The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-09-26 00:00:00

!xpress,

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1854•

tAsses might vary as min
as two, or three, or even even four points, he would have
known, of course, that he must place no reliance upon
them. It did not follow, however, that compasses were of
no use, because, under circumstances, they were liable to
change. They might be, and were of great use for all
that. But what he wished to impress upon them was,
that by attempting to adjust a transient influence by a
permanent influence, they were only aggravating error ;
that captains ought always to bear in mind this liability
of their compasses to mislead them two or three points ;
that they should be always looking after their correction
and verification whenever the sun or a star was in sight,
and that, by keeping a compass aloft, as far as possible
from the iron of the ship, they would always have a
standard to which they would be able to refer, and which
he, in his Arctic voyages, had always found to be correct.
Mr. J. T. Towson, secretary of our Local Marine Board,
next read a paper on "The inefficiency of the Aids of
Science at Present in connection with the Compassses of
Iron Ships." Referring to the paper of Dr. Scoresby, he
said he did not dissent from anything that he had said,
but he wished to point out what he believed to be another
source of error in Connection with compasses, deserv-
ing their serious consideration. He alluded to the
change that took place in the inductive magnetism of a
ship when she heeled over. In 1846, Mr. Walker, the
Queen's harbour-master at Plymouth, obtained the per-
mission of the Admiralty to examine the compasses of the
Recruit when heeling, and the result was that the error
from this cause was found to amount to nearly one-half
the maximum error experienced when .on an even beam.
He believed that many of the errors in the compasses on
board both wood and iron ships, which neither the mariner
nor the compass-adjuster could account for, was to be
attributed to "heeling." In the only six cases in which
he had been able to obtain information of the heeling of
iron ships, it had been shown that considerable errors
had arisen from this cause, but these, of course, were not
sufficient to establish a theory. He thought, however,
that the disastrous loss of the Tayleur might possibly
have arisen from this cause. All the tables of deviations
• of compasses of ships that had heeled had the maximum
amount of error, arising from heeling, when the ship's
head was directed within two or three points of the mag-
netic poles, the same being the point of no deviation when
the ship's beam was horizontal. In all cases the north
pole of the compass had been drawn towards the point to
F which the shin heeled. Besides collateral means adopted
for correcting the compass, there were two systems in use
for that purpose. Captain Johnson's system of swinging
the. ship and tabulating the results, which was exclusively
employed in the royal navy; and the Astronomer Royal's
method of compensating the compasses, by means of mag-
nets, whim was almost exclusively resorted to in this
port. The objection to Captain Johnson's plan' was that
the correction was liable to be employed the wrong way
His experience in the examination of about two thousand
masters of merchant vessels had convinced him of the
soundness of that objection. There was a general ten-
dency hr practice to come to a wrong conclusion on the
subject. The mariner knew that westerly deviations indi-
cated that the north end of the needle was drawn to the
'west, and came -to the conclusion that if his compass had
a westerly deviation it must cause an object bearing north
to appear westerly, whereas it would really appear
easterly ; and he bad known the same mistake made
on board of the ships of the royal navy. The most for-
midable objection to the Astronomer Royal's system was
that the magnetic poles of the- compensating magnets
were liable tochange or 'to vary in their intensity. Theo-
retically this appeared probable, but he had no well-
established fact to illustrate it. The change of retentive
magnetism deviation from heeling, and the change pro-
duced by going to the other hemisphere, were defects
common to both systems. Accordilig to Captain John-
son's system, however, the'amount of original error was
always exposed ; while by that of the Astronomer Royal'
it was concealed from the moment that the situation of'
the compass was determined on and the ship swung. He
had never met with a captain who. could tell him the
original deviation of his compass. Tn the case of the
Tayleur the deviation of her steering. compass was 60 de-
grees, of her compass before the nuienmast 40 degrees.
After a short discussion,
Mr. Horxrxs gave an account of some experiments
"'On the effect of pressure on the temperature of fusion of
different suhstances." _ _ _ _ _

if he had known that the o

Mr. W. FAIRBAIRN read a paper "On the density of
various bodies, when subjected to enormous compressive

M. FOUCAULT addressed the section in French, and
made some interesting experiments, entitled "Nouvelles
experiences sur le-measurement de to Terre au moyens
du Gyroscope."
Mr. C. BROOKE explained "An easy method of pre-
paring thin glass cells, for mioroscopic objects."
Mr. C. F. VAILET gave an account of Improvements
in' submarine and subterranean telegraphic communi-
cation."

The section then adjourned.
SECTION B.—CHEMICAL SCIENCE

W. A. Miller, 11LD., F.R.S., presided

, ,
Mi. R. WAR RINGTON FICS., read- the first paper,
"On the production of Boracic Acid' and Ammonia by
Volcanic Action."- Professor GRA.TEAM, P.R.S., then made
some remarks "On the Concentration.of Alcohol in Som-
mering's Experiments."
Professor J. IX FORBES, F. G. S., read 'a paper "On the
occurrence and chemical composition of some minerals
found in the granite formations of the south of Norway,
and containing the rarer metals and earths." Dr. GLAD-
STONE, F. R. S., exhibited some experiments "On the

, -
fluorescence of certain iron and platinum salts." Mr. G.
B. BERRY read an interesting paper" On collodion nega-
tives."

J.B. EDWA RDS, M.D., P.C. S., read'a paper "On collodion
photographs of the moon's surface?' In connexion with
Mr. J. A. Forrest and Mr. Hartnup, he had been engaged
during the year in endeavouring to obtain photographs of
the moon, by the Liverpool telescope. The chief difficulty
in their way they discovered to be that the chemical focus
of the glass was about eight-tenths of an inch beyond that
of the visual one. The images they succeeded in produc-
ing have been copied and enlarged; and will this evening
be exhibited through the medium of the oxyhydrogen
lantern.

Dr. J. IL GILBERT and Mr. J: B. LAWES, F.R.S., read
papers " On the equivalency of`starch and sugar in food."
Dr. FRANCIS WRIGIITSON gave the analysis of the sewer-
age products of Birmingham, Ste.

and the thanks of the section were voted by acdataatioa

to Dr. Hume. 000,
During the reading of Mr. Jonx Towsox's PaPer ta
Modifications of Great Circle Sailing," the section-roe
was exceedingly crowded, and the greatest attention iy,,
s %Ty-
!
paid to Mr. Towson's explanations of the diagram
which he illustrated his paper. Rear-Admiral Beel
Dr. Scoresby, and several other gentlemen exPressedthe
the warmest and most flattering terms their sense of
services which Mr. Towson has rendered to civilization...
Dr. CULL read an interesting paper, contributed by
isb.
J_.
P. Davies, F.S.A., "On the Forms of Ancient d
Brit
Crania." The paper gave rise to a most animated digegs
sion..

SECTION F.—STATISTICS.
Mr. Thomas Tooke, presided. This section attracteda
considerable attention. There were present, the Earl
Harrowby, the Archbishop of Dublin, Mr. William BroWn,
M.P. and many of our local gentry.
The first paper was on " The Progress and Direction rag
British Exports, and the Influence Thereon of Free T
and Gold," by Mr. RICHARD VALPT.
coAmmpaitptaerls"tOonprtisheonE;ff,ecwtass orfeGoado4atnhde BRader.Tiomiless
conjvie:.
chaplain to the Preston House of Correction. The paper
elicited much interest. After some discussion, thaws
were voted to Mr. Clay for his able paper.
A paper was read by Mr. AVNERNET, entitled " StatiS;
ties of Poor Relief and Movement of Population in 1,,
Hundreds of Wirral, Cheshire, communicated by Sir
Boileau, Bart., F.R.S."
Mr. DAVID BusTozr, principal of the LiverPo°l Pedd
and Dumb Asylum, read an able paper on " The Deaf ato
Dumb in the United Kingdom in 1851." The par,r,wbe
very cordially received, the Earl of 11A.REOWBY SaYll3l" he
took a particular interest in such asylums, seeing that
had once been three years in one himself.
SECTION G.—MECHANICAL SCIENCE.
Mr. WILLIAM FAIRBAIRN, who presided, on
annoucei
the postponement of his paper " On the Combustion
Fuel and the Prevention of Smoke." Mr. C. WYO
R ,
ams, who was an authority upon the subject, was -
good health, and he was anxious to be present. rimi
Mr. NASMYIII described a plan of " Lightning '1"--;
ductor for Chimneys," which an experience of 18 Year

had proved to him was very advantageous.
The PRESIDEIC2 read a paper by Mr. J., Sewell,

Boiler Explosions."
Mr. DAY (for Mr, Chanter) read a paper "Oa t),11,1
Economical Working of Steam-boilers and Furnaces
the saving of Fuel, with a more speedy command of Stew
when Boilers require te' be Forced."
Mr. GIBSON described a contrivance for preventing'
Gme.is in mines, simple' by the insertion of a spiral
down the shaft.
Mr. CLAY then read an interesting paper up
"llinn
olr
Large Fly-wheel at the Mersey Forge. In
boiler plates there is a certain limit to the speed at whi,c
the rollershould travel; in other words, the number of revel
tions made by the roller are-very few when compared with
the roller of other descriptions of iron, and it was therefei;
necessary in a mill where direct action was required, t 2,,
a fly wheel should be constructed of sufficient size
weight to have, with a small number of revolutiel
sufficient momentum to overcome the ordinary shoelcsL
rolling large plates of iron. This could only be done 1
increasing the diameter of the wheel to such an exte
that the rim should have the requisite momentum, '5
velocity, of so many feet per minute. With this view
wheel has been made of tin-Ay-five feet diameter, ail f
weighing about sixty tons ; about twenty-four tons
which is disposed in the rim, which is intended to ru'i„
with a velocity of about 4,500 feet per minute, at a,e.()",
thirty-eight revolutions. Great care was necessary, 'Dia
wheel of such magnitude, that the various parts sh,
.011„./
be well and securely fastened together, and after fin
the drawing of the wheel it was submitted to the litly
authority of Mr. Fairbairn, who pronounced it as perfec' f
safe at a velocity of 14,000 feet per minute, number i 9
revolutions 120. Any person desirous of inspecting t'er
wheel, which is supposed to be by far the largest es.
made, can see it at the Mersey Iron Works, Liverinl.e
Mr. CLAY also read a paper descriptive of
Ire°
Rolling of Taper Iron as carried on at the Mersey Al
Works." The manufacture of rolled taper iron is °
practised, at the Mersey Iron Works, under a Pa, '-„"t
-
granted to me. The- chief use to which rolled taper ill
io at present applied is-for ships knees and fastenings; allax
when it is mentioned that 2,250 tons were made last Yero
at the Mersey Works, it will appear that the manufact:le
is of some importance: These knees were formerly' 01,, De
by the tedious process of hammering, and it 16i'
evident that whilst rolling is a cheaper mode of prcd'-t
tion, the quality will be-improved by reason of the gret.
uniformity of texture. I now beg to explain the pree,,,,,
By referring to the model it will be seen tl at the P've
chinery consists of two hydraulic- cylinders placed ah°ll4
the ordinary "hausings," or standards, in which the
are usually mounted ; that these cylinders are fitted 10_!.-,
a piston and rod, which slides through the ordinary, screw.;
that retain the upper roll in its place. The cylinders *1:,
provided with suitable valves, by which water or err.
fluid: is allowed to enter and, escape from the eYlirt„scee,
The entrance-valve is an ordinary clack mushroora
which is quite self-acting; it allows of the entrance of it
fluid, but will not allow. of its escape. The
aise
valve-is a valve somewhat- similar to the chief c,not
in Bramah's press, and can be opened to any es'"
by the fine-threaded screws at the back. I will suplicl,
eo
bar about to be rolled : the• cylinders charge thenise'
with fluid through the clackevalve, and the roller °ro
the exit-valve as much as hevonsiders necessary ;he t 604
pushes the bar through the-roller, and the pressure earl.„,
the •upper roll to attempt to rise, the pressure is coven
nicated through the piston rods in the hollow screvis,,.:
at
to the piston in the cylinder, and. rcording to the
which the water is allowed to escape through the eat
the'
„ d
valve, so is the gradual rise-of the roll regulated'
regular taper produced. In roiling
will not, perhaps, on the first attempt, get the deg
taper taper on the iron ; he then alters the valve a little 0-
and, after a few trials, gets the required taper. He tb
by means of a jam-nut on•the exit-valve spindle, fixes
valve in that place, and afterwards makes as many copw'
of the bar as may be ordered. The management is 5°
simple that it is a very rare thing for a single bar to be
spoiled, in fact, the waste from bad bars is no more the
of ordinary merchant iron, and the quantity produced a:
the " turn, ' or "shift,'.' is no less than of bar iron-
_.,
have had rolled twenty-one tons of this iron in nine honif.
the collet
and it would take a hammer to produce a like quanq
more than a fortnight, or, in other words, the Valluoi
that can be made in• one mill would equal the produce
r.
about twenty forge hammers. It is evident that any3h
tide of tapered form be may made in a similar way'way'c
as railway switches. nd points, anchor shanks, mill s--ue-
,
(that are tapered to each end,) springs for carriages, c,„eii
variety of other things. The machinery may ..e almost any day ins operation at the Mersey Iron IN°O3.
Sefton-street, Liverpool. In the course of some coa,v2tbat
tion which succeeded the paper, Mr. Clay explained
the greatest weight rolled was seven or eight cwts•
dng
The concluding paper was by Mr. JA.31.38, Tiro7o"or
of Belfast, " A Report of Experiments on. the FrictioSew
Discs in Water, and on Experiments to be made Op-
trifugal Pumps." -

YESTERDAY-MONDAY..
SECTION A.-MATH E M ATI CAL AND, PHYSICAL

SCIENCE. Vl44',
The Section. met a eleven o'clock ;• G. G. Stokes, —'

F.T R.S., President, in the chair. -
he first paper read was one byMr..Anewne.LPS— f $
" On a graphic method of correcting, the deviation oos
ship's eompass." Mr. Smith had numerous diagr,';,o6
illustrative of his subject, which he referred to frontnce
to time. He alluded, at some length, to the imPorta to
of the subject treated of his in his paper, and referr 600
one which had been read by Dr. Scoresby, to the sec
tha
on Saturday. He then proceeded to demonstrate f the
views, which he held, and stated that the result of
comparison of observations, made at different laulion'
shows that no dependence can be placed on the correcofto
of ships' compasses by magnets. That they may 3.9.,5h,it'
'increase the error in a change • of • latitude as diralo'sieil
The only thing to be done is to select a place in the is ail
as far as possible from iron, and where the deviation o,*
small as possible, and that the ship should be swung,,Rllo2,,
least eight points, and the. observed deviation s,hc'ci,
applied in the same way as is practised in the •I'',T„piet
by the geographical method invented by Mr. Jas. dll
of Glasgow. It may thus be• described :—A vertic`ntit
is drawn, and divided into two equal parts, repre°e,;olol9_,
the points of the compass. Through each of the rt.° tnwA
two straight lines were drawn, a plain line slop Ship 119"
right and a dotted line to the left. When the shlr,
been swung, the observed deviations are laid di_teati'4
crosses on the dotted lines, then a curve is thf,
nearly as possible through the crosses. This is c': ll First;
curve of deviation, and the use of it is as follows • oarse'
from the compass course to find the magnetic %ion.;
Take the compass course on the central line; Inelep plat,
i'
the dotted lines to the curve and back along b"
bY 4
tlu
line to the central line; the point at which Yon,,i, fro:4
means arrive at, is the magnetic course. See°l-1"'eleo
the course by chart, to find the correctness of the c° 00'1
course, take the course by chart on the central lioe,mo,
along the plain lines to the curve, and back by tho Age
lines to the central line ; the point at which you
the course on which the ship's head should be beet, ,0•11.1e'
Colonel SA.DINE said he wished to correct an errol4t,
had been stated in the section. It was to the ePotrnet,
given in the newspapers, that so useless had the i_rrce,
tions of the Admiralty been found, in relation to c`ci Dec,"
tug the deviation of ships' compasses, that thoY
withdrawn, and the office of inspector abelisbelobesi,4
Johnson
was the reverse of true. In the death of CaPty:l,.,iirio,:re
the officer entrusted with this inspection, the
had lost an officer whose place they had found it rot'ea, 11;7/-
to supply. But the office,, instead of being ab°,,tisfactt•
been offered to two gentlemen, who had, for srii
reasons, declined the appointment. It was sti
but the Admiralty was most anxious to have it eo4`" ,
filled. felt h
ito
Dr. SCORESBY expressed the. satisfaction 4r. $93 nil
perceiving that the observations relied on hYfroin Oleo,
and the course of reasoning followed bY iLted. or
concurred in the views he (Dr. S.) had prota'b-stancelicY,
Smith had admitted that in iron-ships eircuT_
cur which could not be predicted; also as to. ten.eaicati;
and even danger of applying and acting on Oa ri,tittlot,
of magnetic correctors, particularly in southn.,o,oll'elf
kThe next paper, which was read by with_laer
was "A report of the committee on Earthcinaf..-Iv'ted.
proceedings respecting seismometers cons'-`..„,ericing!tilo
the direction of Major James, R.E." On conno„/„! of
rev,' • staP f
gallant colonel began by giving a rapid first 11) °
various circumstances which had, in the snhleeedeei
directed the attention of the section to worolotot
earthquakes. He then narrated the course sum
by the committee for making observations,
_Z7,I not,rito-
tthioen adofvtahnotagexeasctwthitincoh
owfotulhedsharoicste. from
na:ircoapallltig
• to t ,
tice of some experimental researches in
n,npOW 0
of the Voltaic Battery to the ignition 01 f
0 't
Captain Ward, R. 8."• once
The PRESIDENT announced that, in
great number of papers still to be read ln ;loess Lore
would be impossible to get through them, _ 4.„ 10n.0/At
•
sion on the papers were confined strictly 1"
those !art
co_seito-sectaioislo,o,l
fact, and the observations were limited , take r
men who had intimated their intention to on°,
iniSilsoo
them.
which had crept into the title of a PaP
errors in the Admiralty Report on hiagne
Sir Jonsr Ross made a few observatioornsre.oraiive to
The PRESIDE,NT called on . te'
Mr-J, HAUTEVF, who rod a paper