The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-17 00:00:00

S N 9
No. 16,847. ON ON, THURSDAY „ SEPTEMBER ,
G

LEC TION OF LORD MAYOR.
A At a MEETING of LIVERYMEN of the CITY of LON-
DON, the friends of Mr. ALDERMAN WOOD, held at the Swan
with Tao Necks, Gresham•street, on Tuesday, the 15th September
instant, to take into consideration the course to be pursued to secure
his ELECTION for LORD MAYOR for the year ensuing,
Mr. Deputy Muddell in the Chair ;

It was moved by JOSEPH UNDERWOOD, Esq., and seconded by
T. J. Hour, Esq., and resolved unanimously,.

_
That it is the opinion of this meeting, that Mr. Alderman Wood's
claim to the distinguished honour of becoming the Chief Magistrate
of this City for the ensuing year is indisputable. That his high legal
attainments, combined with upwards of eleven years of indefatigable
zeal and assiduity in the discharge of his Magisterial duties, as well
as his able and dignified discharge of the important office of Sheriff
of London and Middlesex, well qualify him to perfor the high and
important duties of Chief Magistrate; an office and an honour to
which, by every comideration, he has a rig it to aspire, and the only
office within the power of his fellow-citizens to bestow at all commen-
surate as a reward for the long-tried and faithful discharge of his Ma-
gisterial duties. _ _

It was moved by JOON PITTMAN, Esq., and seconded by JAMES
HARTLEY, Esq., and resolved unanimously,
That the unabated confidence of this meeting in Mr. Alderman
Wood cannot be more forcibly expressed than by an earnest assurance
that each and every individual composing it will use his utmost en-
deavours to secure the election of the worthy Alderman to the Civic
Chair.

It was moved by WINTOUR HARRIS, Esq., and seconded by JOHN
YATES, Esq., and resolved unanimously, . _ .

That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to the Right
Hon. the Lord Mayor, with a request that he will be pleased to sub-
mit the same to the Court of Aldermen, at their next meeting.
WM. MLTDDELL, Chairman.

LEICESTER AND BIRMINGHAM
RAILWAY.
The Shareholders in this line are already aware that it was after
a severe contest, and opposition to competing lines for two sessions
of Parliament, defeated in the House of Commons, and in answer to
many inquiries on the financial affairs of the Company, the Directors
beg to state that they are collecting in and proceeding with the In-
.vsstigation of.the accounts, and will peffect and lay the same before
the Shareholders at the earliest possible moment.
By order,

S.S. BAXTER, Solicitor.
18, Abingdon-street, Westminster, Sept. 16, 1846.

THE LEEDS, WAKEFIELD, and MIDLAND

Notice is hereby given, that a MEETING of the SHARE-
HOLDERS of the LEEDS, WAKEFIELD, and MIDLAND JUNC-
TION RAILWAY COMPANY will be held at the Sessions House in
Wakefield, on MONDAY, the 28th day of September instant, at One
o'clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of laying before the meeting
the accounts of the receipts and expenditure of the said Company,
and of determining whether the said Company shall be dissolved
under the provisions of the Statute 9 and 10 Vict., c. 28, or, whether
the affairs of the said Company shall not be wound up, or whether it
shall be expedient to prosecute the said railway in the ensuing ses-
sion of Parliament, and, if necessary, to empower the Directors to
enter into arrangements with certain other Companies upon the
terms and conditions to be laid before the said meeting, and gene-
rally to transact all other business whatsoever that can be trans-
acted under the provisions of the said statute. Dated this 10th day
of September, 1846. EDWARD TEW, Chairman.
HENRY BERNERS, Secretary.

THE LONDON, OXFORD, and CHEL-
TENHAM RAILWAY COMPANY.
(Provisionally Registered.)
CAPITAL 1,500,0001. in 75,000 SHIRES of 201. each.
Deposit 21. per Share.
PROVISIONAL DIRECTORS.
(With power to add to their number.)
The Right Hon. Lord Dunally, Cheltenham
Henry Thomas Hole, Esq., Deepdene, Surrey, and Mansfield-street,
London
James Aspinall, Esq., Liverpool and Cheltenham
Henry Bell, Esq., Chalfont Lodge, the Park, Cheltenham
John Burton, Esq., Andover Lodge, Cheltenham
Nr. William Bidmead, Cheltenham
Samuel Carrington, Esq., Cheltenham
Thomas Aquila Dale, Esq., Malvern House, Cheltenham
John Eldridge, Esq., Promenade, Cheltenham
Baynliam Jones, Esq., Cambray House, Cheltenham
Mr. Henry Haines, Cheltenham
Major Charles Pratt Kennedy, Lansdowne-crescent, Cheltenham
James Brough Lawson, Esq„ Pine Villa, the Park, Cheltenham
John Smith Riviere, Esq., Cheltenham
Richard Scholes, Esq., Polefield, Cheltenham
James Webster, Esq., Matherly Court, Cheltenham
Richard Warwick, Esq., Wyddrington House, Cheltenham
Mr. George Arthur Williams, Cheltenham
John Wadley Hughes, Esq., Mayor of Gloucester
William Montague, Esq., Gloucester
Washbourue, Esq., Gloucester
Mr. Ilenry Akers, Witney
William James Clinch, Esq., Witney
J. S. Browning, Esq., Oxford
Nenry Hall, Esq., Seswell Barton, Oxfordshire, and Mansfield-street,
London
Thomas Mallam, Esq., Oxford
Charles Tawney, Esq., Oxford
Sir Harry Verney, Bart., Steeple Claydon House, Bucks
'The Hon. Philip Sydney Pierrepont, Evenly Hall, Brackley, Nor-
thamptonshire
Humphrey Humphreys, Esq , Buckingham
Robert Benson, Esq.
James Brownell Boothby, Esq.
Edward Cropper, Esq.
Frank Somerville Head, Esq. Directors of the London
Joseph Hornby, Esq. } and North Western
Ross Donelly Mangles, Esq., M.P. Railway Company.
Capt. Constantine Richard Moorsom, R.N.
Patrick Maxwell Stewart, Esq., M.P.
Thomas Smith, Esq.
Sir James Duke, M.P., 1, Devonshire-ter-i
Directors of the Oxford,
race, London
Witney, Cheltenham
Peter Davey, Esq., 1, Sussex-terrace, Re-
gent's Park 1
pendent Railway
and Gloucester Ride:
Joseph Underwood, Esq., Blackheath'! • Company.
j
Park, Kent

COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT.
Henry Thomas Hope, Esq. 'J. B. Boothby, Esq.
James Webster, Esq. Edward Cropper, Esq.
Mr. George Arthur Williatn.s Frank Somerville Head, Esq.
J. S. Browning, Esq. Joseph Ho rnby, Esq.
Sir James Duke, M.P. Ross Donelly Mangles, Esq., M.P.
William James Clinch, Esq. Captain C. R. Moorsom, R.N.
Joseph Underwood, Esq. Patrick M. Stewart, Esq. M.P.
Robert Benson, Esq. Thomas Smith, Esq.

[NEER.
henson, Esq.
KERS.

EN GI
Robert Stepl
BAN]
London—Messrs. Glyn, liallifax, Mills, and Company.
Oxford—Messrs. Wootten and Company.
Witney—Messrs. John Williams Clinch and Company.
Cheltenham? The County of Gloucester Bank,
Gloucester The Gloucestershire Banking Company.
SOLICITORS.
Messrs. Newman, Gwinnett, and Ticehurst,
and Cheltenham.

James Boodle, Esq.

_
Messrs. Parker, Hayes, Barnwell, and Twisden, I, Lincoln's Inn-
fields, London. •
Samuel Carter, Esq., Birmingham.
Messrs. 11. and W. Toogood, 22, Parliament-street, London.

SECRETARY PRO TEM.
Wyndham llarding, Esq.
PROSPECTUS.

The object of this Company isdo construct a direct and continuous
line of railway, on the narrow gauge, from Cheltenham, through
Northleach, Burford, and Witney, to Oxford, and thence, by Theme,
to form a junction with the London and Birmingham Railway, at
once opening the shortest route from those towns and the surround-
ing districts to the metropolis, and by means of the Oxford and
liletchley, and other lines in connexion therewith, to Bedford, Cam-
bridge, Norwich, and the 'whole of the eastern side of the kingdom.
The undertaking is promoted by parties locally interested in the
district through which the line will pass, in conjunction with the
Shareholders in the Oxford, Witney, Cheltenham, and Gloucester
Independent Company, who introduced a Bill into Parliament during
the session which has just closed for making the line between Oxford
and Cheltenham, which failed upon technical objections only. It
will be the anxious desire of the Committee to consult the wishes of
the inhabitants as to the terminus and mode of approaching the town
of Cheltenham.

A large proportion o fthe capital will be subscribed by the London
and North-Western Railway Company, who have also agreed to
lease the line in perpetuity, at a rent equal to four and a half per
cent. upon the outlay, With an equal c ivision of &mins profits.
This lin•will reduce the distance between Cheltenham and London
to 100 miles, being a saving of twenty-two miles as compared with
the present route, and the distance between Oxford and London will

be shorter than by the Great Western Railway, without taking inton
account the saving in time arising from the more convenient position
of the London Terminus at Euston-square as compared with Pad-
dington, which, to parties going to the City and most parts of the
metropolis, may be considered as nearly equal to ten miles of rail-
way travelling. An unbroken narrow gauge communication will
also be effected by means of this line between the Docks and Port
of London and these of Gloucester, and there is no doubt eventually
with Bristol, an object of considerable commercial importance.
Worcester, and the important district of which it forms the centre,
will also be brought by this line within the same distance of London
as by any other lines sanctioned by Parliament.
It having been decided by Parliament that (with some exceptions,
not applying to the present case) all new lines of railway-shall here-
after be constructed on the narrow gauge, it is obvious that the traffic
of the districts accommodated by the proposed line will be best deve-
loped by a Company in connexion with the existing narrow gauge
lines, giving, at the same time, to the public the advantages of that
competition whichthe Legislature have recently evinced their anxiety
to establish between rival Companies.
Applications for Shares may be made, in the form given below, to
the Secretary, at the Temporary Offices of the Company, 29, Great
George-street, Westminster. In the allotment of Shares, a prefer-
ence will be given to parties resident on the line, or having local
interest.

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR SHARES.
To the Provisional Committee of the London, Oxford, and Chelten.
ham Railway (provisonally registered).

Gentlemen,—l request jou.Will allot me shares in the
above undertaking on the terms of the Prospectus, and I agree to
accept the same or such less number as you shall allot to me. And
I undertake to pay the deposit thereon, and to execute the Sub-
scriber's Agreement and Parliamentary Contract when required so
to do.
Dated this day of 1846.

Name •••... •• • • • •• • .
Residence .. ..
Description •. ..
Reference.... - .... • • ..

THE UNIVERSAL GAS BURNER.
30 to 50 per Cent. Saved!
To be had at the Patentees. 60, St. Martin's-lane, Charing-cross.
The Patentees beg to call public attention to the following facts,
Ile advantages resulting from the invention are various and
striking. Independently of a saving of 30 to 50 per cent„ the com-
bustion is perfect, and the brilliancy produced superior to any light
hitherto discovered. It emits neither smell nor smoke, and burns
steadily for any period ; and such is Its purity, that it neither affects
or soils the most delicate colour or the finest fabric. Objections have
made to the introduction of gas In dwelling-houses, to the expense of
fittings, to Its destruction of furniture, draperies, gold moulding, /cc.;
these are entirely obviated by the "PATENT IJNlvEnser, Ges
Duatrza." As the cost of laying on gas is muck lower than is com-
monly supposed, it is adapted fbr private dwellings, as well as for
club-houses, hotels, manufactories, and public buildings. One of the
small burners is amply suffioient to light a good-sized room, at a sum
immeasurably lower than spirit, oil, or candle, with the avoidance of
waste or trouble.

The merits of the " Burner," its brilliancy and economy surpassing
every other known light, are shown by the annexed authentic
opinions of the qualities of the UNIVERSAL' GAS BURNER.
Extract from the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers,
Tuesday, 26th May, 1846, Sir JonN RENNIE, President, in the Chair.
" A gas burner of a novel and ingenious construction was exhibited.
The principal novelty was the introduction of a stream of air to the
centre of the flame by a hollow button in the middle of the burner.
The air passing up through the hollow stem of the button, was
heated, and passed out by two series of fire-holes around the periphery,
and impinging with force on the flame of the gas curved it outwards
in the shape of a tulip, while the oxygen of the air, mingling with
the carburetted hydrogen gas, produced a very perfect combustion,
The flame was quite white down the top of the burner, was very steady,
as was amply demonstrated by the excellent light of the Institution,
where these burners have been used. In comparing the consumption
of these burners with that of the concentric ring burners, and trying
the power of the two lights by the photometer, the new burner gave a
better light, with a saving of rather more than one-third."

11TALL OF ROME, GREAT WINDMILL-
STREET, HAYMARKET.
Professor TURNOUT, bags most respectfully to inforn the Nobility,
Subscribers, and Public, that he has produced that novelty never
.befine attempted, viz., the Introduction of FEMALE MODELS of
COLOUR, who will appear every Afternoon and Evening, in varied
groupings, expressly arranged for them.
Stalls, 2s. 6d.; Boxes, 25.; Pit, Is. Doors open at Half.past
Two in the Afternoon, and commence at a Quarter past Three
punctually. Evening performance, Half-past Eight o'clock.

Venus will rise from the sea till further notice,

INVENTORS and DEPOSITORS of WORK-
ING MODELS and of other Specimens of the Useful Arts (as
well as the Visitors ofthe ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION)
are respectfully informed that the Directors have given their anxious
consideration to the new appointment of DEMONSTRATOR in
MECHANICS, whose duty will be to explain to tha Visitors the
Principles and Uses of the above Specimens with clearness and
simplicity. The Ledtures now comprise the ELECTRIC TELE-
GRAPH, as well as other objects of present interest. The beautiful
Optical Exhibitions, &c. &c.
Admission, Is.; Schools, Half-price.

HOT WE ATHER.-TR AVELLING.-SE A-
SIDE.—The REGISTERD PALETOT in London, only at
22, Cornhill, opposite the Royal Exchange ; and the chief Llama
Cloth Warehouse, 114, Regent-street. Do not be deceived by a
similarity of name, placed in the windows of a few petty shops in the
neighbourhood of the Patentees. Each Paletot is stamped " H. J. and
D. NICOLL, 114, Regent-street."

NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE ASSUR-
ANCE SOCIETY,
26, CORNIIILL. LONDON.
Capital £500,000.
Empowered by Act of Parliament.
This Institution embraces important and substantial advantages
with respect to Life Assurances and Deferred Annuities. The assured
has, on all occasions, the power to borrow, without expense or for-
feiture of the Policy, two-thirds of the premiums paid (see Table) ;
also the option of selecting benefits, and the conversion of his in-
terests to meet other conveniences or necessity.
Assurances for terms of years are granted on the lowest possible
rates.

The division of profits is annual, and the next will be made in
December of the present year.
F. FERGUSON CAMROUX, Secretary.

THE TONTINE LIFE ASSURANCE
COMPANY.
20, PALL-MALL.
Capital, 400,0001.
TRUSTEES.
JorrN ELIJAH BLUNT, Esq.
JOHN CONOLLY, M.D.
SAVILLE CRAVEN HENRY OGLE, Esq., M.P.
RANKERS.
Messrs. llerries, Farquhar, and Co.
Messrs. Martins, Stones, and Martins.
This Company effects every species of Life Assurance, Annuity,
and Endowment.
Four-fifths of the profits divided amongst the Assured on the par-
ticipating scale.
This Company grants Tontine Annuities in Classes, according to
Age, with benefit of Survivorship, viz.:—
Class 5 including 20 to 25 years of age £3 11 5
Class 9 " 40 to 4.5 3 18 0
Class 13 60 and upwards 4 15 1
Example.—A party investing 1001. in Class 13 will, from the day
of Investment, receive an Annuity of 41, 15s. ld. per cent. per
annum ; and on the completion of the number in his class, his
Annuity will increase as his Companions die off, until it reaches the
sum of 1,0001. per annum which he will enjoy during the remainder
of his life.
Prospectuses may he had on application at the office.
FERDINAND GRUT, Actuary and Secretary.

PUBLICATIONS.

'On Thursday next will be published, id 12mo.

ZUMPT'S SCHOOL GRAMMAR of the
LATIN LANGUAGE. Translated and adapted for use in
English Schools, by Dr. L. SCHMITZ, F.R.S.E. Rector of the High
School of Edinburgh. With a Preface, written expressly for this
Translation, by the Author.
London; Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans ;
Of whom may be had, Bvo. price 14s. cloth,

ZUMPT'S LARGER LATIN GRAMMAR. Translated and
adapted by Dr. L. SCHMITZ ; with the Author's sanction and co-
operation.
. . .

The best Latin grammar in existence. A work that ought to
be in the library of—not only every Latin student, but every Latin
scholar."—Atheneum.

Just published, price Gd. plain, or Is. coloured (Gd. extra if sent
by post),
THE ORGANIC THEORY of DOCTORS
EXPOSED by the TIIIRD HYGEIAN PRINT, illustrating
the various ways in whick the Medical Profession (as a body) are in-
terested in keeping up and teaching a false theory in Medicine, and
also in using rank poisons in Medicine. This print tends more to
open the eyes of the public to wrong medical treatment than any-
thing which has yet appeared.

May be had at the British College of Health, New• road; and at
the Hygeist Office, 368, Strand, London.
It is the third illustration brought out by the British College of
Health on this important question.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
BRISTOL, SEPTEMBER 16.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Birmingham and Gloucester,
130—Bristol and Gloucester, Coal Pit Heath, 72—Caledonian, 16-
-Ditto, New, 1/. Ds. 3d.—Newcastle and Berwick, 28 —North Bri-
Ash, Carlisle Extension, 2 13-16_p.—North Staffordshire, 3% p.

BRITISH ASSOCIA.TION FOR THE

ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.

SOUTIIAMPTON, WEDNESDAY. - Yesterday evening
a public dinner, open to all the members of the associa-
tion, took place at the long room, a large hall in which
the meetings of the mathematical section are held. Tho
banquet was very numerously attended, upwards of 260
members having sat down to table, but the arrange-
ments, to say the least of them, were not those of a
first-rate London hotel. There were no stewards ap-
pointed, and the guests were kept waiting in an ante-
room without seats for a full hour after the time ar-
ranged. Philosophers were, however, not expected to
complain of such trifles, and to say the truth of them
they went through the experiment made upon their ca-
pability of endurance with true professional equanimity.
Sir R. I. Murchison, the president of the association,
filled the chair.

On the right of the chairman sat Professor Oersted,
Sir John Herschel, Bart., the Rev. B. Powell, and the
Dean of Westminster, and on the left sat the Mayor,
the Marquis of Northampton, Leonard Horner, Esq.,
F.R.S., and G. Porter, Esq., president of the statistical
section. All the other foreigners who are guests of the
association were provided with.pliv immediately in
front of the chair.

When the cloth was removed, and grace said,
The PRESIDENT, in proposing the usual loyal toasts,
referred to the interest which her Majesty took in the
proceedings of the association, and to the knowledge
which his Royal Highness Prince Albert displayed of the
several branches of science treated of at the sectional
meetings which he had attended. He then gave
" The Queen."
" His Royal Highness Prince Albert, the first and
only honorary member of the British Association."
" The army and navy."
Lieutenant-Colonel Coiairti.E., returned thanks on
the part of the army. He said that as they had so very
brief an interval before the hour fixed for the evening
meeting, he would not occupy their time except merely
to return thanks for the honour that had been done the
service with which he was connected. Europe had now
been blessed with thirty years:of peace, and he trusted
that that peace would long continue to the advancement
of science and the continuance of the intercourse which
now existed between them and the distinguished scien-
tific foreigners whom he saw around him.
Captain ALLEN, R.N., i riefly acknowledged the toast
on behalf of the navy.
The PRESIDENT alluded to the very flattering and
hospitable reception which the association had met with
in the town of Southampton, and said he was sure every
member present would cordially unite with him in
drinking the next toast, which was " The Mayor, Cor-
poration, and Inhabitants of Southampton."—(Cheers.)
The MAYOR said he should claim the same privilege
that was accorded to those who preceded him, namely,
of net tresspassing at any length upon their time, in con-
sequence of the very few moments that would elapse
before the time fixed on for the evening meeting. In
returning thanks for the honour which had been con-
ferred by the toast they had just drank, be begged to
state that the authorities of the town most anxiously and
ardently desired that the association would do them the
honour of coming among them; and he sincerely hoped
they were in turn well pleased with their reception.—
(Cheers.) It was true that the people of Southampton
had not received them with any great liberality or hos-
pitality, but they knew that they had to prepare for men
of science, and that the arrangements which would be
most acceptable to the members of the association were
those tending to promote the objects for which they
laboured.—(Cheers.)
Mr. SIIAPCOTE acknowledged the toast on the part of
the' inhabitants. He apologised for anytannoyances
which might be felt on account of the delay which had
taken place in the arrangements for the dinner, and said
that, on the whole, he trusted they would consider the
pledge which he had given at the Cambridge meeting,
namely, that they would be cordially received at South•
ampton, had been redeemed.

The Marquis of NORTHAMPTON, in brief but cora-
Ilimentary terms, proposed " The health of the Presi-
leut."

The toast was received with great applause.
The PRESIDENT returned thanks. He felt in the tes-
timony of their applause that, humble geologist as he
was, they were satisfied with the exertions which he had
made as president of their association. He would ask
those—if there were such, for he had not much time for
reading latterly, and he did not well know what was
going forward—he would ask those who criticised their
proceedings, to look at the scientific character of the men
by whom he was surrounded. He might mention 100
names of members of that association who occupied the
very foremost rank in science, and he would ask whether
it could be said that they were not capable of directing
the whole power of their minds to the greatest objects
of the sciences which they cultivated ?--(Hear,
hear.) In a recent elaborate discourse ho endeavoured
to put before them the claims which the asso
ciation had on science, and the many instances
in which they had effected objects of the highest
scientific interest, which would never have been
produced but for the energies and the money of the
members of that body. He would say to those to whom
he alluded, that if they did not look to these facts—if
they did not look the horse in the face—let them not
attempt criticising their proceedings.—(Hear, hear.)
The association at its present meeting received an im-
pulse in the support which had been extended to it by
all classes, from the Sovereign downwards, and which
could not fail to be most beneficial to science.—(Hear.)
The PRESIDENT again rose, and after complimenting
the foreign guests of the association separately, and re-
ferring to the great scientific claims of each of them,
which he had before set forth in his inaugural address,
begged to propose the health of M. Oersted, their lead-
ing member, and the other distinguished foreigners who
had honoured the meeting with their presence. The
toast was drunk with great enthusiasm.
Mr. BULLER, of Southampton, begged, on the part of
his fellow-townsmen, to offer a cordial welcome to the
illustrious foreign gentlemen whose health had been
just drunk.

M. OERSTED briefly returned thanks, and expressed
the gratification felt by his foreign friends, as well as by
himself, at the kind reception they had met with in this
country, and the great amount of valuable and interest.
ing knowledge which they had received in attending at
the meeting of the Britieh Association.
The company then separated.
THE EVENING MEETING.

The fourth evning meeting of the association was held
at half-past eight o'clock, in the Royal Victoria Rooms.
The attendance was fully as numerous and brilliant as
on the precedirg evening.
Sir R. MURCHISON, the president, on taking the chair,
apologised to the ladies present for the delay of half an
hour which had taken place beyond the usual time of
meeting, in consequence of the proceedings elsewhere.
He then introduced Mr. Grove, the eminent chemist, to
the meeting. The matter selected for the proceedings
of this evening, it should be observed, comprised an
explanation by Mr. Grove of his own recent discoveries
of the decomposition of water by heat, and also an
account of M. Schonbein's extraordinary invention of
explosive cotton. _ _

Mr. GROVE entered in the first place on an explanation
of Professor Schonbein's invention. He commenced
with a sketch of the history of explosive substances.
Though the origin of gunpowder is generally attributed
to Schwartz, a monk of Cologne, he considered it pro-
bable that the experiments of that individual were made
on explosive bodies well known for a considerable time
previously. A pyrotechnic combination called " Greek
fire" is mentioned in Arabic, Greek, and Laths
writers of the 9th century, and in the 13th century
a considerable number of such anbstanoes were
known to the Arabs, who called them " Chinese
fire" and " Chinese hail," &o.; and most probably,
therefore, owed their knowldge of them to the
Chinese. In all of these nitre was introduced, and some
of them contained the precise ingredients of gunpowder.
Professor Schonbein's discovery was not as yet secured
by a patent, and of course it could not be supposed that
the ingredients which he made use of would be commu-
nicated, but it was a gratifying circumstance that he had
in the first place come to offer it to the British Govern-
ment and the British people. The principal drawbacks
in the use of gunpowder were, that it produced so much
smoke, and left a residuum which prevented fire-arms
from being used for any considerable time without
cleansing. M. Schonbein's gun cotton had neither of
these disadvantages. It had all the appearance of
ordinary white cotton, and was not injured by moisture.
There were two kinds of this cotton, both similar in
appearance, but one of an inferior quality which pro-
duced a small quantity of smoke, and left a slight
residuum. The other caused not the slightest appear-
ance of smoke, and left no traces whatever on the paper
from which it was fired. Mr. Grove fired off some
portions of gunpowder, and of the two kinds of cotton,
both dried and moist. In one experiment the superior
cotton when placed on gunpowder exploded without
igniting the powder, which was afterwards fired off on
the application of a heated wire. This proved the great
rapidity of its combustion, while the absence of smoke
s eudniaotnawlhatiecrh ptoeroikodpolafctehebeetvweeneinngt,hoewsinugbs
ttaontchese
was according to the opinion of Sir J. Herschel,
madepexerpfreecst use of.

Mr. GROVE next proceeded to explain his own great
discovery of the separation of water into its constituent
elements by heat. His discourse was the substance of a
paper which he has communicated to the Royal Society
on this subject. Water is known to be composed of two
elements, oxygen and hydrogen, from a chemical union
of which it can be easily formed. By passing water
through a red-hot gun-barrel the oxygen unites with
the iron, which becomes incrustated with rust, while the
hydrogen is eliminated separately. This is the old
mode of proceeding, but no attempt had heretofore suc-
ceeded of collecting both the gases in one experiment,
without having either absorbed by any other substance.
The new process discovered by Mr. Greve consists in
introducing two platinum wires into the lower part of a
glass tube, hermetically sealed, and filled with water,
from which the atmospheric air has been first expelled
by boiling. The wire is then heated almost to the point
of fusion, by means of the galvanic current, and the in-
tense heat has the effect of completely decomposing the
water, the gases rising in small bubbles, which were
cellected at the other extremity of the tube. As it
might be supposed that the decomposition was produced
by the action of the galvanic fluid, he next tried the

oxy-hydrogen blowpipe, by which the greatest known
heat can be produced, and the result was precisely the
same.

Sir JOHN HERSCHEL being called upon by the Pres

dent, addressed the meeting at some length.
The Rer. Dr. ROBINSON also addressed the meeting,
and alluded to the extraordinary visitation of comets
during the past two years. Their number was so great
that on one night he had been able to point out to some
of his friends who visited the Armagh Observatory no
less than five comets. A remarkable fact, which ap•
peared to have some connexion with the discovery of Mr.
Grove, is that the comets when coming from their an-
nelion appear like small stars surrounded by the cloudy
envelope or coma from which they derive their name ;
but after passing the sun the comet swells out into an
immense size, while the star or solid body considerably
decreases, and in one instance, observed. by Sir John
Herchel at the Cape, appeared to have entirely dis-
appeared.
Sir JOHN HERscREL remarked that one of the most
extraordinary scientific facts of the past year was that of
one of the comets having divided into two, each of which
proceeded on its way alone. He would probably have
some remarks to bring before the association on this
subject at a future time.
The meeting, after hearing some explanatory remarks
from Mr. Grove, separated.
The sections, with the exception of those which had
completed their labours yesterday, all opened at eleven
o'clock this morning.
SECTION B.—CHEMISTRY

There were six papers read at this section, but there
was only one of any general interest among them.
" On certain principles which obtain in the application
of manures. By W. C. Spooner." After alluding to
the importance of studying economy in considering the
application of chemistry to the purposes of agriculture—
a fact which chemists were but too prone to overlook—
the author dwelt on the necessity of attending to the
distinction between manures that are most essential to
the plant, and which can only be supplied by manure,
and those which are less essential and which can be pro-
cured from other sources. Whilst the compounds of
ammonia and phosphoric acid are of such value as to
well repay the expenditure of a large sum in procuring
them—the weaker manures—the alkalis, which can to a
great extent be substituted for each other, and the sili•
cates, which ought to be realised from the soil, should only
be used aspurchased manure when they canbe procured at
a low expense—particularly as they may be got from
the ashes of vegetables, or from burnt clay or other soil,
or else by the disintegration of the earth in the mecha-
nical operations of agriculture. The paper concluded
by suggesting the formation of an exclusively agrieul-
,,ural section at the future meetings of the association.

of the points on which information was wanted were
these : —The stability of the vessel to carry a suffi-
cien.cy of canvass to obtain the necessary speed was
an important consideration. The stability was to be
obtained, either by lengthening the vessel, or still
more
iby increasing the breadth, or else by deepen-
ing t. Each of these modes, however, bore with
it a corresponding disadvantage, and some general
theory of proportion was most desirable. The
second point was to enable the vessel to move through
the water with the least possible resistance. By increas-
ing the stability of the vessel, they increased also the
resistance, and that resistance was also considerably pro-
moted if the vessel left a slough or vacant place in ;,he
water at its stern. The third great object was to increase
the power of the vessel to sail against the resistance of
the wind, as in sailing near the wind her tendency to
drift sideways was much greater than in going ahead.
On none of these points had they any accurate theore-
tical knowledge whatever. The water line, which was
the line formed by the water on being first separated
and then closing behind the vessel, was entirely unseteed,
almost every ship-builder having some favourite theory of
his own, without, however, being able to assign any
reason for adopting it. The reverend gentleman then
gave some particulars of the excellent sailing qualities
of Dr. Corrigan's yacht, but said that it was probable
the wave principle on which she was built might here-
after be still further improved. At least there were
some'points on which he would like to cross-examine
the inventor.

Mr. RUSSELL then came forward, and after expressing
his gratitude to the association for directing its attention
to so important a subject, proceeded to explain the
theory of what was known as the wave principle in
ship building. He was first induced to direct his mind
to this subject when the canal companies proposed, some
years ago, to establish swift boats that might compete
with the mail coaches. On being applied to by them,
his first attempt was to build one with a spheroidal bow,
but the result was not as successful as was to be wished.
The favourite shape of bow among seamen at the time
was that called a duck's breast, but the effect was to
raise a large wave immediately in front of the vessel,
which of course considerably retarded its velocity. He
then directed his attention to the motion of the water
itself. When a vessel passed through the water at a
great velocity, a high wave was raised at the head, as
high in the old steamers as four feet, and this wave on
falling back formed a hollow by its pressure immediately
behind it, and the water was afterwards sent out with
great force on both sides of the bow. All this was a
costly and useless expenditure of force. In en-
deavouring to ascertain the least resistance necessary
to bring the particles of water out of a state of rest, he
conceived that there ought to be a similarity between
the motion of water and that of a pendulum revolving in
a circle, and this led him to adopt the form known as the
wave principle. This is different from a bow formed or
two straight lines meeting at an acute angle, in being
narrower than such a bow towards the cut-water, and a
little wider towards the bow. The object to be attained
was, he conceived, to remove the particles of water ra-
pidly, and at the same time not to throw them farther
aside than the breadth of the vessel amidships. That
this object was effected .by the wave principle he ascer-
tained in the following manner :—He got his model boat
to be carried along by high-bred horses at a speed of 17
miles an hour, and made the head pass between two
oranges floating on the water, and which he intended to
represent two particles of the water to be removed. The
oranges merely touched the side of the vessel until they
got amidships, and there remained, thus showing that
no greater force had been applied to them than was
necessary to remove them out of the way of the vessel.
Another phenomenon observed was, that, instead of the
high wave at the bow, which sailors thought was a sign
of a ship sailing well, or what they called carrying a bone
in her teeth, the elevation and subsequent depression of
the water were entirely got rid of. He at first thought it
would be better to have the same shape behind, but he
found it did not answer at all. He diseovered, in fact,
that the fuller she was behind, and the flatter she lay
upon the surface of the water, the quicker she sailed, and
that this should be the case is clear, when it is consi-
dered that the water, returning to its level, is governed
by an entirely different law from that by which it is first
separated. These two considerations united led him to
the adoption of what is known as the wave principle.
In the wave formation, the greatest breadth of the ship
is not at the bows, or even amidships, but a great way
aft, in the ratio of three to two, and the other peculiarity
is, that there is a long and extremely gentle hollow in
the water-line forward, with a very full water-line abaft,
but which is, however, never on the surface of the
water to exceed a cycloid.
An interesting discussion followed,' and several mem-
bers expressed themselves highly gratiied at the explan-
ation which Mr. Russell had given of his theory.
MEETING OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE.
The general committee met this day at three o'clock.
The President in the chair,
The minutes of the last meeting having been read and
confirmed,

Mr. TAYLOR, the general treasurer, read his report of
he number of tickets issued since the commencement of
he meeting. They were as follows :
Old life members 241
New members lO
New annual subscribers 39
Old annual subscribers
Associates
Foreigners
Ladies

198

Total 843
The amount of money received was 7101., to which was
to be added the subscription of his Royal Highness
Prince Albert of 1001., and Si. 4s. Bd. for books, making
in all 8201. 4s. Bd.

Colonel SABINE, the general secretary, then read the
lists of recommendations agreed to by the committee of
recommendation. These were divided into three parts,
the first involving grants of money from the associa-
tion, the second requiring no grants of money, and the
third being recommendations to the Government or
other public bodies. The recommendations were una-
nimously adopted.

The Toll°Wing is a synopsis of the grants of moneys
recommended, with the name of the member, who alone,
or as the first of the committee, is entitled to draw for
the money:—

Kew Observatory £lso 0 0
MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE.
Erman, A.—Computation of Gaussian for
1839. (Continuation.) ....
Birt, W.—Researches in Atmospheric Waves 10 0 0
Robinson, Rev. Dr.—Construction of a new

Anemometer
(Committee).—Complete Catalogues of Stars 70 0 0
CHEMICAL SCIENCE.
Percy, Dr.—On Crystalline Slags, &c.. 2O 0 0
Schunck.—On Colouring Matters

ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY.
Strickland, R. E.—Vitality of Seeds 10 1 0
Portlock, Capt.—Marine Zoology of Corfu 10 0 0
Lemon, Sir Charles, Bart.—Marine Zoology
of Cornwall lO 0 0
Forbes, Prof. E.—Marine Zoology of Britain 10 0 0
Egerton, Sir Philip, Bart.—Habits of Marine
Animals
Spence, William. —On Seorpionidm and
Araenidw
Owen, Prof.—Tabular Forms for Registering
Periodical Phenomena
PHYSIOLOGY.
_

Blake, Dr.—Physiological-IQ3'n of Medi-

cines 2O 0 0