away by the advancing and retreating tides
of the ocean until the friable material is undermined
in certain places, whilst the more durable portion of
chalk rock still lifts its head above the hostile deep.
Some of these portions have been reduced, so as to
assume a pyramidal shape, nautically termed Needles.
The most characteristic of these have been many years
submerged, and those that remain appear more like
thimbles than needles.
Rounding the Needles, we changed our course, and
had immediately a smooth sea, a favourable wind,
tide, and current. Alum Bay now presented itself in
variegated colours, arising from the strata of red and
yellow ochres, fuller's earth, black flints, and grey
and snowy-white sands. Hurst Castle and Light-
houses appeared on our left, and Yarmouth on the
right, the Southampton water, with its fleet of swift
and beautiful yachts on the one hand, and Cowes,with
its wooded terraces and villas, on the other. Norris
Castle and grounds next appeared, and then Osborne,
the marine residence of her Majesty. The addition
of two belvederes gives this structure a very imposing
appearance, viewed from the direction of Portsmouth,
as projected on the sky.
Sailing up the harbour, we passed over the iron
chains which direct the course of the floating bridge,
passing every quarter hour between Portsmouth and
Gosport. We approached the ships lying in ordinary ;
the gallant Victory, with jury masts, serving for an
immense nautical school for the young " mariners of
England." The enormous bakehouse at Gosport and
the Government yards opposite, where every article
required for naval ship-building is manufactured, were
passed, and our landing was effected just in time for
the starting of the train for Brighton on our return,
with spirits enlivened and purified by the magnificent
displays we had witnessed of the power and goodness
of Almighty God in this most beautiful portion of his
sublunary creation.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE AD-

VANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.

BIRMINGHAM, THURSDAY.—Last evening the first
general meeting of the association was held at the
Town llall. At half-past eight o'clock the Marquis
of Northampton took the chair, and opened the busi-
ness in a brief address, observing that it was not the
first time he had the pleasure of addressing the mem-
bers of the association. On the present occasion, how-
ever, it would be unnecessary for him to detain them
by any lengthened observations, because he would be
followed by a more able man, whom it would be his
great pleasure to introduce to them as his successor
in the chairmanship of the association—a gentleman
whose merits were so well known that it would be
unnecessary for him to say more than announce the
name of the Rev, T. R. Robinson. The Noble Lord
then paid a high compliment to the well• known merits
of the Learned Professor, and concluded by introduc-
ing him to the meeting.
Professor ROBINSON then took the chair, and in an
address of considerable length set forth the objects
and utility of the British Association fur the ad-
vancement of science. Their objects were threefold.
First, to promote intercourse between the scientific
men of this country and those of all other nations,
to give a stronger impulse to science and a more
systematic direction to the energies of mechanical
science as applicable to the growing wants of the
nation. The association had carried out these objects
fully and advantageously. On the present occasion
they were honoured with the presence of Chevalier
Bunsen, a man whose fume was well known, and
who had proved that the study of science was not in-
compatible with the discharge of onerous duties/it°
society. But the great and principal utility of the
association had been to draw attention to scientific
pursuits where it was most required. In no
country had it been' more neglected than in Eng-
lund, and in no place had a greater penalty
been paid for ignorance of science than in this
country. In England alone the ornaments of
science were not rewarded by Government, nor did
he complain on the part of these men, who had been
neglected. True lovers of science found in the pur-
suit of it ample reward for their labours. He, there-
fore, did not complain of the parsimonious ❑iggardly
conduct of Government, which passed unnoticed the
services of an Ivory and a Dalton ; but he did com-
plain of the injury which society had sustained in
consequence of the ignorance which had hitherto pre
vailed upon scientific subjects. He knew from good au-
thority that the question had been asked in high places,
of what use is science ? Times, however, had changed.
No man in authority now would be foolish enough
to say so, even were he weak enough to think so.
What had not science done, and would not yet do
for the sanitary condition of the people of this coun-
try ? Up to the present time the terrible disease which
had scourged other parts of the country, and was
carrying destruction around that neighbourhood, had
not reached Birmingham ; and why ? Because they
had availed themselves of scientific knowledge, and
had taken those precautionary measures necessaay for
the prevention of disease. Again, had not science
conferred immense advantages upon the maritime
world, and how much still remained to be done in
nautical science ? Was it not a melancholy
fact, that three ships were lost daily in
consequence of their ignorance of nautical
science ? If agricultural science was properly
cultivated, the produce of the country might be
doubled, and who did not know of the great advantage
which had been already derived by the application of
scientific knowledge to the manufacture of iron? One
million tons of that useful metal was added to the
manufacture of the country, not to mention the
thousands of individuals who derived their daily sub-
sistence from it. The machinery of the country had
also been vastly improved by scientific knowledge.
What had not the steam-engine done,
.that powerful
machine, the invention of one of their own immortal
townsmen ? At last the application of practical science
had found its way into their universities to an extent
hitherto unknown, and never before comtemplated.
In his own university (Dublin), the sciences of
chemistry, electricity, and magnetism, had been in-
troduced, and now constituted an essential part of
the under graduates' course ; so that hereafter a man
coming out of such an institution, unacquainted with
these sciences, would be deemed as deficient in proper
education, as a man was now held to be who was
ignorant of the common rudiments of arithmetic.

Besides the ordinary advantages of science, there
were still the more glorious benefits of religious asso-
ciations arising from it. Who could contemplate the
immense works of the great Creator of the uni
verse, through the medium of astronomy, without
being impelled to recognise in the order of the
creation, an all.powerful, an all-wise, and all-benifi-
cent creator—(Applause)—and if they went to the
extreme, through the medium of the microscrope,
there again they beheld myriads of almost indis-
cernible creatures formed of life, and for whose
wants and comfort every accommodation had been
provided. It was, therefore, false to say that science
and religion were incompatible. They were not. In
everything created they found the operation of omni-
potence, and the man who was not impelled by scien-
tific knowledge to be a believer, must either have
imperfect knowledge, or must have allowed his rea-
soning powers to be blinded by his passions.—(Hear,
hear.) He hoped the result of that meeting would be
to extend more largely the bonds of amity between
scientific men all over the world. In no place could
they more properly have assembled than in the
tow❑ of Birmingham, surrounded as they were by
such a variety of objects, calculated to call forth the
intellectual powers of the mind. It was a place of
great and varied inventions, and consummate skill in
manufactures, and he looked forward with intense
pleasure to the forthcoming proceedings. The Learned
Professor resumed his chair amidst loud and con-
tinued applause ; after which
Lord IIAaROWBY came forward and moved a vote
of thanks to Doctor Robinson, and in doing so highly
complimented the Learned Professor on his address.
He was sorry to say that the Rev. Gentleman had
too firmly fixed upon put Governments in this •oau-

try the neglect of science, but he hoped for better
times for men who devoted themselves to the pursuit
of science. He was glad to find that the Board of
Admiralty had issued a mral of instructions for
those wider them, and from that step he anticipated
considerable benefit.
The Bishop of OXFORD seconded the vote of thanks,
and took occasion to express the great gratification he
had experienced in hearing the Rev. Professor Robin-
son so ably defend scientific pursuits against the
charges of irreligion, and show so clear:y that it was
not incompatible with the divine truths of revelation.
He most cordially seconded the resolution, and hoped
the address of the Learned Gentleman would be pro-
ductive of all that good which it was so well calcu-
lated to produce.
The vote of thanks was then passed with acclama-

tion. The meeting separated.
This morning, Thursday, the section rooms were
opened at eleven o'clock, when the following papers
were presented
SECTION A. MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL
SCIENCE.—Mr. Ronald's general report of proceed-
ings at and in relation to the Kew Observatory,
during the last year. Mr. Birt—Report on the dis-
cussion of the electrical observations at the Kew
Observatory. Mr. Grover —On the orbit of the
magnetic pole, and on the evidences of a direct attrac-
tion of the needle by the two Isodynarnic poles.
Professor Chevallier—On a rainbow seen after actual
sunset. Mr. Twining—On teaching perspective by
models. Rev. Professor Powell—On luminous meteors
SECTION B.—CHEMISTRY, &c.—Mr. Seoffern—On•
the combined use of the basic acetates of lead and
sulphurous acid, in the colonial manufacture and the
refining of sugar. Dr. Wilson—On the presence of
fluorine in the waters of the Frith of Clyde, Frith of
Forth, and the German Ocean. Mr. Rinman—On
phosphorus, as producing cold-short iron. Mr. Ward
—On the comparative cost of working various voltaic
arrangements.
SECTION C.••••••GEOLOGY AND PHYSICAL GEO-
GRAHHY.—Mr. J. Beete Jukes—On the general re-
lations of the new red sandstone, the coal measures,
and the silurian of the South Staffordshire coal-
field. Mr. S. 11. Blackwell—On the igneous rocks
of the South Staffordshire coal-field. Mr. H. Black-
well—On the faults traversing the South Staffordshire
coal. field. Mr. Isaac Lea—On the discovery of rep-
titian foot-prints in the old red sandstone, near Potts-,
ville, Philadelphia.
SECTION D. NATURAL HISTORY, INCLUDING;
PHYSIOLOGY.—Professor Daubeny—Report on the
action of carbonic acid on plants allied to the fossil
remains found in the coal formation.
SECTION F.—STATISTICS.—James Haywood, Esq,
M.P., F.R.S.—To read a paper of Mr. Paton's on
the sanitary condition of Darwen. G. R. Porter,
Esq., F.R S —On the agricultural statistics of Ire-
land. Professor Hancock—On the use to be made of
the Ordnance survey to statistics in the registration
of judgments and deeds in Ireland.
SECTION G.—MECHANICS.—Mr. Roberts—On a
method of supplying the boilers of steam-engines
with water. Mr. Whishaw—On a chain pipe for
sub-aqueous telegraphs. Mr. Roberts—On an
eccentric gauge for wire, sheet metal, &c. Mr.
Roberts—On means for winding clockwork by the
agency of the tide. Mr. Smith—On the superiority
of Macadamised roads for the streets of large towns.
Mr. Heaton—On the causes and means of prevention
of the oscillation of the wheels of locomotive engines.
There was not any discussion of interest upon any
of the above subjects, but some documents of im-
portance will be submitted to-morrow.

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