The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-23 00:00:00

BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

GLASGOW, SATUaDAY.—AII the " sections" but
one met again at the appointed hour this morning. The
performances oft be sections were very thinly attended,
with the exception of that devoted to mathematics. The
geological section did not meet ; the members of that
division, accompanied by as many of the Association as
could be accommodated with tickets, having gone on a
geological excursion to the Island of Arran. The plea-
sure of this trip was considerably increased by the hospi-
tality of the Duke of Hamilton, who entertained nearly
100 of the party at Brodick Castle. The " advance-
ment of science" which has been effected by the trip in
question will, no doubt, be made known at the meeting
on Monday.
In the mathematical section, which was the best at-
tended, Sir D. Brewster read a paper on the decomposi-
tion of glass. He had formerly brought the subject be-
fore the Association, and since that time he had got two
specimens of glass—one from Italy, and the other from
St. Andrew's—of which the character had been entirely
changed by decomposition.
Professor PHILLIPS gave an account of a number of
experiments made by hini on the subject of rain guages.

The CHAIRMAN considered the increase of rain near
the ground to.arise from the enlargement of the rain
drop by condensation from the heated air of the earth's
surface.

Professor FORBES made a few remarks on the subject
of excessive rains, occasioned by his former statements
on the subject having been questioned. He mentioned
a ❑umber of instances, and referred to various authori-
ties, among which he mentioned a fall of 30 inches of
rain in 24 hours ut Genoa ; and fal:s at various other
places of 25 inches in 24 hours ; 14i inches in 18
hours ; 6 inches in 3 hours ; four-fifths of an inch in
half an your ; 24 feet in one year ; 10 inches in 23
hours ; 25 feet in one year, of which 10 feet fell in June.

Mr. EsrY then begun his paper on the theory of
storms, which occupied nearly two hours. His theory
was, that during storms the wind blew from all sides to-
wards a centre, whether the centre of a circle or square.
Professor PHILLIPS, Professor FORBE s, and Professor
STEVELLY made some observations on centripetal and
rotatory forces in the degrees of velocity referred to in
the essay.
In the statistical section several papers have been
read containing a good deal of information.
At the meeting to-day Mr A. WATT read a paper
comparing the vital statistics of Edinburgh and Glas-
-1 gow, with some remarks on the sanatory state of large
towns. The calculations were in some measure curious,
but seemed to have involved a most extravagant waste
of time.

MECHANICS.
(Sir JOHN ROBISON in the Chair.)
Mr. DICK read a paper on a new railway wheel. It
may be made of cast or wrought iron, and the channels
arc filled with wood ; its advantages arc, that it works
much easier than those commonly in use, is less expen-
sive, and can be easily repaired.
Mr. HAWKINS detailed Mr. Rengeley's new plan of
the safety rotative railway, in which the wheels arc
proposed to be transferred from the carriage to the
road, and the train to be moved by the revolution of the
wheels, of which there will be 1,760 upon the mile.
Mr. ALEXANDER explained to the section his electro-
m Inetie telegraph. It has been exhibited in the mo-
del-room, with explanatory papers.
The section then adjourned.