The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-22 00:00:00

BRITISH ASSOCIA'T'ION.

GI.A`GOW, FRIDAY.—At the usual hour the differ-
ent sei tions met, and numerous papers were read, but
they are in general so destitute of public interest, and
so long, that it would be of little use, if it were pos-
sible, to ,give an intelligible outline of them. It will he
sufficient, therefore to give from time to time such ex-
tracts only as appear interesting to the general reader.
The following is a list of the most distinguished mem-
bers present at this year's meeting :—The Marquis of
Breadalbane, the Marquis of Northampton, Lord San-
don, Lord Teignmouth, Lord Greenock, Lord Mont-
eagle, the Marquis of Lore, the Lord Provost of the
City, Sir David Brewster, Sir William Jackson
Hooker, Sir William Jardine, Sir J. Robison, the Very
R, v. Principal Macfarlan, Rev. Dr. Chalmers, Rev.
Dr. Paterson, Rev. Dr. Duncan, of Ruthwell,
Dr. Forbes, Mr. Colquhoun, M.P., Mr. Ewing, of
Levenside, Mr. Smith, of Jordan-hill, Mr. Smith, of
Deanston, Mr. Murchison, Professor Phillips, Mr.
Taylor, Mejor Sabine, Mr. Lyell, Professor Nichol, •
Professor Ramsay, most of the leading officers of the
Association, and a number of distinguished foreign
savans.
The Statistical Section (of which Lord Sandon was
chairman) excited some interest, it having become known
that the Rev. Dr. Chalmers and Drs. Cowan and Ali-
son were to read important papers. The section met at
eleven o'clock iu the Logic Class Room, but it soon be-
came so much crowded that it was found necessary to
adjourn to the College Church. Here the proceedings
commenced in the presence of a numerous and brilliant
assemblage, among whom were the Duke of Argyll,
F.R.S , Lord Sandon, Lord Moateagle, the young Mar-
quis of Lore, the Marquis of. Breadalbane, Lady Bel-
haven, Lord Tei4nmouth., the Hon. Mr. Rice, Sir John
M'NAI, the Lord Provost, Sir John Nasmith, &c.
The Noble Chairman having explained the arrange-
ments under which the business would proceed,
- The Rev. Dr. CHALMERS proceeded to lead. a paper
" On the application of Statistics to Moral and Econo-
mical Quest;ons." 'lbis paper occupied about two hours
in the delivery; but it contained little of novelty.
Lord MONTEAGLE moved that Dr. Chalmers should
receive a vote of thacks, which was given by accla-

oration.
The next paper was by Dr. ALIsON, on the practica'
operation of the Scottish system of the management o
the poor. He concluded amid much applause, and said
that on a future day he would read a paper on the inde-
pendence of the poor.
MECFIANICAL SCIENCE.
Sir J. ROBISON in the
SMOKE Pitomerrott.—Mr. Wallace exhibited and
explained his apparatus for enabling persons to enter
places on fire without danger from smoke, by means of
hreathin-, through water.
Mr. Smith, of Deanston, exhibited a model of a new
plan of canal lockage, the advantages of which he stated
to be that the descent in each lock would not be wore
than twelve 'to eighteen inebes,--that the locks were
opened by the passage of- the vessels, that the looks abut
themselves, that the vessels did not require to stop, and
that little or no water was lost. -
Mr. Fairbairn exhibited a model of an engine for.
raising water, which he had suggested for the pur-
pose of draining the lake of Haarlem, in Holland, which
covered upwards of 50,000 acres. It was his opinion
that this could be accomplished by the application of a
Cornish engine, of from 200 to 300 horse power, at-
tached to a scoop of 30 feet square, the one end of
which was made to move on the centre. In the bottom
of this scoop, which was curved, were several valvesopen-
ing upwards, on the side nearest the engine. By the de.
sccnding stroke of the engine, this side was immersed in
water, and filled through the valves. The returning
stroke,or rather the weights attached to the other end of
the beam, raised the scoop, and threw the water into a
canal at a higher level than the lake. Such an engine
as be proposed would lift seventeen tons of water each
stroke, and make seven or eight strokes a minute.
The average depth of the lake was ten feet. The en-
gine was so constructed as to give the dipping end of
the scoop a larger or shorter stroke as required.
Mr. HODGKINSON produced a miner's lamp by a Mr.
Clegg„ near Oldham. It was in principle the same as
that of Davy, but was enclosed in a triangular lantern
with three bull's-eye gasses. The object was to get
rid of the danger arising from the use of Davy's, which,
should it fall or upset, let the flame through the wires
and caused an explosion. In this lamp that danger was
obviated, as there was gauze on the air-hole of the lan-
tern ; and it had this excellent property, that whenever
there was danger the light went out. The model was
highly approved of.
The business of the day was wound up by a prome.
nade in the evening in the Exchange.

ff -
TEMP It AN CE-T II E MARQUIS
OF LANSDOWNE.

From the Cork Southern Reporter.)
We have derived sincere satisfaction from the perusal
of the following communication, addressed by the Mar-
quis of Lansdowne to the Rev. Mr. Mathew. The
Very Reverend Gentleman, at the time of the Marquis's
visit to this city, was absent on one of his tours in pro-
motion of the great ziause in which he has effected so
much good, and on his return found the letter waitico
for him

" Cork, Sept. 15, 1840.
" REV. Sin—l am near the conclusion of a journey
.hrough a considerable portion of the south of Irelan'
in the course of which I have myself had, every where,
repeated occasion to observe a most remarkable change
for the better in the appearance of the population, and
-eaomnotrnegla.t the-m'
to be assured by others on whom I could rely, of 1,1
order, and to a greater
equally manifest imptovement in their character and
conduct, produced by the extraordinary success of your
u nrirneencli thtai nbgi t
se endeavours ctaeLopuerrsatnoeei natar oddsulef
Y at this
eauhapdersaannaiolyppouinit
p6‘e‘elehfadexphroepsscidaitotlala%;
the sleep sense I
entertain, both as an Irish proprietor and a public
con-
ducive,under all circumstances, to
servant,
as
sf
tthheey‘m'alullset of your CSCrtiOr_lS, obviously
eevelopment than could by any other means be attained
the maintenance of peace and
of every social virtue.
ce from I
ome h
" Your temporary absen has alone pre-
vented my doing so, and I trust may be permitted to
take the only method in my power of recording these
sentiments in a tnot:e that may not be disagreeable to
you, by enclosing a draft for One Hundred Pounds, and
requesting the favour of you to apply it to the use of
any one of the Institutions for the benefit. of your poorer
countrymen in which you take an
Interest, and which
in your judgment stands most in need of pecuniary as.

sincere respect, your obe-
L A NSDO NA;
sistance.
NE."
die‘n‘
tlsaemrv,ant, Reverend Sir, with
" Tne Rev. T. 111_a_t_11.?:

by
yockuentssi _l
THE PRESS.—Our excel ent Contemporary,
is very surpng, and makes us
The Sint, is bud in its disapprobation of tho fortifying of
Paris, and thus speculates upon that rather alarming mea-
sure :—" That the patriotic and Liberal journals counte-
nance such a measure, by which the earth will be oppressed
unsightly tltyhewFarlelsn,c.ha,nd a large sum taken out of the
suspect that M. Thiers has known how to influence even
those editors who pretend to oppose his policy." Why
should not little Thiers follow the example of the gentry
who locate about Whitehall and Somerset house, and who I
have a knack of making a stubborn Globe
wheel merrily '
round, or a Radical Examiner cut its old acquaintance.—
The IVorld (a Dublin Paper)n taking leave of the
. i
Lord Albert Conynghain)
representation of Canterbury, solely on th;) ground of his
contioucA ill health, has yawed it to be distinetiv intimated
to the Liberal elector` that it i his intention, 'should his
health be restored, to solicit their autfrages again. --
Evening Paper.