The Sun.
London, England, 1834-09-20 00:00:00

FRIDAY-FIFTH DAY.

-Friday evening the general meeting of the Association
was, if possible, more numerously and fashionably attended
than any of the previous ones. Sir THOMAS BRISBANE
took the chair at the usual hour, when the business com-
menced by reading the Reports of the different Sections.
Professor ROBINSON, of Armagh, read the Report from
the Section of Mathematics and Physics, at which, among
other topics, Dr. Knight had explained a method of render-
ing the vibrations of heated metals visible to the eye. Mr.
Russell read an account of certain experiments relative to
the traction of boats at considerable speed on canals.—Sir
D. Brewster read an account of a series of experiments re-
lative to the surfaces of chrystals when in a state of solu-
tion. These experiments were conducted with that skill
and dexterity which had already rendered the name of
Brewster one of European renown. Sir Thomas Brisbane
made some remarks on a kind of siliceous sand found in
New South Wales, from which glass of a superior quality is
manufactured.

Professor CHRISTISON read the Report from the Section
on Chemistry, in which papers on various subjects con-
nected with the science were read by Mr. Harcourt, Dr.
Clark, Sir David Brewster, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Kemp.
Professor PHILLIPS reported from the Section of Geo-
graphy and Geology; in which, among other papers, Mr.
James Bryce read one on certain bones found in a cavern
near the Giant's Causeway. A paper was also read on the
geology of the Pentland Hills. Mr. Murchison read a pa-
per on the fossil fishes found in the old red sandstone of
England, and also in Forfarshire, and other counties in
Scotland. Dr. Traill announced that the fossil fishes which
he had brought from Orkney had been inspected by M.
Agassis, who had diseovered among them five new species:
M. Agassis also reid a paper on certain fossils found in the
quarries near Burdiehouse, which he conceived at first to
be reptiles, but which were in reality fishes, partaking of the
character of reptiles. This remarkable fact was now
brought for the first time under the notice of science.

Professor GRAHAM read the Report from the Section of
Natural History. In this Section Dr. Traill made some
observations on a new species of thrush found in Bra-
bant. Mr. Pentland concluded his observations on the
remains of what appeared to be an extinct variety of
the human race, which had inhabited a district in South
America, extending from the 16th to the 19th degree of
south latitude. From relics found in various places, it
appeared that three-fourths of the brain was placed be-
hind the spinal column, the consequence of which con-
formation would be, that they would have great dif-
ficulty in keeping their heads erect, and be more inclined
as the Professor humorously observed, to be star-gazers
than geologists. It ought to be observed, however, that,
Mr. Pentland failed to convince the section that this con-
formation arose from any other source than the habits of
savage life. Sir David Brewster gave a masterly and lumi-
nous account of a remarkable structure in the webs of the
feathers of birds, for keeping the lamina 3 from separating
during flight. This extraordinary fact had hitherto es-
caped the observation of naturalists.
Dr. ABERCROMBIE enumerated the various papers which
had been read in the section of medicine, and then took oc-
casion to express the gratification which himself and others
had felt during the present meeting, and their anticipations of
the happy results to which the friendships thereby com-
menced might lead. He was not one of those who thought
that the pursuits of physical science were hurtful to the
higher interests of man, considered as a moral being. He
believed that irreligion and infidelity were the offspring of
ignorance united to presumption ; and that the boldest re-
searches in physical science were calculated the more to
display the power, the wisdom, the harmony, and the beauty
which marked the works of Him who guided the planets in