RECOMMENDATIONS OP THE GENERAL COMMITTEE. xll 



Involving Applications to Government or Public Institutions. 



That the application to Government for an Expedition to complete our 

 knowledge of the Tides be renewed. 



That the application which was made to the Government in September 

 1852, concerning the great Southern Telescope, be renewed. 



That a deputation, consisting of Sir 11. I. Murchison, Sir H. Rawlinson, 

 General Sabine, Professor Owen, Professor Bell, Dr. Gray, Mr. Macgregor 

 Laird, Dr. R. Latham, and Dr. N. Shaw, be requested to wait upon Her 

 Majesty's Secretary for Foreign Affairs, to urge the desirableness of sending 

 out an annual expedition to the Niger, at the period of the rising waters of 

 that river (which has been proved to be the most healthy season), as proposed 

 by Dr. Baikie, supported by the Royal Geographical Society, and advocated 

 by persons deeply interested in establishing a regular commercial intercourse 

 with the inhabitants of that portion of Africa. 



That a Memorial be presented to the Admiralty, praying for the publica- 

 tion in a simple, uniform and complete shape, tabular and descriptive, of the 

 results of the Trials of Her Majesty's Steam Ships. 



That the Committee, consisting of Mr. Andrew Henderson, Mr. John Scott 

 Russell, Mr. James R. Napier, and Mr. Charles Atherton, appointed to con- 

 sider the question of the Measurement of Ships for Tonnage, be requested 

 to continue their investigations ; that the following names be added to the 

 Committee, The Right Hon. the Earl of Hardwicke, Mr. Arthur Anderson, 

 Rev. Dr. Woolley, Mr. Wm. Mann, Mr. George Frederic Young, Captain 

 J. O. Owen, Professor Woodcroft, and Mr. James Perry ; and that they be 

 requested to inquire into the defects of the present methods, and to frame 

 more perfect rules for the measurement and registration of ships; and also 

 as to the adoption of a standard unit for estimating the working power of 

 engines, instead of the present nominal horse-power, in order that a correct 

 and uniform principle of estimating the actual carrying capacity and working 

 power of steam-ships may be adopted in their future registration. 



(N.B. In this Recommendation the Committees of Section F. and Section 

 G. concurred.) 



That the Earl of Harrowby, Lord Stanley, Mr. William Fairbairn, 

 Mr. Thomas Graham (Master of the Mint), Mr. James Heywood, Mr. 

 Commissioner Hill, General Sabine, and Mr. Thomas Webster, be a Com- 

 mittee for the purpose of taking such steps as may be necessary to render 

 the Patent system of this country, and the funds derived from inventors, more 

 efficient and available for the reward of meritorious inventors, and the ad- 

 vancement of practical science. 



Applications for Reports and Researches, 



That Mr. Cayley be requested to complete his Report on the Progress of 

 Theoretical Dynamics. 



That a Committee, consisting of General Sabine, Professor Phillips, Sir 

 James C. Ross, Mr. Robert W. Fox, and Rev. Dr. Lloyd, be requested to 

 undertake the repetition of the Magnetic Survey of the British Islands. 



That Dr. Miller be requested to complete his Report on Electro-chemistry. 



That Dr. Price be requested to complete his Report on Commercial 

 Varieties of Iron. 



That Professor Buckman and Professor Voelcker be requested to continue 

 their researches into the Effects of External Agents in the Growth of Plants. 



That Mr. Rennie be requested to prosecute his experiments on the Velo- 

 city of the Screw-propeller, and report on them next year. 



