150 MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION 



incompatible with the latter to mount up to the principles of those 

 sciences which are connected with the arts he practises ; to study 

 their relation one to the other ; and to acquaint himself with the 

 steps by which they have reached their present eminence. It can- 

 not but be useful to the chemical manufacturer to study the laws of 

 that molecular attraction which binds together the elements of the 

 substances which he prepares; to the mechanic, to examine the pro- 

 cesses of the arts in connexion with the general law T s of matter ; to 

 the miner or land-surveyor, to inform himself with respect to the 

 physical structure of the globe ; to the agriculturist, to become ac- 

 quainted with the principles of vegetable physiology, and the natu- 

 ral relations of plants." 



The secretary then proceeded to read the report of the finances of 

 the Association ; by which it appeared that the receipts were 

 £3,185. 15s. 3d., the disbursements, £2,576. 8s., leaving a balance 

 of upwards of £600. ; the property of the Association amounting 

 altogether to £4,564. 



The secretaries of the different sections then read their reports of 

 the proceedings of the sections in the morning. 



At the Dinner on Tuesday, the Rev. W. D. Conybeare presided. 

 The attendance was not so numerous as on the previous day — only 

 two hundred being present. 



In consequence of the unpropitious state of the weather, the in- 

 tended promenade and horticultural exhibition at Miller's gardens 

 were abandoned, and the Geological, Mechanical, and Statistical 

 Sections met in the evening. The proceedings are noticed under 

 the respective Sections. 



On Wednesday, the dinner was attended by about 180 members ; 

 Professor Griffith in the chair. In the evening the Theatre was 

 again excessively crowded. 



Dr. Daubeny having been called on by the Chair, came forward 

 and delivered a lecture on Mineral and Hot Waters. This led to 

 a discussion by Professor Phillips, Mr. Taylor, Dr. Hare, and Prof. 

 Whewell. The opinions entertained were — that the lower you 

 descend into the earth, the higher is the temperature, and for that 

 reason it is imagined that, at the centre of the earth there is an ab- 

 solute fluid of fire, and that the rocks (particularly St. Vincent's) 

 were torn asunder by some volcanic action, and that hot springs are 

 produced by the same cause. — The presidents of the different sec- 

 tions having read their reports, the meeting broke up, but not till 

 after midnight. 



Professor Buckland presided at the dinner on Thursday, which 

 was attended by about 150 gentlemen. In the evening, Miller's 

 Nursery grounds were thrown open to the members of the Institu- 

 tion, and the ladies they brought with them ; and interesting as the 

 proceedings of the week had been, this promenade came in for its 

 full share of public approval. The philosopher, who at the different 

 meetings had astonished the auditors by the vast depth of his scien- 

 tific knowledge, was here seen indulging in the luxury of female 



