100 REPORT — 1855. 



The majority moved very rapidly. 



The points of divergence in Cassiopeia and Cygnus were noticed in 

 former years, but the two in Perseus were not seen until 1855, and I cannot 

 help thinking that the meteors in other years (that I have observed) did not 

 show these points of divergence in Perseus. 



It will be well to call the attention of observers to this fact, in order that 

 it may be carefully watched. 



Believe me, my dear Sir, yours very truly, 



E. J. Lowe. 



To the Rev. Professor Baden Powell, F.R.S. ^c. 



Provisional Report of the Committee, consisting of Mr. W. Fairbairn, 

 His Grace the Duke of Argyll, Captain Sir Edward Belcher, 

 the Rev. Dr. Robinson, the Rev. Dr. Scoresby, Mr. Joseph 

 Whitworth, Mr. J. Beaumont Neilson, Mr. James Nas- 

 MYTHj and Mr. W. J. Macquorn Rankine ; appointed to insti- 

 tute an inquiry into the best means of ascertaining those properties 

 of metals and effects of various modes of treating them which are of 

 importance to the durability and efficiency of Artillery; and em- 

 powered, should thty think it advisable, to communicate, in the name 

 of the Association, with Her Majesty's Government, and to request 

 its assistance. 



At the time of the meeting of the British Association, at Glasgow, in 

 September last, a question arose in the Mechanical Section as to the causes 

 of the deterioration of the metal of which the Artillery of the present day was 

 constructed. On this question a long and interesting discussion ensued, both 

 in reference to the comparative weakness of cast iron as now produced, and 

 to the adaptation of forged and malleable iron, as being stronger and 

 better adapted for the purpose than the former. 



Accounts received from the Baltic and from the Black Sea of the bursting 

 of guns and mortars of recent construction ("for which the inferiority of the 

 metal from which they were cast was the reason assigned), afford evidence of 

 something wrong. These failures gave rise to conjectures and uneasiness on 

 the part of the Government as well as the public, and in order to trace the 

 cause of this apparent weakness to its source, an inquiry was instituted by 

 the authorities at Woolwich, and, subsequently by the Association, in the 

 appointment of this Committee to co-operate with Her Majesty's Govern- 

 ment in the investigation of this very important question. In order that 

 no time might be lost, the Secretary of the Section was directed to issue 

 circulars to engineers, ironmasters and manufacturers, requesting that they 

 would forward to the members of the Committee such opinions and observa- 

 tions as they deemed advisable, in regard to the material itself and to its 

 treatment preparatory to the manufacture of ordnance. 



To these applications replies have been received from Sir Edward Belcher, 

 Mr. Nasmyth, Mr. Neilson, Mr. Fairbairn, and others, of which the fol- 

 lowing are extracts : — 



Extracts fi-om a letter addressed to the Committee by Sir Edward Belcher, 

 dated Glasgow, Sept. 19th, 1855. 

 Sir Edward observes that, in gunnery practice, the interposition of grit and 



