The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-02 00:00:00

Aeronautical Society of Great Britain

At a meeting of this society, held at Stafford
House, St. James, his grace the Duke of Sutherland
in the chair; present also Lord R. Grosvenor, Dr.
Fairbairn, Mr. Glaisher, Mr. Wenham, Mr. Butler,
Mr. Wheble, and Mr. Bi carey.
Several gentlemen were admitted as members.

The communications were of an interesting nature,
and a paper was read by the hon. secretary, Mr. F.
Brearey, which was ordered to be published, as
it was thought to contain some valuable suggestions.
Mr. BREAREY said it was necessary for the guid-
ance of inventors that they should be made aware
of the nature of the experiments which the society
would be likely to encourage. In the formation of
the society he had been careful to adopt moderate
views. He believed that although the gratification
of mankind might be greatly enhanced, and ex-
plorers in distant countries materially aided, so that
indirectly we should increase in knowledge; yet as
a means of conveyance no improvement in aerial
navigation would ever enable it to compete with
ship or rail. The simple object of ascent and de-
scent by mechanical means bad been greatly over-
looked in the more ambitious attempts at propul-
sion of the balloon, which entailed the adoption of
unmanageable machines. The power required to
raise an object which already possesses buoyancy
would be very slight compared to that which would
be requisite to propel against a resistant atmosphere,
whilst the effect would be greater, inasmuch as
within the range of one mile from the earth various
currents might be met with, and occasionally in an

opposite direction, whilst one mile obtained by pro-
delling horizontally would be unappreciable. A
balloon wanting 201bs. ascensive power in addition
to its gas, could be aided to that extent by mechani-
cal means ; and provided a low elevation were main-
tained, the cessation of its action would cause it to
descend without sensitive tendency to rise again
upon its contact with the earth. Apply this small
power to a propeller, and no satisfactory result could
be obtained. In addition to this advantage, the gas
could be saved, and the balloon fastened down to
the ground, similar to the war balloons in France.
He read an article from the Westminster Review, in
which the observations of several authorities relative
to air currents were recorded, as also the opinion
of Mr. C. Green, that were it possible to maintai❑

a balloon at any desired elevation, an aeronaut
might almost take his choice of direction

He observed that there appeared to be no doubt
that men had upon several occasions succeeded in
flying to some slight extent, and that it would be
advisable, in any future attempt, to use the balloon
merely as a buoyant power, as an embryo swimmer
uses corks, until he should grow confident in the use
of his apparatus. He referred to an invention of Mr.
Butler, one of the council, by which a forcible blow
of more than 401bs. could be given by a pair of
wings operating from the car of a balloon ; and no
doubt this power, equal to about 1,000 cubic feet of
carburetted hydrogen, would be able to raise a bal-
loon which wanted that amount of gas to make it

ascend. There were some disadvantages attending
the use of these wings which might possibly be mo-
dified. Another object which the society should
contemplate would be experiments in the manufac-
ture of gas in a cheap and expeditious form for
emergencies ; and this brought him to the remark
that the absence of a balloon corps in our army had
not been satisfactorily explained, although the au-
thorities had instituted inquiries with that object.
lie quoted from a leading periodical of April 14,
1862, as to the services rendered to the Federal

Americans by a balloon observation, and also from
the author of Astra Castra as follows :—" I think it

may be adduced from the foregoing historical ac-
count that a very fair average of success has attended
the use of reconnoitring balloons by different armies
during the last 70 years." He further suggested an
application to the proper authorities for some pecu-
niary aid in prosecuting these and kindred experi-
ments. He quoted from an address lately delivered
in France by M. de Fouville, showing the benefit
which the balloon had conferred upon science by
the aid of Mr. Glaisher, in which he concluded
in these words :—" It is not, therefore, possible
to assign any limit to the utility of aerial navigation
as it is now practicable by the labours of distin-
guished philosophers." Mr. Brearey further advo-
cated the possession by the society of a balloon, so
that a buoyant aid might be afforded to inventors,
and also to assist in the further investigation of air

currents, and for experiments on its captive state;
and he also suggested that the members of the society
should make observations of the clouds daily in
different parts of the country, and of their diverse
directions at varied elevations, and that they should
be furnished with a form which would show the
course of the lower, middle, and upper strata at
given moments of time.

The Arundel. Society.

A special general meeting of the members of this

society took place at its rooms, 24, Old Bond-street
_ _

on Wednesday, for the purpose of considering a
scheme for enlarging the basis of the society's opera-
tions. Mr. Layard, M.P., a member of the council,
was called to the chair.

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, con-
gratulated the members on the prosperous state of
the society. The meeting was called for the pur-
pose of obtaining power to admit members who,
under the existing rules, could not enjoy the privi-
leges of subscribers. The number of subscribers
was limited to 1,500, and there were now 330 asso-
ciates waiting to fill the vacancies that might occur
by death, resignation, or default in the list. On re-
vising the list in January it was found that there was
a slight excess in the limit of 1,500; there was, there-
fore, no hope that any associate could be admitted
for two years. In the meanwhile these associates
were increasing at the rate of 200 per annum. Under
these circumstances the council now proposed a
scheme for enlarging the basis of the society's opera-
tions, and extending the advantages of subscrip-
tion to a new class of members. The council did
not propose to multiply the copies of the society's
works, but to issue more subjects. It was pro-
posed to form two classes of annual subscribers, and
to issue two sets of annual publications, the same in
character but distinct in subject. All the associates
now on the books will be invited to join the
new class, but they will still succeed in order of
priority to the old or first class. The present sub-
scribers will be invited to join the new class, so that
by paying £2 2s. per annum they would have two
sets of annual publications, one in the spring, the
other in the autumn.

The SECRETARY having read the details of the
proposed scheme,
Sir E. HEAD, Bart., proposed " That the meet-
ing approves of the proposed scheme for enlarging
the basis of the society's operations, and extending
the advantages of subscription to a new class of
members."

Mr. C. J. DU PRE, M.P., seconded the resolution.

After remarks by Mr. J. B. Atkinson, Mr. Tebbs
and Mr. Barton, the resolution was put to the meet-
ing, and carried unanimously.

Mr. E. OLDFIELD, the treasurer of the society,
having explained the positive advantages offered in
the new scheme to each subscriber and associate,
proposed " That the council is hereby authorised to
revise the existing rules of the society, in accord-
ance with the scheme approved by the preceding re-
solution ; and the rules so revised be submitted for
final adoption at the annual general meeting to be
held in the ensuing spring."
Mr. TUCKER seconded the resolution, which was
carried unanimously.
Mr. J. STEPHENS proposed " That copies of the
revised rules be printed and circulated among the
members before the annual general meeting."
Mr. A. ASPLAND seconded the resolution, which
was carded.

Mr. J. STEPHENS, in proposing a vote of thanks to