The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-03 00:00:00

085
36,279

BRITISR ASSOCIA7 lON FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.

OXFORD, JULY 2. •
The papers read in the various sections to-day
were as follow :

SECTION A—Mathematical and Physical Science.
Professor Walker—Report of the committee on
balloon ascents for scientific purposes. Dr. Booth—
On a new geometrical method fur establishing the
theory of conic sections. Dr. Booth—On an itn
proved instrument for describing spirals, invented
by Henry Johnson. Sir D. Brewster—On the infl a-
ence of small apertures on telescopic vision. Dr. Lee
Prospectus of the Hartwell variable star atlas, with
six specimen proofs. Dr. Mucks—On some re-
corded observations of the planet Venus in the
seventh century B.C. Professor Hennessy--On
the principles of meteorology. Professor Hen-
nessy—Oa the possibility of studying the earth's
internal structure from phenomena observed at its

surface. Professor Peirce—On the physical con-
stitution of cornets. Professor Peirce—On the

.
dynamic condition of Saturn's rings. Pr,,tessot-
Sylvester—A generalisation of Poncelet's theorem
for the linear representation of quadratic radicals.
i\ Robert de Schlagintweit—On hypsometers, and
their comparison with barometers, at great heights.
M. Verdet—On the dispersion of planes of polarisa-
tion produced by magnetism. Professor Jellett—
On a new analysing prism. S. Park Harrison—
On the similarity of the lunar curves of minimum
temperature in 1859 at Utrecht and Greenwich.
B. Stewart—On some recent extensions of the
theory of exchanges. W. Ladd—lmproved form
of air pump for philosophical experiments. Mungo
Ponten—Further researches regarding the laws of
chromatic dispersion.

SEcrioN Science.—Mr. Buckton
—On some reactions of zinc-ethyl. Dr. Von Bose
—Remarks on the volume theory. Dr. Andrews
—On ozone. Professor Brodie—On the quantita-
tive estimation of the peroxide of hydrogen. A.
Vernon Harcourt—On the oxidation of potassum
and sodium. J. J. Coleman—Note on the destruc-

tion of the bitter principle of chyraitta by the
agency of caustic alkali.
SECTION C.—Geology.—Professor Jukes.—On
the igneous rocks interstratified with the car-
boniferous limestone of the Basin of Limerick. Rev.
P. B. Brodie—On the stratigraphical position of
certain species of corals in the lias. Rev. W. Lister
—On some reptilian foot-prints from the new red
sandstone north of Wolverhampton. Rev. Professor
Sedgwick—On the geology of the neighbourhood
of Cambride and the fossils of the upper green
sand. Rev. W. V. Harcourt—On the effects of
long-continued heat—shown in the iron furnaces

of the west of Yorkshire. Professor Rogers—On
some phenomena of metamorphism in coal in the
United States. Professor Ferdinand Von Hoch-
stretter—Some observations upon the geological
features of the volcanic island of St. Paul in the
South Indian Ocean, illustrated by a model in relief
of the island, made by Captain Cybulz, of the

Austrian artillery. Professor Ferdinand Von
Hochstetter—Remarks on the geology of New Zea-
land illustrated by geological maps, drawings, and
photographs. Rev. J. C. Clutterbuck—O a the
course of the Thames from Lechdale to Windsor, as
ruled by the geological formations over which it
passes. Alphonse Gages—On some transformations
of iron pyrites in connection with fossil remains.
SECTION D.—Zoology and Botany.—Dr. Ogilvie
—On the woody fibres of flowering and of crypto-
gamic plants. J. Price—On cydippe. Dr. Dau-
beny—Remarks on equivocal generation. Frank
T. Buck land—On the acclimatisation of animals,
birds, &c., in the United Kingdom. Dr. Verloren-
-0 n the effect of temperature and time on the develop-
ment of certain lepidoptera. H. T. Stainton—On
some peculiar forms amongst the larvae of the mi-
cro-lepidoptera. Lovell Reeve—On the aspergilla,
or watering-pot moluses. Dr. C. Dresser—On the
morphological laws in plants.
SUB-SECTION D.—Physiology.—Professor Cor-
bett, M.D.—Oa the deglutition of alimentary fluids
Arthur E. Durham, Esq.—An experimental inquiry
into the nature of sleep. Professor Van der Hoeveu
—Some remarks on the anatomy of Potto of Borneo
Perodicticus Bennettii. Dr. B. W. Richardson—
On influence of oxygen in animal bodies. Profes-
sor J. R. Green—A word on embryology with re-
ference to the constitution of the sub-kingdoms of
animals. Professor Carus—On the value of de-
velopment
in systematic zoology and animal mor-
phology. Dr. C. B. Radcliffe—On muscular action
from an electrical point of view. Professor Beale,
F.R.S.—On the ultimate arrangements of nerves in
muscular tissue. Dr: R."M‘Donnell—Onsugar and
amyloid substance in the animal economy.
SECTION E.—Geography and Ethnology.—John
Crawford, Pres. Eth. Soc.—On the Aryan or
lado-Germanic theory of races. Colonel Shaffai
N.S.—On the geography of the proposed comma-,
nication between England and America via the
Fames, Iceland, and Greenland. Rev. Dr. Booth
—On a deep sea pressure gauge ; invented by
Henry Johnson. Captain M. H. Synge, R.li.—
On the proposed commuuicatioa betwe.m. AtLatio
and Pacific via British North America. Profes7
fessor Fedinand von Hochstetter (Vienna), Geolo
gist of the Austrian Novara Expedition—A new
map of the interior of the Northern Island of
New Zealand, constructed during an inland
journey in 1859. Rev. Dr. Hincks—On some eth-
nological boulders, and their probable origin. Mr.
R. Cull—On the existence of a true plural of a per-
sonal pronoun in a living European language.
SECTION F.—Economic Science and Statistics.—
J. J. Fox—On the province of the statistician.
Richard Dowden—Local taxation for local pur-
poses. Miss Carpenter—Statistics of schools for
neglected children. John Hitchmen—On sanitary
drainage of towns. J. M. Mitchell-01 the sta-
tistics of the herring fishery on the British coasts.
Ker Porter— Some hints for the building of cottages
for agricultural labourers. E. Jarvis (Boston,
U.S.)—On the system of taxation prevailing in the
United States.
SECTION G.—Mechanical Science.—Capt. Blake-
ley—On rifled cannon. Wm. Fairbairn—Experi-
ments to determine the effect of vibratory action
and long-continued changes of load upon wrought
iron girders. David Chadwick—On water meters.
John Fisher—On an atmospheric washing machine.
B. W. Richardson, M.A., M.D.—Suggestions for
an electro-magnetic railway break. Admiral
Tayler—A novel means to lessen the frightful loss
of life round our exposed costs, by rendering the
element itself an inert barrier against the power of
the sea; also a permanent deep-water harbour of
refuge by artificial bars.
At 2 o'clock a convocation was held in the theatre,
when the honorary degree of D.C.L. was conferred
on his Excellency M. Auguste de la Rive, plenipo-
tentiary of the Helvetic Confederation, the Earl
Rosse, Lord Wrottesley, and the Rev. Adam
Sedgwick, professor of geology, Cambridge.
After this the prize poem, on " The Life, Cha-
racter, and Death of the heroic Sir John Franklin,"
with especial reference to the time, place, and
discovery of his death, was recited by the successful
competitor, Mr. Owen Alex. Vidal, of Trinity
College. At 4 o'clock Capt. Sherard Osborn, R.N.,
delivered a lecture on " Arctic Discovery," in the
theatre, which was well filled.
At the general meeting of the committee held in
the Convocation House this afternoon it was agreed
to hold the next meeting of the Association in
Manchester. Invitations were also received from
Cambridge, Newcastle-on-Tyne' and Dundee. On
the motion of Sir Roderick Murchison, seconded
by Mr. Gassiott, Mr. Wm. Fairbairn, of Manches-
. ter, was unanimously elected president of the meet-
ing in 1861. The vice-presidents, treasurer, and
secretaries were also appointed.

THIS DAY'S MARKETS.

HAY MARKETS.

SMITIITIELD.—MeadoWII;i; Os to £5 5s Od ; clover,
£4 Os to £6 6s Od ; and straw, £1 8s to £1 16s per loth,
A good demand for both hay and straw, at our quotations.
New hay, £2 lOs to £3 10s per load.
CUMBERLAND.—MeacIow.hay, £3 Os to £5 5s ; clover,
£4 Os to £6 Cs Od ; and straw, £1 8s to £1 18s per lead.
Trade firm.

WIIITECEIATEL.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £5 5s Od; clove'
£4 4s to £6 6s Od ; and straw, £1 Os to 14s per load
A. steady demand.

COLONIAL.
TEA .—The market is quiet, and prices have experienced
no material alteration.
SUGAR.—A moderate amount of business has been trans-
acted in the finer qualities chiefly for home consumption,
and prices are firm. In the refined market business has
been inactive, but quotations for dried goods are well main-
tained.
COFFEE.—The dealings have been rather limited owing
to the quantity announced for public sale. The stock on
hand compared with those of the same period of last year
show an addition of about 400 tons.
Rim—The inquiries have been inactive, and values
have slightly given way.
SALTPETRE.—The dealings have been of an unimportant
character, and prices are unaltered.
TALLOW.—The market has been steady
and prices BM.
P.Y.C. on the spot, 63s 3d, and last 3 months, 538 3d per
cwt,

The report of the liquidators of the Western
Bank of London, to be presented on Wednesday, describes
the realisations effected since April, 1859, when the resolu-
tion to transfer the business of the company to the London
l
and County Bank was adopted. The debts and liabilities
at that time were £255,097, exclusive of the paid-up capital
of £200,000. The total required to be provided or was,
therefore, £455,097. The nominal assets were L 452,002.
Of these £411,730 have been realised, and a further sum is
expected of £14,993. In that case the total loss sustained
by the proprietors will be about £30,000, or 15 per cent.
on their investment. Mr. Maynard is. the antant i
the case, and the present results confirm his n
original
estimates.
The dollars brought by the Mexican packet have
been disposed of at 62hd. per ounce, showing a decline of
id. from the rate realised for those brought by the previous
packet. The bar silver is not yet sold.