OFFICERS AND COUNCIL, 1860-61. TRUSTEES (PERMANENT). SIR RODERICK I. MURCHISON, G.C.St.S., F.R.S. JOHN TAYLOR, Esq., F.R.S. The EARL OF ELLESMERE, F.R.G.S. Sir PHILIP DE MALPAS GREY EGERTON, Bart., Sir BENJAMIN HEYWOOD, Bart., F.R.S. JAMES ASPINALL TURNER, Esq., M.P. LOCAL SECRETARIES FOR THE MEETING AT MANCHESTER. ARTHUR RANSOME, Esq., M.A., St. Peter's Square, Manchester. Professor HENRY ENFIELD ROSCOE, B.A., Owens College, Manchester. LOCAL TREASURER FOR THE MEETING AT MANCHESTER. BABINGTON, C. C., M.A., F.R.S. DE LA RUE, WARREN, Ph.D., FITZROY, Rear Admiral, F.R.S. GLADSTONE, Dr. J. H., F.R.S. SHARPEY, Professor, Sec. R.S. TITE, WILLIAM, M.P., F.R.S. EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. The President and President Elect, the Vice-Presidents and Vice-Presidents Elect, the General and Assistant-General Secretaries, the General Treasurer, the Trustees, and the Presidents of former years, viz.-Rev. Professor Sedgwick. The Marquis of Lansdowne. The Duke of Devonshire. Rev. W. V. Harcourt. The Marquis of Breadalbane. Rev. W. Whewell, D.D. The Earl of Rosse. Sir John F. W. Herschel, Bart. Sir Roderick I. Murchison. The Rev. T. R. Robinson, D.D. Sir David Brewster. G. B. Airy, Esq., the Astronomer Royal. General Sabine. William Hopkins, Esq., LL.D. The Earl of Harrowby. The Duke of Argyll. Professor Daubeny, M.D. The Rev. H. Lloyd, D.D. Professor Owen, M.D., D.C.L. His Royal Highness The Prince Consort. GENERAL SECRETARY. The Rev. ROBERT WALKER, M.A., F.R.S., Professor of Experimental Philosophy in the University of Oxford; Culham Vicarage, Abingdon. ASSISTANT-CENERAL SECRETARY. JOHN PHILLIPS, Esq., M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., F.G.S., Frofessor of Geology in the University of Oxford; Museum House, Oxford. GENERAL TREASURER. JOHN TAYLOR, Esq., F.R.S., 6 Queen Street Place, Upper Thames Street, London. OFFICERS OF SECTIONAL COMMITTEES PRESENT AT THE ABERDEEN MEETING. SECTION A.-MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS. President. Rev. B. Price, M.A., F.R.S., Professor of Natural Philosophy, Oxford. Vice-Presidents.-Sir David Brewster, K.H., D.C.L., F.R.S.; Rev. H. Lloyd, D.D., F.R.S., M.R.I.A.; Rev. R. Main, M.A., F.R.S.; Rev. W. Whewell, D.D., F.R.S., Hon. M.R.I.A., Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. Secretaries.-Professor Stevelly, LL.D.; Rev. T. Rennison, M.A., Fellow of Queen's College; Rev. G. C. Bell, M.A., Fellow of Worcester College. SECTION B.-CHEMISTRY AND MINERALOGY, INCLUDING THEIR APPLICATIONS TO AGRICULTURE AND THE ARTS. President.-B. C. Brodie, Esq., M.A., F.R.S., F.C.S., Professor of Chemistry, Oxford. Vice-Presidents.-Professor Andrews, M.D., F.R.S., M.R.I.A., F.C.S.; Warren De la Rue, Ph.D., F.R.S., F.C.S.; Professor Faraday, D.C.L., F.R.S., F.C.S.; Professor Frankland, Ph.D., F.R.S.; Professor W. A. Miller, M.D., F.R.S., F.C.S.; Lyon Playfair, C.B., Ph.D., F.R.S., F.C.S. Secretaries.-G. D. Liveing, M.A., F.C.S.; A. Vernon Harcourt, Esq., B.A., F.C.S., Student of Christ Church; A. B. Northcote, Esq., F.C.S., Queen's College. SECTION C.-GEOLOGY. President.-Rev. A. Sedgwick, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., F.G.S., Professor of Geology, Cambridge. Vice-Presidents.-Sir Charles Lyell, LL.D., D.C.L., F.R.S., Hon. M.R.S.E., F.G.S.; L. Horner, Pres. G.S., F.R.S.; Major-General Portlock, R.E., LL.D., F.R.S., F.G.S. Secretaries.-Professor Harkness, F.R.S., F.G.S.; Captain Woodall, M.A., F.G.S., Oriel College; Edward Hull, B.A., F.G.S. SECTION D.-ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, INCLUDING PHYSIOLOGY. President. Rev. Professor Henslow, F. L.S., Professor of Botany, Cambridge. Vice-Presidents.-Professor Daubeny, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., F.L.S.; Sir W. Jardine, Bart., F.R.S.E., F.L.S.; Professor Owen, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., F.L.S. Secretaries.-E. Lankester, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., F.L.S.; E. Percival Wright, M.A., M.B., M.R.I.A., F.L.S.; P. L. Sclater, M.A., F.L.S., Sec. Z.S., C.C.C.; W. S. Church, B.A., University College. SUB-SECTION D.-PHYSIOLOGICAL SCIENCE. President.-George Rolleston, M.D., F.L.S., Professor of Physiology. Vice-Presidents.-Professor Acland, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S.; Sir B. Brodie, Bart., D.C.L., Pres. R.S.; George Busk, F.R.S.; Dr. Davy, F.R.S. L. & E.; Professor Huxley, F.R.S.; W. Sharpey, M.D., Sec. R.S., F.R.S.E. Secretaries.—Robert McDonnell, M.D., M.R.I.A.; Edward Smith, M.D., F.R.S. SECTION E.-GEOGRAPHY AND ETHNOLOGY. President.-Sir R. I. Murchison, G.C.St.S.,D.C.L., F.R.S., V.P.R.G.S.; DirectorGeneral of the Geological Survey of the United Kingdom. Vice-Presidents.—Lord Ashburton, M.A., F.R.S.; John Crawfurd, Esq., F.R.S., Pres. Ethn. Soc.; Francis Galton, Esq., M.A., F.R.S.; Sir J. Richardson, C.B., M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., F.R.G.S.; Sir Walter C. Trevelyan, Bart. Secretaries.-Norton Shaw, M.D., Sec. R.G.S.; Thomas Wright, M.A., F.S.A.; Captain Burrows, R.N., M.A.; Charles Lempriere, D.C.L.; Dr. James Hunt, F.S.A. SECTION F.-ECONOMIC SCIENCE AND STATISTICS. President.-Nassau W. Senior, M.A., late Professor of Political Economy, Oxford. Vice-Presidents.-Sir John P. Boileau, Bart., F.R.S.; James Heywood, F.R.S.; Lord Monteagle, F.R.S.; Monckton Milnes, M.P.; Right Hon. Joseph Napier, LL.D., D.C.L.; Sir Andrew Orr; Sir J. Kay Shuttleworth, Bart., F.G.S.; Col. Sykes, M.P., F.R.S.; William Tite, Esq., M.P., F.R.S. Secretaries.-William Newmarch; Edmund Macrory, M.A.; Rev. J. E. T. Rogers, M.A., Magdalen Hall, Tooke Professor of Political Economy, King's College, London. SECTION G.-MECHANICAL SCIENCE. President.-W. J. Macquorn Rankine, LL.D., F.R.S., Professor of Engineering, Glasgow. Vice-Presidents.-J. F. Bateman, F.R.S.; W. Fairbairn, C.E., LL.D., F.R.S.; J. Glynn, F.R.S.; Admiral Moorsom; Sir John Rennie, F.R.S.; Marquis of Stafford, M.P.; James Walker, C.E., LL.D., F.R.S.; Professor Willis, M.A., F.R.S.; T. Webster, Q.C., M.A., F.R.S. Secretaries.-P. Le Neve Foster, M.A.; Rev. Francis Harrison, M.A.; Henry Wright. CORRESPONDING MEMBERS. Professor Agassiz, Cambridge, Massachusetts. M. Babinet, Paris. Dr. A. D. Bache, Washington. Dr. Barth. Dr. Bergsma, Utrecht. Mr. P. G. Bond, Cambridge, U.S. Dr. Ferdinand Cohn, Breslau. Dr. A. Erman, Berlin. Professor Esmark, Christiania. Prof. A. Favre, Geneva. Dr. A. Kupffer, St. Petersburg. M. Le Verrier, Paris. Professor Gustav Magnus, Berlin. Professor von Middendorff, St. Petersburg. Prof. B. Pierce, Cambridge, U.S. Gustave Plaar, Strasburg. Chevalier Plana, Turin. Professor Plücker, Bonn. M. Constant Prévost, Paris. M. Quetelet, Brussels. Prof. Retzius, Stockholm. Professor W. B. Rogers, Boston, U.S. Professor G. Forchhammer, Copenhagen. Herman Schlagintweit, Berlin. M. Léon Foucault, Paris. Prof. E. Fremy, Paris. M. Frisiani, Milan. Dr. Geinitz, Dresden. Professor Asa Gray, Cambridge, U.S. M. Jacobi, St. Petersburg. M. Khanikoff, St. Petersburg. Prof. A. Kölliker, Wurzburg. Prof. De Koninck, Liège. Professor Kreil, Vienna. Robert Schlagintweit, Berlin. M. Struvè, Pulkowa. Dr. Van der Hoeven, Leyden. Prof. E. Verdet, Paris. Baron Sartorius von Waltershausen, Professor Wartmann, Geneva. Report of the Council of the British Association, presented to the General Committee at Oxford, June 27, 1860. 1. The Council were instructed by the General Committee at Aberdeen to maintain the establishment at Kew Observatory by aid of a grant of £500. They have received the following Report of the Committee to whom the working of the Observatory is entrusted. 2. The continuance of Magnetic Observations, at stations indicated by the General Committee at the Leeds Meeting, has engaged the attention of H.R.H. the President, and of the Council; and they have had the advantage of cooperation on the part of the President and Council of the Royal Society. Every means has been adopted for pressing the subject on the favourable attention of the Government, but, it is to be regretted, hitherto without success. 3. The importance of telegraphic communication between sea-ports of the British Isles, has been the subject of much attention since it was urged on the General Committee by the Aberdeen Meeting. The Council are happy to find that Admiral FitzRoy has been authorized to proceed in bringing to a practical issue the recommendations offered on this subject to the scientific department of the Board of Trade; and they congratulate the Association on the share they have taken in a cause so dear to humanity. 4. The expedition suggested by the Royal Geographical Society, and concurred in by the General Committee of the British Association, is on its way; Capt. Speke, under the direction of the Admiralty, with his assistant, Capt. Grant, having sailed from Zanzibar. Sir R. I. Murchison, in reporting on this subject, expresses the obligation which is felt by the promoters of this great step for the exploration of Africa, to Lord John Russell, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The Report of the Parliamentary Committee is received for presentation to the General Committee this day. 5. At the Meeting this day, in pursuance of the Notice placed in the Minutes of the General Committee at Aberdeen, it will be proposed—“That a permanent distinct Section of Anatomy and Physiology be established, in addition to that of Zoology and Botany." The Council are informed that Invitations will be presented to the General Committee at its Meeting on Monday, July 2, to hold the next Meeting in Manchester; on behalf of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, and other Institutions and Public Authorities of that city, from whom Invitations were received at previous Meetings. Invitations will also be presented to hold an early Meeting in Newcastle, on behalf of the Council and Borough of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and to hold a Meeting in Birmingham in 1862, on behalf of the Birmingham and Midland Institute. Report of the Kew Committee of the British Association for the Advancement of Science for 1859-1860. Since the last Meeting of the British Association, the self-recording magnetographs have been in constant operation under the able superintendence of Mr. Chambers, the magnetical assistant. A description of these instruments has been given by Mr. Stewart, the Superintendent, in a Report which is printed in the Transactions of the British Association for 1859. The drawings for the plates connected with this Report were made with much skill by Mr. Beckley, the mechanical assistant at Kew. It was mentioned in the last Report of this Committee, that a set of selfrecording magnetic instruments, designed for the first of the Colonial Observatories which have been proposed to Her Majesty's Government, had been completed and set up in a wooden house near the Observatory. Shortly after the meeting at Aberdeen, the Chairman received a letter from Dr. P. A. Bergsma, Geographical Engineer for the Dutch possessions in the Indian Archipelago, requesting that the Committee would assist him in procuring a set of self-recording magnetic differential instruments similar to those at Kew, the Dutch Government having resolved to erect such at their Observatory at Java. In consequence of this application, and as the instruments which had been completed were not immediately required for a British Observatory, it was resolved that they should be assigned to Dr. Bergsma; this gentleman has since arrived, and has for the last few weeks been engaged at the Observatory in the examination of his instruments. The usual monthly absolute determinations of the magnetic elements continue to be made. Application having been made through Padre Secchi, of the Collegio Romano, for a set of magnetic instruments, for both differential and absolute determinations, for the Jesuits' College at Havanna, the whole to cost 600 dollars, or about £150, General Sabine obtained, at a reasonable price, the three magnetometers that had formerly been employed at Sir T. Brisbane's Observatory at Makerstoun, and also an altitude and azimuth instrument. With these instruments it is expected that the application from Havanna Observatory can be met within the sum named; the instruments are now in the hands of the workmen, and will be ready early in July. Two unifilars, supplied by the late Mr. Jones, for the Dutch Government (one for Dr. Bergsma, and the other for Dr. Buys Ballot), have had their constants determined. Observations have also been made with two 9-inch dip-circles belonging to General Sabine, which have been repaired by Barrow, and with two dip-circles and a Fox's instrument designed for Dr. Bergsma. A set of magnetical instruments, consisting of a dip-circle, an azimuth compass, and a unifilar, previously used by Captain Blakiston, have been re-examined, and have been taken by Colonel Smythe, of the Royal Artillery, to the Feejee Islands. As it was feared that the Kew Standard Barometer might have been injured by the workmen who some time since were repairing the Observatory, a new one has been mounted. The mechanical arrangements of this instrument have been completed in a very admirable manner by Mr. Beckley; and the mean of all the observations made shows that the new Barometer reads precisely the same as the old. This result is satisfactory, not only as showing that no change has taken place in the old Barometer, but as confirming the accuracy of the late Mr. Welsh's process of constructing these instruments. The height of the cistern of the new Barometer above the level of the sea is 33.74 feet. Mr. Valentine Magrath having quitted the Observatory, at his own request, on the 14th of February last, Mr. George Whipple has taken his place as Meteorological Assistant, and has given much satisfaction. On the 12th of March, Thomas Baker was engaged at the weekly salary of 8s., to be raised to 10s. in six months if he gave satisfaction, which has hitherto been the case. Since the last meeting of the Association, 173 Barometers and 222 Thermometers have been verified at the Observatory. Professor Kupffer, Director of the Russian Magnetical and Meteorological Observatories, visited the Observatory, and was presented with a standard thermometer. Mr. J. C. Jackson, Lieutenant Goodall, R.E., and Mr. Francis Galton, F.R.S., have visited the Observatory, and received instructions in the manipulation of instruments. Mr. Galton has made some experiments at Kew Observatory, to determine |