performed a single business transaction with him in reference either to this or any other subject. We hope this plain assurance will fully satisfy the delicate mind of Mr. Griffiths. A CHINESE LESSON ON NATIONAL FOREMEN ENGINEERS. anticipate learning that employers are evincing MANY of the master-engineers, master-ship-selves as honorary members of the Association, both wisdom and good feeling by enrolling thembuilders, and other masters in this country are and giving occasional attendance to its meetings. undoubtedly among the ablest men of the age. It is in every way most desirable that our really Some of them have risen from the ranks of practical and experienced men which these working-men; others have prepared themselves for their positions by prolonged study and ob- foremen, almost to a man, are should be enWe cannot afford to lose 464 men in the mud servation; and many of both classes are doubt- each other and to the world. It is a firm percouraged to communicate their knowledge to of a Chinese river without some kind of recom-less unsurpassed in their professions. But, suasion of ours that if all which foremen somepense, and perhaps the very best kind possible however able a master may be, if his business times know were known also by masters, we is that of drawing a lesson on river defence be large and flourishing we shall be sure to find, should hear of fewer failures than we do. from the late disaster. We think we see a very if we inquire, that its greatness and prosperity Masters often live in a region of ideas; but important one that may be drawn from it, viz., do not all spring from him. Beneath those their foremen are for ever handling facts and that we may with confidence trust for the de- great men whose names distinguish so many we know perfectly well that the former, unfence of English rivers to local gun-rafts in con- firms, there is another class who, to the world, checked by the latter, lead many a clever man junction with booms, chains, stakes, or other are for the most part nameless, but to whom we like obstructions. really owe much of our manufacturing wealth astray. By all means, then, let us not only countenance the work of this Association, but and eminence. We allude to that strong- further it in every way possible to us. Already handed, clear-headed, noble class of men whom we call "foremen." These are the to whom nearly seventy members have undertaken to carry it on, and there are doubtless scores of the nation is mainly indebted for its ascendancy patriotic foremen throughout the country who in almost all the useful arts. The Brunels and will be proud to share their labours and their the Russells, the Lockes and the Stephensons, honours. We hope soon to hear that they are the Maudslays and the Penns, the Nasmyths doing so, and hope also that during the next and the Napiers, the Whitworths and the year we may have an opportunity of enriching Fairbairns, the Lancasters and the Armstrongs, our columns with many valuable contributions the Barrys and the Scotts-these are the men from their pens. whose names are perpetually flashed in our faces as we look upon the great works that surround us; and it is with no grudging spirit that we behold their pre-eminence. At the same time it is but just that we should sometimes remember those less distinguished but equally honourable men from whose brains first springs many an idea which afterwards brings fame to their masters, and without whose skill we never could have won the position we now hold among the nations. What have we seen on the Peiho? This that a fleet of gun-boats, however gallantly handled, may speedily be crushed by the fire of batteries-if they can only be stopped for a time within range. Had the river been clear of obstructions, the little squadron would doubtless have run the gauntlet of the forts without serious injury, in the same manner as our light vessels passed within range of many a Russian fort in the Sea of Azoff during the late war, without losing a man. This even the Chinese knew, and therefore brought our gunboats to rest under their guns by the stakes of which we have heard so much, and then cut them up at will. But-it has been said the attack was badly planned; the cart was put before the horse; the forts should have been taken in reverse by a land force before the steamers were brought within range. That is doubtless correct enough. But suppose the forts had been gun-rafts, stationed afloat above the stakes, inaccessible to a land force, and so as to concentrate their fire upon the stakes: by what mode of procedure could these have been silenced? By none whatever save that adopted by Admiral Hope, which ended so disastrously. Here, then, is instruction, and hope too, for us who are so often alarming ourselves about squadrons of French gunboats ascending the Thames and levying contributions upon London. A few heaps of stakes piled upon the banks, with a few dozens of casks, fathoms of rope, and other simple stores by the side of them, together with a supply of guns and gunners, and our riverside towns may in a day be made as safe as art can make them! THE PRINCE CONSORT ON SCIENCE: BEING THE OPENING ADDRESS OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE CONSORT TO THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. GENTLEMEN OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION,— Your kind invitation to me to undertake the office of your President for the ensuing year could not but startle me on its first announcement. The high position which science occupies, the vast Our thoughts were turned afresh to this sub-number of distinguished men who labour in her ject a few days since by a meeting of the Asso- sacred cause, and whose achievements, while ciation of Foremen Engineers which we at- spreading innumerable benefits, justly attract the tended. It was a real interest in the Society admiration of mankind, contrasted strongly in that took us there, and it was with an increase my mind with the consciousness of my own inof that interest that we retired from the gather- and would-be-student of science, to take the place significance in this respect. I, a simple admirer ing. We now advert to the event, not simply of the chief and spokesman of the scientific men in response to the request which the excellent of the day, assembled in furtherance of their imPresident of the Association-Mr. Joseph portant objects!-the thing appeared to me imNewton (of the Royal Mint, we believe)-made possible. Yet, on reflection, I came to the conto the scientific press, but because of the claims clusion that, if not as a contributor to or director which foremen engineers have upon the regards of your labours, I might still be useful to you, of the public. useful to science by accepting your offer. Re membering that this Association is a popular Association, not a secret confraternity of men jealously guarding the mysteries of their profession, but inviting the uninitiated, the public at large to join them, having as one of its objects to break down those imaginary and hurtful barriers which exist between men of science and so-called men of practice-I felt that I could, from the peculiar position in which Providence has placed me in this country, appear as the representative of that large public which profits by and admires your exertions, but is unable actively to join in them; that my election was an act of humility on your part, which to reject would have looked like false humility, that is, like pride, on mine. But I reflected further, and saw in my acceptance the means, of which necessarily so few are offered to Her Majesty, of testifying to you, through the instrumentality of her husband, that your labours are not unappreciated by your Sovereign, and that she wishes her people to know this as well as yourselves. Guided by these reflections, my choice was speedily made, for the path of duty lay straight before me. It would appear from what transpired on the occasion referred to (as will be seen from the As this suggestion may be carried out so very report published on another page) that the offisimply and cheaply no notice will, we presume, cers of this Association have reason for believbe taken of it. Yet it is not without the sanc-ing that the employers view their proceedings tion of professional men of eminence. The with a certain amount of distrust. Their chief foremost of those who advocate it is Captain ground for their belief seems to be found in the Cowper Phipps Coles, R.N., who "knocked the fact that open and personal countenance of the "Lady Nancy raft together in a night," and Association is seldom manifested by the emwith her "went in and burnt Taganrog," and ployers. We hope this has arisen from nothing thus inspired Punch's famous song, beginning worse than a misapprehension on their part. "O jaw till you're frantic of wessels gigantic, And in order to remove any such misapprehenWith hundreds of guns, and with thousands of crew, sion, so far as is in our power, we would refer Jack's want's of the oddest, a wessel so modest our readers in a sentence or two to the history As just does the work as he wants her to doHe doesn't condemn none, your big Agamemnon, of the Society. From the Secretary's report it Your Dukes and your Alberts, as long as a street; appears that it was established seven years since, They're mighty imposing, but when he's for closing, primarily as a foreman's benefit society. No A taut Lady Nancy is worth the whole fleet." questions of trade politics, or political economy have ever been discussed by its members, whose meetings, at the outset, were but mere friendly re-unions. More recently, however, they have. met with a further object the very laudable one of imparting to each other the benefit of their respective professional experiences, in the shape of scientific papers, read at monthly meetings. Surely there is nothing in all this but what employers should delight in and encourage! This able officer has, as we have stated in a previous article, published a pamphlet on the subject. This can be had at Messrs. Clowes and Sons, Charing-cross, and we recommend our readers to get it. A few words from men of experience in such matters is worth volumes of mere speculations; and we hope Captain Coles will speak out even yet more fully upon this important question, especially as he has already promised "a future pamphlet." If we are determined to spend millions on doubtful defences, it will still be well to know how reliable ones may be secured for next to nothing. For the future, then, we hope to hear no more of anything like distrust of this Association on the part of employers. On the contrary, we induced me to accept your flattering offer of If these, however, are the motives which have the Presidency, a request on my part is hardly necessary that you will receive my efforts to fulfil its duties with kind indulgence. If it were possible for anything to make me still more aware how much I stand in need of this indulgence, it is the recollection of the person whom I have to succeed as your President -a man of whom this country is justly proud, and whose name stands among the foremost of the naturalists in Europe for his patience in investigation, conscientiousness in observation, boldness of imagination, and acuteness in reasoning. You have no doubt listened with pleasure to his parting address, and I beg to thank him for the flattering manner in which he has alluded to me in it. The Association meets for the first time to-day in these regions and in this ancient and interest ing city. The poet, in his works of fiction, has to choose and anxiously to weigh where to lay his scene, knowing that, like the painter, he is thus laying in the background of his picture, which will give tone and colour to the whole. The stern and dry reality of life is governed by the same laws, and we are here living, feeling, and thinking under the influence of the local impressions of this northern seaport. The choice appears to me a good one. The travelling philosophers have had to come far, but in approaching the Highlands of Scotland they meet nature in its wild and primitive form, and nature is the object of their studies. The geologist will not find many novelties in yonder mountains, because he will stand there on the bare backbone of the globe, but the primary rocks, which stand out in their nakedness, exhibit the grandeur and beauty of their peculiar form, and in the splendid quarries of this neighbourhood are seen to peculiar advantage the closeness and hardness of their mass, and their inexhaustible supply for the use of man, made available by the application of new mechanical powers. On this primitive soil the botanist and zoologist will be attracted only by a limited range of plants and animals, but they are the very species which the extension of agriculture and increase of population are gradually driving out of many parts of the country. On those blue hills the red deer, in vast herds, holds undisturbed dominion over the wide heathery forest, until the sportsman, fatigued and unstrung by the busy life of the bustling town, invades the moor to regain health and vigour by measuring his strength with that of the antlered monarch of the hill. But, notwithstanding all his efforts to overcome an antagonist possessed of such supe riority of power, swiftness, caution, and keenness of all the senses, the sportsman would find himself baffled had not science supplied him with the telescope and those terrible weapons which seem daily to progress in the precision with which they carry the deadly bullet, mocking distance, to the mark. In return for the help which science has afforded him, the sportsman can supply the naturalist with many facts which he alone has opportunity of observing, and which may assist the solution of some interesting problems suggested by the life of the deer. Man also, the highest object of our study, is found in vigorous, healthy development, presenting a happy mixture of the Celt, Goth, Saxon, and Dane, acquiring his strength on the hills and the sea. The Aberdeen whaler braves the icy regions of the Polar Sea, to seek and to battle with the great monster of the deep: he has materially assisted in opening these icebound regions to the researches of science; he fearlessly aided in the search after Sir John Franklin and his gallant companions, whom their country sent forth on this mission, but to whom Providence, alas! has denied the reward of their labours, the return to their homes, to the affectionate embrace of their families and friends, and the acknowledgements of a grateful nation. The City of Aberdeen itself is rich in interest for the philosopher. Its two lately united Universities make it a seat of learning and science. The collection of antiquities, formed for the present occasion, enables him to dive into olden times, and, by contact with the remains of the handiworks of the ancient inhabitants of Scotland, to enter into the spirit of that peculiar and interesting people, which has always attracted the attention and touched the hearts of men accessible to the influence of heroic poetry. The Spalding Club, founded in this city for the preservation of the historical and literary remains of the north-eastern counties of Scotland, is honourably known by its important publications. Gentlemen, this is the 29th anniversary of the foundation of this Association; and well may we look back with satisfaction to its operation and achievements throughout the time of its existence. When, on the 27th September, 1831, the meeting of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society took place at York, in the theatre of the Yorkshire Museum, under the presidency of the late Farl Fitzwilliam, then Viscount Milton, and the Rev. W. Vernon Harcourt eloquently set forth the plan for the formation of a British Association for the promotion of science, which he showed to have become a want for his country, the most ardent supporter of this resolution could not have an'icipated that it would start into life full-grown, as it were, enter at once upon its career of useful ness, and pursue it without deviation from the original design, triumphing over the oppositions which it had to.encounter in common with everything that is new and claims to be useful. Gentlemen, this proved that the want was a real and not an imaginary one, and that the mode in which it was intended to supply that want was based upon a just appreciation of unalterable truths. Mr. Vernon Harcourt summed up the desiderata in graphic words, which have almost identically been retained as the exposition of the objects of the Society, printed at the head of the annuallyappearing volume of its transactions :-"To give a stronger impulse and more systematic direction to scientific inquiry-to promote the intercourse of those who cultivate science in different parts of the empire, with one another and with foreign philosophers--and to obtain a more general attention to the objects of science, and a removal of any disadvantages of a public kind which impede its progress." To define the nature of science, to give an exact and complete definition of what that science, to whose service the Association is devoted, is and means, has, as it naturally must, at all times occupied the metaphysician. He has answered the question in various ways, more or less satis factorily to himself or others. To me, science, in its most general and comprehensive acceptation, means the knowledge of what I know, the consciousness of human knowledge. Hence, to know is the object of all science; and all special knowledge, if brought to our consciousness in its separate distinctiveness from, and yet in its recognised relation to the totality of our knowledge, is scientific knowledge. We require, then, for science-that is to say, for the acquisition of scientific knowledge-those two activities of our mind which are necessary for the acquisition of any knowledge-analysis and synthesis; the first, to dissect and reduce into its component parts the object to be investigated, and to render an accurate account to ourselves of the nature and qualities of these parts by observation; the second to recompose the observed and understood parts into a unity in our consciousness, exactly answering to the object of our investigation. The labours of the man of science are therefore at once the most humble and the loftiest which man can undertake. He only does what every little child does from its first awakening into life, and must do every moment of its existence; and yet he aims at the gradual approximation to divine truth itself. If, then, there exists no difference between the work of the man of science and that of the merest child, what constitutes the distinction ? Merely the conscious self-determination. The child observes what accident brings before it, and unconsciously forms its notion of it; the so-called practical man observes what his special work forces upon him, and he forms his notions upon it with reference to this particular work. The man of science observes what he intends to observe, and knows why he intends it. The value which the peculiar object has in his eyes is not determined by accident, nor by an external cause, such as the mere connexion with work to be performed, but by the place which he knows this object to hold in the general universe of knowledge, by the relation which it bears to other parts of that general know. ledge. To arrange and classify that universe of knowledge becomes therefore the first, and perhaps the most important, object and duty of science. It is only when brought into a system, by separating the incongruous and combining those elements in which we have been enabled to discover the internal connexion which the Almighty has implanted in them, that we can hope to grapple with the boundlessness of his creation, and with the laws which govern both mind and matter. The operation of science, then, has been systematically to divide human knowledge, and raise, as it were, the separate groups of subjects for scien tific consideration into different and distinct sciences. The tendency to create new sciences is peculiarly apparent in our present age, and is perhaps inseparable from so rapid a progress as we have seen in our days; for the acquaintance with and mastering of distinct branches of knowledge enables the eye, from the newly-gained points of sight, to see the new ramifications into which they divide themselves in strict consecu tiveness and with logical necessity. But in thus gaining new centres of light, from which to direct our researches, and new and powerful means of adding to its ever-increasing treasures, science approaches no nearer to the limits of its range, although travelling further and further from its original point of departure. For God's world is infinite; and the boundlessness of the universe, whose confines appear ever to retreat before our finite minds, strikes us no less with awe when, prying into the starry crowd of heaven, we find new worlds revealed to us by every increase in the power of the telescope, than when the microscope discloses to us in a drop of water, or an atom of dust, new worlds of life and animation, or the remains of such as have passed away. Whilst the tendency to push systematic inves tigation in every direction enables the individual mind of man to bring all the power of which he is capable to bear on the specialities of his study, and enables a greater number of labourers to take part in the universal work, it may be feared that that consciousness of its unity which must pervade the whole of science if it is not to lose its last and highest point of sight, may suffer. It has occasionally been given to rare intellects and the highest genius to follow the various sciences in their divergent roads, and yet to preserve that point of sight from which alone their totality can be contemplated and directed. Yet how rare is the appearance of such gifted intellects! and if they be found at intervals, they remain still single individuals, with all the imperfections of human nature. 1 The only mode of supplying with any certainty this want, is to be sought in the combination of men of science representing all the specialities, and working together for the common object of preserving that unity and presiding over that general direction. This has been to some extent done in many countries by the establishment of academies embracing the whole range of the sciences, whether physical or metaphysical, historical or political. In the absence of such an institution in this country, all lovers of science must rejoice at the existence and activity of this Association, which embraces in its sphere of action, if not the whole range of the sciences, yet a very large and important section of them, those known as the inductive sciences, excluding all that are not approached by the inductive method of investiga tion. It has, for instance (and, considering its peculiar organization and mode of action, perhaps not unwisely), eliminated from its consideration and discussions those which come under the description of moral and political sciences. This has not been done from undervaluing their importance and denying their sacred right to the special attention of mankind, but from a desire to deal with those subjects only which can be reduced to positive proof, and do not rest on opinion or faith. The subjects of the moral and political sciences involve not only opinions but feelings; and their One of the latest undertakings of the Associa-employed in approaching a problem or in making tion has been, in conjunction with the Royal an observation, and that of the philosophical inSociety, to attempt the compilation of a classified struments used in the observation or experiment. catalogue of scientific memoirs, which, by com- The Association brings to bear the combined bining under one head the titles of all memoirs knowledge and experience of the scientific men, written on a certain subject, will, when completed, not only of this but of other countries, on the disenable the student who wishes to gain information covery of that method which, while it economises on that subject to do so with the greatest ease. time and labour, promises the most accurate It gives him, as it were, the plan of the house, results. The method to which, after careful exand the key to the different apartments in which amination, the palm has been awarded, is then the treasures relating to his subject are stored, placed at the free disposal and use of all scientific saving him at once a painful and laborious search, investigators. The Association also issues, where and affording him at the same time an assurance practicable, printed forms, merely requiring the that what is here offered contains the whole of the different heads to be filled up, which, by their treasures yet acquired. uniformity, become an important means for assisting the subsequent reduction of the observations for the abstraction of the laws which they may indicate. discussion frequently rouses passions. For feelings by the great Bacon; and who can contemplate the prospects which it opens, without almost falling into a trance similar to that in which he allowed his imagination to wander over future ages of discovery! From amongst the political sciences it has been attempted in modern times to detach one which admits of being severed from individual political opinions, and of being reduced to abstract laws derived from well-authenticated facts. I mean political economy, based on general statistics. A new association has recently been formed, imitating our perambulating habits, and striving to comprehend in its investigations and discussions even a still more extended range of subjects, in what is called "Social Science." These efforts deserve our warmest approbation and good will. May they succeed in obtaining a purely and strictly scientific character! Our own Association has, since its meeting at Dublin, recognised the growing claims of political economy to scientific brotherhood, and admitted it into its statistical section. It could not have done so under abler guidance and happier auspices than the Presidency of the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Whately, whose efforts in this direction are so universally appreciated. But even in this section, and whilst statistics alone were treated in it, the Association as far back as 1833 made it a rule that, in order to ensure positive results, only those classes of facts should be admitted which were capable of being expressed by numbers, and which promised, when sufficiently multiplied, to indicate general laws. If, ther, the main object of science and I beg to be understood, henceforth, as speaking only of that section which the Association has under its special care, viz., inductive science-if, I say, the object of science is the discovery of the laws which govern natural phenomena, the primary condition for its success is: accurate observation and collection of facts in such comprehensiveness and completeness as to furnish the philosopher with the necessary material from which to draw safe conclusions. Science is not of yesterday. We stand on the shoulders of past ages, and the amount of observations made, and facts ascertained, has been transmitted to us and carefully preserved in the various storehouses of science; other crops have been reaped, but still lie scattered on the field; many a rich harvest is ripe for cutting, but waits for the reaper. Economy of labour is the essence of good husbandry; and no less so in the field of science. Our Association has felt the importance of this truth, and may well claim, as one of its principal merits, the constant endeavour to secure that economy. Thus it attempts to fix and record the position the gaps At the same time most searching tests and inquiries are constantly carried on in the Observatory at Kew, given to the Association by Her Majesty, the object of which is practically to test the relative value of different methods and instruments, and to guide the constantly progressive improvements in the construction of the latter. The establishment at Kew has undertaken the further important service of verifying and correcting to a fixed standard the instruments of any maker, to enable observations made with them to be reduced to the same numerical expression. I need hardly remind the inhabitants of Aberdeen that the Association, in one of the first years of its existence, undertook the comparative measurement of the Aberdeen standard scale with that of Greenwich-a research ably carried out by the late Mr. Baily. The impediments to the general progress of science, the removal of which I have indicated as one of the tasks which the Association has set for The reports on the state of science originate in itself, are of various kinds. If they were only the conviction of the necessity for fixing at given such as direction, advice, and encouragement intervals, with accuracy and completeness, the would enable the individual, or even combined position at which it has arrived. For this object efforts of philosophers, to overcome, the exertions the General Committee of the Association entrusts of the Association which I have just alluded to to distinguished individuals in the different might be sufficient for the purpose. But they are branches of science the charge of becoming, as it often such as can only be successfully dealt with were, the biographers of the period. There are by the powerful arm of the State or the long purse special points in different sciences in which it of the nation. These impediments may be caused sometimes appears desirable to the different sec- either by the social condition of the country itself, tions to have special reports elaborated; in such by restrictions arising out of peculiar laws, by the cases the General Committee, in its capacity of political separation of different countries, or by the representative assembly of all the sciences, the magnitude of the undertakings being out of reserves to itself the right of judging what may all proportion to the means and power of single be of sufficient importance to be thus recorded. individuals, of the Association, or even the volun. The special subjects which the Association tary efforts of the public. In these cases the points out for investigation, in order to supply Association, together with its sister society, "The which it may have observed, are either Royal Society," becomes the spokesman of science such as the philosopher alone can successfully in- with the Crown, the Government, or Parliament vestigate, because they require the close attention--sometimes even through the Home Government of a practised observer, and a thorough knowledge with foreign Governments. Thus it obtained the of the particular subject; or they are such as reestablishment, by the British Government, of quire the greatest possible number of facts to be magnetic and meteorological observatories in six obtained. Here science often stands in need of different parts of the globe, as the beginning of a the assistance of the general public, and gratefully network of stations which we must hope will be accepts any contributions offered, provided the so far extended as to compass by their geographifacts be accurately observed. In either case the cal distribution the whole of the phenomena which Association points out what is to be observed and throw light on this important point in our tellu how it is to be observed. rian and even cosmical existence. The Institute of France, at the recommendation of M. Arago, whose loss the scientific world must long deplore, cheerfully co-operated with our council on this occasion. It was our Association which, in conjunction with the Royal Society, suggested the Antarctic expedition with a view to further the discovery of the laws of terrestrial magnetism, and thus led to the discovery of the southern polar continent. It urged on the Admiralty the prosecution of the tidal observations, which that department has since fully carried out. It recommended the establishment, in the British Museum, of the conchological collection exhibiting present and extinct species, which has now become an object of the greatest interest. The first is the result of the same careful sifting process which the Association employs in directing the issue of special reports. The investigations are entrusted to specially-appointed committees or selected individuals. They are in most cases not unattended with considerable expense, and the Association, not content with merely suggest ing and directing, furnishes by special grants the pecuniary means for defraying the outlay caused by the nature and extent of the inquiry. If we consider that the income of the Association is solely derived from the contributions of its members, the fact that no less a sum than £17,000 has, since its commencement, been thus granted for scientific purposes, is certainly most gratifying. The question how to observe resolves itself into two-that of the scientific method which is to be I will not weary you by further examples, with which most of you are better acquainted than I am myself, but merely express my satisfaction that there should exist bodies of men who will bring the well-considered and understood wants of science before the public and the Government, who will even hand round the begging-box and expose themselves to refusals and rebuffs to which all beggars are liable, with the certainty, besides, of being considered great bores. Please to recollect that this species of bore is a most useful animal, well adapted for the ends for which nature intended him. He alone, by constantly returning to the charge and repeating the same truths and the same requests, succeeds in awakening attention to the cause which he advocates, and obtains that hearing which is granted him at last for selfprotection, as the minor evil compared to his importunity, but which is requisite to make his cause understood. This is more particularly the case in a free, active, enterprising, and self-determining people like ours, where every interest works for itself, considers itself the all-important one, and makes its way in the world by its own efforts. Is it, then, to be wondered at that the interests of science, abstract as science appears, and not immediately showing a return in pounds, shillings, and pence, should be postponed, at least, to others which promise immediate tangible results? Is it to be wondered at that even our public men require an effort to wean themselves from other subjects in order to give their attention to science and men of science, when it is remembered that science, with the exception of mathematics, was until of late almost systematically excluded from our school and university education -that the traditions of early life are those which make and leave the strongest impression on the human mind, and that the subjects with which we become acquainted, and to which our energies are devoted in youth, are those for which we retain the liveliest interest in after years, and that for these reasons the effort required must be both a mental and a moral one? A deep debt of gratitude is therefore due to bodies like this Association, which not only urges the wants of science on the Government, but furnishes it at once with well-matured plans how to supply them with the greatest certainty and to the greatest public advantage. To return to ourselves, however: one part of only saved his life by swimming-an art in which the functions of the Association can receive no he was particularly expert. In 1828 the final personal representation, no incarnation; I mean irruption, as we learn from an article in the the very fact of meetings like that which we are English Cyclopædia," surprised him when he at present inaugurating. This is not the thought- was some six hundred feet distant from the end ful direction of one mind over acquired know- of the tunnel; he was, however, borne along by the ledge, but the production of new thought by the stream, and, not losing his usual composure and contact of many minds, as the spark is produced presence of mind, he happily rose to the surface by the friction of flint and steel; it is not the near the top of one of the shafts, and so contrived action of the monarchy of a paternal Government, to save his valuable life. The special objects of but the republican activity of the Roman Forum. Mr. Brunel's study were mechanical and railway These meetings draw forth the philosopher from engineering, and the construction of machinery the hidden recesses of his study, call in the wan- for locomotives and steam navigation, though he derer over the field of science to meet his bre- devoted no less than ten years to the experiments thren, to lay before them the results of his labours, made by his illustrious father to test the applicato set forth the deductions at which he has bility of carbonic acid gas as a motive power to arrived, to ask for their examination, to maintain engines of various kinds. Already, namely in in the combat of debate the truth of his positions 1830, Mr. Brunel had been elected a Fellow of the and the accuracy of his observations. These Royal Society, mainly on the score of the profesmeetings, unlike those of any other society, throw sional reputation which he had gained in the open the arena to the cultivators of all sciences, elaboration of the Thames Tunnel. In 1833 he to their mutual advantage; the geologist learns was appointed chief engineer to the Great Western from the chemist that there are problems for Railway, then first projected, the whole of which which he had no clue, but which that science can line, including the arches, viaducts, and tunnels, solve for him; the geographer receives light from was constructed from his designs or under his the naturalist, the astronomer from the physicist direction. Among the most important works in and engineer, and so on. And all find a field upon the way of bridges on this line of railway, as well which to meet the public at large, invite them to as on its extension branches, may be mentioned listen to their reports, and even to take part in the bridge over the Thames at Maidenhead, retheir discussions-show to them that philosophers markable for the longest and flattest arches made are not vain theorists, but essentially men of prac- of brick; and that over the Wye at Chepstow for tice-not conceited pedants, wrapped up in their the great difficulties overcome in its construction; own mysterious importance, but humble inquirers and that over the river Tamar at Devonport, after truth, proud only of what they may have which in span and height is of nearly the same achieved or won for the general use of man. dimensions as the Britannia Bridge over the Neither are they daring and presumptuous unbe- Menai Straits. In the celebrated "battle of the lievers-a character which ignorance has some-gauges" he supported the claims of the "broad times affixed to them-who would, like the gauge," but unsuccessfully, against Mr. Stephenson. Titans, storm heaven by placing mountain upon Mr. Brunel was also largely engaged as a civil mountain, till hurled down from the height at- engineer upon the construction, remodelling, extained by the terrible thunders of outraged Jove; tension, and improvement of very many of the but rather the pious pilgrims to the Holy Land, docks at our largest outports. The most imwho toil on in search of the sacred shrine, in portant of these are the Bute Docks at Cardiff and search of truth-God's truth-God's laws as mani- the old North Dock at Sunderland. Mr. Brunel fested in His works, in His creation. was the engineer and designer of the Great Western steam ship, and also of the Great Britain, and several others of our largest steamers. In 1842 he was employed by her Majesty's Government to construct the elegant Suspension Bridge which spans the River Thames at Hungerford, which has the widest span of any bridge in England. He also took an active part in assisting Mr. Stephenson to float and to raise into their present position the Conway and the Britannia tubular head. In 1850 Mr. Brunel had entrusted to his care the works of the Tuscan portion of the Sardinian railway, which he conducted to a successful termination in about three years. During the Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Esq., was one of recent war with Russia Mr. Brunel's talents as a those individuals who have inherited a professional for the establishment and refitting of the Renikoi civil engineer were again called into requisition name and professional talents, like the Stephen-hospitals on the strait of the Dardanelles. After sons and the Herschels, both of whom have been his return from this task in the East, Mr. Brunel's equally distinguished in a second generation for the engineering skill and astronomical science energies were mainly devoted to the construction which belonged to their fathers respectively. He of the Great Eastern, which he originally prowas the only son of the late Sir Mark Isambard Brunel was chosen a member of the Council of the jected jointly with Mr. J. Scott Russell. Mr. Brunel, the engineer of the Thames Tunnel, by Royal Society in 1844. He was also one of the Miss Sophie Kingdom, of Rouen. He was born in 1806 at Portsmouth, where his father was enVice-Presidents of the Institution of Civil Engigaged in erecting the block machinery for the the Astronomical, Geological, and Geographical neers and of the Society of Arts, a Fellow of Government Dockyard. Whilst still a child he Societies, and a Chevalier of the Legion of was sent for his education to France, of which country his father was a native, and studied mathematics and civil engineering at the College, Henri Quatre, at Caen, until the completion of the usual course. He was about twenty years of age when he commenced the work of a practical engineer under his father, who was engaged in the excavation of the Thames Tunnel. It is well known that the progress of that gigantic and amazing work was frequently interrupted by the influx of water from the bed of the river above, and that one or two fatal accidents occurred to the workmen engaged upon it. But it may not be equally well known that Mr. Brunel, on these occasions, was always the last to quit his post, and THE LATE MR. BRUNEL, C.E. but speak to the State, like a favoured child to its of the 25th of March last, (adapting the tense of bridges on the line between Liverpool and Holy We may be justified in hoping, however, that by the gradual diffusion of science, and its increasing recognition as a principal part of our national education, the public in general, no less than the Legislature and the State, will more and more recognise the claims of science to their attention; so that it may no longer require the begging-box, parent, sure of his parental solicitude for its wellfare; that the State will recognise in science one of its elements of strength and prosperity, to foster which the clearest dictates of self-interest demand. If the activity of this Association, such as I have endeavoured to describe it, ever found or could find its personification in one individualits incarnation, as it were-this had been found in that distinguished and revered philosopher who has been removed from amongst us in his ninetieth year, within these last few months. Alexander von Humboldt incessantly strove after dominion over that universality of human knowledge which stands in need of thoughtful government and direction to preserve its integrity; he strove to tie up the fasces of scientific knowledge, to give them strength in unity. He treated all scientific men as members of one family, enthusiastically directing, fostering, and encouraging inquiry, where he saw either the want of or the willingness for it. His protection of the young and ardent student led many to success in their pursuit. His personal influence with the Courts and Governments of most countries in Europe enabled him to plead the cause of science in a manner which made it more difficult for them to refuse than to grant what he requested. All lovers of science deeply mourn for the loss of such a man. Gentlemen, it is a singular coincidence, that this very day on which we are here assembled, and are thus giving expression to our admiration of him, should be the anniversary of his birth. the article to present circumstances), and we may Honour. PATENT MILL-BANDING.-It would seem that we last week were led into an error, in reply to numerous readers, in stating that Messrs. Spills' Patent Mill Banding could be obtained at Bread-street, City. The Government contract works at Stepney Green is the only place, for the present, where it should be applied for, and where the strongest tests of its utility may be witnessed in its practical application to machinery under extraordinary difficulties, purposely designed for such exposition. The retail house in Bread-street has been closed. SIR WILLIAM ARMSTRONG'S NEW MUZZLE-LOADING ORDNANCE. SIR WILLIAM ARMSTRONG recently obtained protection under the Patent Law for an improvement in muzzle-loading ordnance and projectiles, which he thus describes : Either yellow or Muntz's metal or iron rivets may be used, but yellow or Munta's metal is preferred." It is difficult to see at once the probable bearing of such an invention as this. It would seem, however, that it must either be a very valuable or a very worthless one, and from the deemed the latter. known ability of the patentee, it can scarcely be THE SAFETY MATCH. "In rifled ordnance as heretofore made (other than breech-loading ordnance) the loading, owing to the necessary tightness of the fit, presents serious practical difficulties, which it is the object of this invention to avoid. For this purpose IIT will be seen by referring to the statistics of cause the projectile, fitted with suitable fillets or London fires during the year 1858, as given in projections on one side, to enter the piece of our impression of the 4th of March last, that out ordnance by one and to leave it by another track, of the 1,114 fires forming the total of serious conthe projectile and the piece of ordnance being so flagrations, the following proportion was occaadapted to each other as that the projectile on sioned by the usual contrivances for procuring entering and throughout the loading of the piece flame, viz. :of ordnance shall be free and easy to move, but on leaving the piece of ordnance shall be sufficiently tight to preserve the steadiness essential to precision of action, The projec tile, in addition to the ordinary projections on projectiles adapted for rifled ordnance, is furnished with certain piece or pieces of a soft material, which will crush and prevent any jamming or too great tightness as the projectile leaves the piece of ordnance." Sir William has not proceeded to complete his patent for this invention. IMPROVED METALLIC SHIPS. MR. J. SCOTT RUSSELL, the builder of the Great Eastern, has just obtained letters patent for a novel kind of metallic ships, designed apparently to obviate the fouling to which the bottoms of iron vessels are subject. His invention consists in constructing the framing of the ship of angle and other bars, inade of yellow or Muntz's metal; and in plating the framing with sheets of a like metal; and also in plating the frames of ships constructed of angle-iron, or other bars of iron, with sheets of yellow or Muntz's metal. The sheets of such yellow or Muntz's metal are to be fastened to each other and to the framing by rivets of the same metal. The cutwaters also, and the stern and rudder posts, and other parts of the framing of ships and vessels, as well as the rudders, are to be by preference of Muntz's or yellow metal. For these purposes it is believed that the best compound or alloy consists of about 60 parts of the best copper, and 40 parts of the best spelter; but such proportions may be varied, as is well known, within moderate limits. "It is preferred," says Mr. Russell, "to construct the frame of a ship or vessel of the yellow metal, and to combine therewith sheets of like metal; but I have by experiment ascertained that the particular alloy of copper and zinc above mentioned is so near iron in its electrical character as not to act largely thereon when the two are placed in contact in sea water, and therefore that in constructing a ship or vessel, a frame of iron may advantageously be plated over with sheets of yellow or Muntz's metal, whilst sheets of copper are wholly unsuited for the purpose." Mr. Russell, in his specification of the invention, further says:"The frame of a vessel when of yellow or Muntz's metal, I construct of any convenient form, as when iron is employed, and employ a similar section of metal both in form and size. The yellow or Muntz's metal is brought to the section required by rolling, just as is the case with iron, and it is worked in a similar manner. The stern posts and other parts, which in iron ships are forged, I prefer when yellow or Muntz's metal is used to cast to form. The plating of yellow or Muntz's metal I make of the same thickness as when iron is used, and it is secured to the frame by rivets of yellow or Muntz's metal, which are worked in a similar manner to iron rivets, but care should be taken not to heat the rivets too highly, and not to keep them heated longer than is necessary. When an iron frame is to be plated with yellow or Muntz's metal, it is to be constructed as if an iron plating were to he employed, and the yellow or Muntz's metal plates should be of a thickness such as is usual for plating ships with iron. Children playing with lucifers... Lucifer matches accidentally ignited making careless use of 33 ... 12 7 3 17 39 ALLISON'S IMPROVED BORING AND SINKING TOOLS. MR. RICHARD ALLISON, of Birmingham, engineer, has just completed a patent for improvements in apparatuses for boring and sinking, which he describes as follows: My boring head or tool is hollow, and of wrought or cast-iron, furnished at bottom with a series of chisels or cutters inside the tool, and near the end where the cutters are fixed is a valve of india rubber, gutta-percha, or other like material, the edges of which rest upon a ledge fixed on the inside of the tool. I fit a door or trap to the side of the tool, the bottom of which is in a line with the valve seat. The top of the tube carries an ordinary bow sling, whereby to connect it to the rope or chain for communicating the necessary motion to the tool. Wooden blocks are fitted to the outside of the tool, to act as fenders, and prevent injury from the sides of the well or shaft. For the purpose of raising and emptying the débris from a well or shaft in the course of being sunk, I employ a pump or vessel consisting of two In the first of these instances the sacrifice of cylinders one over the other, and the upper life and wholesale destruction of property were cylinder capable of sliding inside that under it; traced principally to the fact of children inserting the bottom cylinder is provided with a valwe lucifer matches into various nooks and crevices opening inwards, and over the top of the upper where an accidental concussion had produced their cylinder there is a similar valve. The cylinders ignition. The next in the series of casualties are are held in a suitable frame, and are connected to accidents resulting from the sudden ignition of a rope or chain. Upon the pump being lowered, boxes or bundles of phosphorised matches. The the upper cylinder will fall within the lower, then necessity as well as the possibility of removing the upon this upper cylinder being raised a partial fatal cause of theso accidents has long been felt; vacuum will be formed, wherefore the débris, and we are happy to introduce to the notice of our slush, &c., will flow into the lower cylinder, and be readers a contrivance by which such occurrences, there retained by the bottom valve falling back which hitherto have led to so many terrible disas- upon its seat, and closing egress from the bottom ters, may now be completely obviated. This in- of the cylinder. A joint in the frame permits of vention, which has reached us from across the the lower cylinder being tilted in order to empty Channel, and which has already been adopted in its contents. My last apparatus consists of a most of the large establishments in Paris and hollow vessel of lead, gutta-percha, or other suit. other towns of France, consists of a match which able material, furnished with valves connected to cannot ignite by friction with ordinary substances, a valve rod. This vessel is intended to contain but which bursts into flame when struck upon a muriatic or other acid for burning out or removing chemically-prepared substance, owing to the pecu-chalk, or other matter, in a shaft or well. Upon liar action occurring between the two bodies the vessel being lowered, charged, to the spot which are thus brought into contact. Without where the acid is to operate, the valve rod is the prepared strip, the matches may be struck or raised to let out the contents of the vessel. trodden upon without the possibility of ignition. The advantage of having these articles tipped with a material which is not inflammable per se is sufficiently obvious, and we doubt not will recom mend the "Safety Match" not only to careful housewives, but to the owners of large establishments where the ordinary "lucifers" are used, and, we are afraid, often left carelessly about. The cost of the "Safety Match" is scarcely more than that of its less trustworthy predecessor. It is to be had of Mr. Twinberrow, chemist, 2 Edward'sstreet, Portman-square, who is the sole agent in this country for the article. now NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESS. TO THE EDITORS OF THE "MECHANICS' MAGAZINE." GENTLEMEN,-Perhaps you will be kind enough to call the attention of the photographic public to the following discovery. If some perchloride of iron be poured over a piece of polished copper (such as used by engravers) the copper will immediately be affected, and its colour slightly changed. The plate may now be washed with water, and dried with a cloth, when it is sensitive to the light of sunshine. If a negative picture be placed upon it in the ordinary way, and it be then exposed to sunshine, in ten minutes or a quarter of an hour a beautiful black positive on a copper ground will be obtained. Silver may be used, but not so well. This experiment establishes the fact of the two substances, copper and perchloride of iron, acting photographically; the facility, too, of obtaining a picture to be engraved so easily and directly upon the copper-plate, will doubtless prove useful to engravers. I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, Sunderland, 19th September, 1859. Fig. 1 of the engravings (on next page) is a vertical section of a boring head or tool, constructed according to this invention. 4 is a hollow cylinder formed of wrought or cast-iron, to the lower part or bottom of which a series of chisels or cutters B B are bolted or otherwise attached; C is a valve formed of india-rubber or other material, held by a spindle D, which slides through a frame E. A door or trap (not shown in the drawing) is fitted near the bottom of the cylinder for the purpose of clearing out all dirt; G G are fenders, which I prefer to form of wood, fixed to the side of the cylinder by screws. H is a bowsling, to which a rope or chain is connected for imparting the necessary motion to the tool. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a pump or apparatus employed for the purpose of raising and emptying the débris from a well or shaft in the course of being sunk. A B are two cylinders, which are so constructed that the cylinder shall be free to slide within the cylinder B. The lower cylinder B is provided with a valve C, opening inwards, and carried by a spindle D, working through a frame E, resting on a ledge formed on the lower part of the cylinder B. A similar valve, F, to that just mentioned is fitted to the upper part of the cylinder A. G is a rod attached to the cylinder 4, and working through a frame or guide H, which is jointed or hinged at I I, and connected to the lower cylinder B at J J by bolts and rivets, as shown. G' is a stop or washer formed on or fitted to the rod G, to regulate the height to which the cylinder A is drawn ; K is a bow-sling fitted to the end of the rod G, to which a rope or chain is attached for working the apparatus. To remove slush or débris from a shaft or well the apparatus is lowered to the bottom, and the upper cylinder will fall within the lower; the upper cylinder A is then raised by the rope, |