The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-04 00:00:00

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IRELAND.

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from the persecution of his opponents. yln '....fx•P`,X,„,
a case he would be the first to subscribe to a fuitt.';: - '11"
for that purpose. Several electors urged the
city of ascertaining from Mr. Townsend the ei-4440
nature of his difficulties, and it was the getterlireva
opinion that the election expenses might be . .
by a subscription; if no other assistance Ishii; reel S
quire&
Mr. DAVEY, an elector, of Charlton, observed
when Mr. Townsend announced himself a candidate
he was closely questioned as to his ability to meet
rhe expenses, as the electors were cautious, having
just previously been gulled by Colonel Sleigh, and
his reply was that he was able to meet such ex-
penses.

From other speakers it appeared that these
expenses had not been paid, and that no account
had been published by the auditor.
Ultimately the following resolution was adopted
—"That a deputation from the meeting wait upon.
Mr. John Townsend, M.P., in order to ascertain
from him the nature and extent of his present
difficulties, with a view, if just and practicable, to
•ender him assistance."
The meeting was then adjourned.

DUBLIN, THURSDAY MORNING.
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

The sittings of the several sections were brought
to a close yesterday, and this morning some of the
members of the association left Dublin sit route by
rail and sea to the Isles of Arran, on the coast of
Galway. At three o'clock on Wednesday all the
leeding members assembled for the last time in the
new Museum, Trinity College, when the general
secretary was called upon to make a statement of
the recommendations which the committee had
made for the prosecution of scientific researches and
the grants of money which it had ordered for their
support :
" General Sabine accordingly came forward and said it
might be convenient to divide the recommendations of
the committee into two classes— the first consisting of
those objects for which grants of money were to be
made ; and, secondly, the recommendations for rep ,rts
upon particular subjects which did not involve the neces-
sity of any expenditure of the funds which had been re-
ceived in Dublin towards the furtherance of the society's
labours in the year to come. Different sums had been
allotted as follows :--Kew Observatory, 5001.; R.
Mallet, Experiments on Earthquake Waves, 50/. ;
Wright, Dredging the West Coast of Ireland, 101. ;
Keddie, Vegetable Imports into Scotland, 10/. ' • Have-
law, Typical Forms of Museum, 101. ; Miles, Dredging
West Coast of Scotland, 25/. ; Bell, Report on Anne-
,ida, 251.; Daubeny, Vitality of Seeds, Si. ; Dau•
heny, Growth of Plants, 10/. ; Kinahan, Dredge near
Dublin, 10/. ; Patterson, Dredging North Coast of Ire-
land, 20/.; Rennie, Production of Heat, 201.; Thomson,
Discharge of Water, 10/. ; Maskelyne, Photography,
10/. ; Voeloker, Manures, 251. ; Sullivan, Salte, 201.
The aggregate amount of these grants was 7801. 55., and
when the estimated expenditure for the next year
vas deducted from the sum which the association
had received from the present meeting a balance
of about 9001. would remain. (Loud applause.)
General. Sabine then proceeded to read the recommenda-
tions of the ountnittee for which pecuniary grants, were
not required. These wereto the effect that reports should
he sought from members on the following subjects of
interest :—Odling—Organic Chemistry ; Ilaughton—
Composition of Rocks ; Oldham—Geology of India ;
RaOday—Fainicie of Ireland ; Andrews—Fishes in the
West Coast of Ireland ; Greene—Discoid Medusas ; Ki.
eahan—Crustacea of Dublin Bay. Directions had also
been given to have the following papers printed :
Plarr—On some Transformations, &c. ; Schlagentweit
—Observations on India ; Barlow—On Suspension
Bridges ; Vignoles—On ditto ; Hargreaves—On Alge-
tTaie couples ; Grubb—On Telescopes. Gen. Sabiee
hen proceeded to real the recommendation of the gene-
,al committee upon subjects of general scientific interest.
rhe first was as follows :—Rssolved, "That it is of
4reat importance to the progress of science that the
,nagnetic observations that have been established with
the sanction of Government in many colonies, and have
already added so much t i our knowledge of chemistry
and magnetism, should be cle.tinued ; and that, the
a=sociation considering it desirable far the attainment of
these objects to obtain the )-eperation of the
Royal Society, a committee be oppointecl, consisting cf
the President, Rev. Dr. Robinson, and General Sabine,
for that purpose, and to take in conjunction with them
such steps as shall be thought necessary, including, if
t be thought desirable, an application to Parliament.
That an application be made to Government to send an
,epedition to the Mackenzie River to explore the
magnetic phenomena with special reference to magnetic
st,rms. Lord Wrottesley and Dr. Robinson be re-
quested to express to the B )ard of Trade the desira-
bleness of establishing anemometrical observations in
the islands of the Atlantic. The next recommendation
was one that be was sure the meeting, more particu-
larly that portion of it which had listened to the inte-
resting lecture of Dr. Livingstone, would hear with
great satisfaction—it was—' fhat the president, be re-
quested with other gentleuatn to apply to Government
send an expedition to explore the Zarnbese River,
with the view of entering the interior of Africa by
that ronte.' " (Applause.)

The following appropriate proceedings took placo
in Trinity College :—' _ _ _

"An ' Autumn Commencement' was held in the Ex-
amination-hall of Trinity College yesterday, for the first
time since the year 1833, for the purpose of conferring
degrees of the University on several distinguished mem-
hers of the British Association, as a mark of respect to
that body generally. At 12 o'clock the Vice-Chancellor
and the Provost, in their full robes of office, the Fellows,
vzholars, and other members of the University, wearing
the academic dress, entered the Examination-ball iu pro-
cession, and took their places at the upper end, which was
crowded by ladies and gentlemen. While the several
members of the university were taking the places as-
signed to them, Dr. Stuart, who presided at the
organ, performed several appropriate musical selec-
tions. The gentlemen upon whom degrees were to
he conferred occupied seats at the left of the
Vice-Chancellor. Tney were—Professor G. C. B.
Daubony, late President of the British Association ;
Professor J. Philips, William Hopkins, F.R.S., W.
Thomson, F.R.S., J. Richardson, 111. D , F.R.S , C 1.
J. E. Portlock, J. P. Joule, G. M. Rankin,
Major-General Sir J. Chatterton, Hon. Baron Martin,
M. Leon Foucault, Member of the Institute of France

Herr Schlagentweit, and Professor Rogers, of Boston,
United States. All these gentlemen, with the exception
of the last-named three, wore the scarlet gown of the
LL.D. of the University. The Vice-Chancellor rose and
said that, i❑ the absence of the Chancellor of the Uni-
versity, he felt great pleasure in exercising the powers
vested in him, in conferring the honorary degrees
accorded to the distinguished members of tho British
Association now present. This distinction was in-
tended by the University of Dublin as a mark of
honour and respect towards the great men who had
not confined their talents or learning to any particu-
lar country, but had exerted them for the benefit; and
enlightenment of the entire human race. The degrees
about to be conferred by the University on those mem-
bers of the associations were meant directly as distinc-
tions well merited by those to whom they were granted,
and relatively as tributes of respect to the illustrious
body generally of the British Association. (Cheers.)
The new museum, which bad been the subject of general
admiration, had furnished ample accommodation for the
meetings of the several sections, and it was highly gra-
tifying that the first use to which the building had been
applied should be so closely allied to the noblest inierests
of science and art by its being made the scene of the re-
cent memorable and interesting proceedings of the British
Association. (Cheers.)
"The Vice-Chancellor having concluded his address,
the intended recipients of degress were called forward.
" Pro'essor Daubeny, Professor Philips, Mr, Hop-

kins, Mr. Thomson, Colonel Portlock, Mr. Joule, Mr.
Rankin, Major-General Sir James Chatterton, and the
the Hon. Baron Martin came forward in succession, took
customary oaths of allegiance, and received the degree of
LL.D. M. Leon Foucault, Herr Schlagentweir, and
Professor Rogers of Boston, came forward together.

They did not wear the academic dress.
" The Provost said that by an old statute it was ren-
dered necessary that all persons on whom the degree of
LL.D. was conferred should take the oath of allegiance,
but the university was anxious to confer the highest
honorary degree upon these three distinguished foreigners.
Diplomas bearing the seal of the uLivermty were then
presented to the three gentlemen. The konorati were
greeted with enthusiastic cheers of congratulatibn.
" The proceedings shortly after concluded, and the
assemblage slowly left the Examination Hall, while the
organ pealed forth its most brilliant music."