Accounts of the Kew Committee of the British Association from September 22, 1858 to September 14, 1859.

R. HUTTON.

2nd Sept., 1859.

7. The Report of the Parliamentary Committee of the British Association to the General Committee has been received by the Council, and is herewith transmitted.

Report of the Parliamentary Committee to the Meeting of the British Association at Aberdeen, in September 1859.

The Parliamentary Committee have the honour to report as follows:— We have taken the opinion of Counsel on the question, whether it is expedient to cause a Bill to be prepared to facilitate the appointment of new Trustees to Museums and other Scientific Institutions.

The Opinion is appended to this Report.

A vacancy has occurred in that division of our members who represent the House of Commons, by the retirement of Mr. Edward J. Cooper, of Markree, from Parliament.

We cannot but deeply regret the loss of the services of a gentleman who has devoted a great part of his life to the successful promotion of Astronomical Science. It will also be for the General Committee to determine whether they will appoint another member of the House of Commons in the place of the Earl of Ripon, who, since his election at Leeds, has taken his seat in the House of Lords. This case is not in terms provided for in the original constitution of our Committee; but we are of opinion that it was intended that no one should cease to belong to our body, as long as he continued a member of either House of Parliament.

While, however, there can be little doubt that Lord Ripon continues a member of the Parliamentary Committee, it may still be deemed expedient that the representatives of the House of Commons should not be diminished in number; in which case there will be two vacancies to supply. We recommend that Lords Enniskillen, Harrowby, and Stanley, and Mr. Stephenson, who have not attended during the past two years, be re-elected.

During the course of last year, an intention was manifested on the part of the Government, of greatly restricting the free distribution of scientific works published at the expense of the public, and of causing the works so undistributed to be sold at the cost price of printing and paper.

It is unnecessary to enlarge on the very injurious moral results which would accrue to Science, and the insignificant pecuniary gain to the public likely to arise from the change in contemplation; for we have reason to believe that the Government have been induced, by the representations which have been addressed to them, to abandon their original intention.

24th August, 1859.

THE OPINION.

WROTTESLEY, Chairman.

The 13 and 14 Vict. c. 28, is loosely drawn, and I think many cases might arise in which it would be found that its provisions are inadequate; but, as I understand that there is no intention of altering this Act, it is unnecessary to comment on it; and I pass to the consideration of whether it is practicable to extend the principle of it to personal estate, other than leaseholds, which are included in the existing Act.

I confess I do not see how such an enactment as is proposed would work, except by adding to it such conditions as would prevent its being of any practical convenience. The property under contemplation is, of course, stock in the funds and in public companies, debts, and other choses in action-personal chattels, passing by delivery of possession, there is no diffi

culty about. Let us take the case of Stock in the Funds. A. B. and C. D., trustees of a Society, have £1000 Consols standing in their names. By a resolution of the Society they are removed from the trusteeship, and E. F. and G. H. are appointed. It is proposed to enact that, thereupon, the Stock shall vest in E. F. and G. H.; but, how is the Bank, which knows nothing about trusts, to be induced to pay the dividends to them? There must be something equivalent to a transfer of the Stock into their names, by direction of the old trustees, or of the Court of Chancery; and I do not see that any plan can be devised more simple and inexpensive than the present mode of transfer.

The Bank of England would certainly oppose any attempt to make them enter on their books that Stock is subject to any trust; and yet, unless it appeared on the books that the Stock is held in trust for a Society, it would not be possible to make any provision for a transfer of the Stock on production of resolutions of the Society.

It occurred to me, that Powers of Attorney, for transfer of Stock vested in trustees for Societies, might be exempted from Stamp Duty; but, on consideration, I do not see how the Bank could know what powers were lawfully exempted, without taking notice of the trusts.

The same objections would not apply to all other descriptions of personal property; but, I presume, if the proposed alteration of the law is not applicable to Stock, it would not be thought worth while to make it with reference to other species of property.

In the Literary Institutions Act, there is already a section (the 20th) as to the vesting of personal property; but it does not very clearly appear how it would work in such cases as are above referred to.

15th January, 1859.

M. J. B.

The following letter has been received from Baron Bentinck, in relation to the assistance given to Dr. Bergsma at Kew Observatory :

"Netherlands Legation, London, 10th September, 1859.

"Baron Bentinck, Minister of the Netherlands, presents his compliments to Major-General Edward Sabine, Vice-President of the Royal Society at London, and has the honour to inform him that he has been requested by his Government to express to Major-General E. Sabine the thanks of the Netherlands Government for the kind assistance which he has granted to Dr. P. A. Bergsma, when in London with a Government Mission; and also to convey to Major-General Sabine the hopes entertained by his Government that he will in future time continue to aid Dr. Bergsma with his good advices. Baron Bentinck avails himself of this opportunity to offer to Major-General Sabine the assurances of his highest consideration.

"Major-General E. Sabine,

Vice-President of the Royal Society,
London."

"BENTINCK."

RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL COMMITTEE AT THE ABERDEEN MEETING IN SEPTEMBER 1859.

[When Committees are appointed, the Member first named is regarded as the Secretary of the Committee, except there be a specific nomination.]

Involving Grants of Money.

That the sum of £500 be placed at the disposal of the Council for maintaining the Establishment at Kew Observatory.

That Professor Sullivan (of Dublin) be requested to continue his researches on the Solubility of Salts at Temperatures above 100° Cent., and on the mutual Reaction of Salts at such temperatures; and that the sum of £30, which was voted last year, still remain at his disposal for the purpose.

That Professor Voelcker be requested to continue his investigation on Field Experiments and Laboratory Researches on the Essential Manuring Constituents of Cultivated Crops; and that the sum of £25 be placed at his disposal for the purpose.

That Mr. Alphonse Gages be requested to continue his Mechanico-Chemical Experiments on Rocks; and that the sum of £25 be placed at his disposal for the purpose.

That a Committee, consisting of Dr. R. Angus Smith, Dr. Daubeny, Dr. Lyon Playfair, Rev. W. Vernon Harcourt, Professor Williamson, and Mr. Warren De la Rue, be requested to confer with the Parliamentary Committee with reference to the best mode of taking Scientific Evidence in Courts of Law; and that the sum of £10 be placed at their disposal for the purpose of meeting the expenses incident to the working of the Committee.

That Mr. Robert Mallet be requested to continue his Experiments on Earthquake Phenomena; and that the sum of £25, unexpended last year, be placed at his disposal for the purpose.

That a Committee, consisting of the Rev. Dr. Anderson, Professor Ramsay, Professor Nicol, and Mr. Page, be requested to continue the Explorations already begun by Dr. Anderson in the Yellow Sandstones of Dura Den; and that the sum of £20 be placed at their disposal for the purpose.

That a Committee, consisting of Sir Roderick I. Murchison, Mr. Page, and Professor Ramsay, be requested to direct Mr. R. Slimon in his further Exploration of the Upper Silurian Strata of Lesmahagow; and that the sum of £15 be placed at their disposal for the purpose.

That a Committee, consisting of Mr. MacAndrew (London), Mr. G. C. Hyndman (Belfast), Dr. Dickie (Belfast), Mr. C. L. Stewart (London), Dr. Collingwood (Liverpool), Dr. Kinahan (Dublin), Mr. J. G. Jeffreys (London), Dr. E. P. Wright (Dublin), Mr. L. Worthey (Bristol), Mr. S. P. Woodward (London), Professor Allman (London), and Professor Huxley (London), be requested to conduct general Dredging Investigations, and printing of Dredging Papers; and that the sum of £50 be placed at their disposal for the purpose.

That a Committee, consisting of Dr. Ogilvie, Dr. Dickie, Dr. Dyce, Professor Nicol, and Mr. C. W. Peach, be requested to conduct Dredging Investigations on the North and East Coasts of Scotland; and that the sum of £25 be placed at their disposal for the purpose.

That a Committee, consisting of Professor Kinahan, Dr. Carte, Dr. E. Percival Wright, and Professor J. Reay Greene, be requested to conduct Investigations in Dredging Dublin Bay, and to report to the next Meeting of

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the Association; and that the sum of £15 be placed at their disposal for

the purpose.

That a Committee, consisting of Dr. Daubeny and Dr. Lankester, be requested to cooperate with Professor Buckman in his Researches on the Growth of Plants, and to report to the next Meeting of the Association; and that the sum of £10 be placed at their disposal for the purpose.

That Professor Allman be requested to continue his Researches on the Reproductive System of the Hydroid Zoophytes; and that the sum of £10 -be placed at his disposal for the purpose.

That a Committee, consisting of Dr. George Wilson, Sir John Herschel, Sir David Brewster, Professor Clerk Maxwell, Professor W. Thomson, and Mr. W. Pole, be requested to inquire into the Statistics of Colour-Blindness; and that the sum of £10 be placed at their disposal for the purpose.

That the following Members be requested to act as a Committee to continue the inquiry into the performance of Steam-vessels, to embody the facts in the form now reported to the Association, and to report proceedings to the next Meeting; that the attention of the Committee be also directed to the obtaining information respecting the performance of vessels under Sail, with a view to comparing the results of the two powers of Wind and Steam, in order to their most effective and economical combination; that £150 be placed at their disposal for this purpose:-Vice-Admiral Moorsom; The Marquis of Stafford, M.P.; The Earl of Caithness; Lord Dufferin; Mr. William Fairbairn, F.R.S.; Mr. J. Scott Russell, F.R.S.; Admiral Paris, C.B.; The Hon. Capt. Egerton, R.N.; Mr. W. Smith, C.E.; Mr. J. E. McConnell, C.E.; Mr. Charles Atherton, C.E.; Professor Rankine, LL.D.; Mr. J. R. Napier, C.E.; Mr. R. Roberts, C.E.: Mr. Henry Wright to be Secretary.

That Professor James Thomson (of Belfast) be requested to continue his Experiments on the Gauging of Water; and that the sum of £10 be placed at his disposal for the purpose.

Applications for Reports and Researches.

That a Committee, consisting of Professor Walker, Prof. W. Thomson, Sir David Brewster, Dr. Sharpey, Dr. Lloyd, Colonel Sykes, General Sabine, and Prof. J. Forbes, be requested to report to the next Meeting at Oxford as to the scientific objects which may be sought for by continuing the Balloon Ascents formerly undertaken to great altitudes.

That Mr. A. Cayley be requested to continue his Report on the Solution of certain Special Problems in Dynamics.

That Dr. Dickie be requested to draw up a Report on the Flora of Ulster for the next Meeting of the Association.

That Dr. Carpenter be requested to draw up a Supplemental Report on the Minute Structure of Shells.

That the Committee on Patent Laws be reappointed, for the furtherance of the objects set forth in their Report presented to the Association at this Meeting.

That a Committee, consisting of Capt. Sir E. Belcher, C.B., Mr. G. Rennie, F.R.S., and Mr. W. Smith, with power to add to their number, be requested to report on the Rise and Progress of Steam Navigation in the Port of London.

That the following Members, viz. Mr. Thomas Webster, Prof. Willis, the Right Hon. Joseph Napier, Mr. Tite, M.P., Mr. William Fairbairn, Mr. Thos.