British Association/or the Advancement of Science. 227 



The observations on the intensity of terrestrial Magnetism, pro- 

 posed by the Mathematical and Physical Committee, have been un- 

 dertaken by Dr. Traill ; and the Royal Society of Edinburgh have 

 lent for his use their Standard Needle, constructed under the super- 

 intendence of Professor Hansteen. 



A summary of the observations which Mr. Henwood is making on 

 the electro-magnetic condition of metalliferous veins will be presented 

 to the meeting ; and it is probable that the suggestion of the Com- 

 mittee may be followed, in regard to the extension of these experi- 

 ments to veins which traverse horizontal and dissimilar strata. 



There is reason to expect that the objects contemplated by the 

 Chemical Committee, in recommending a revision of some of the 

 primary data of chemistry, will derive light from the labours of Dr. 

 Prout and Professor Turner, in addition to those of the eminent phi- 

 losopher from whom the recommendations originated. 



Professor Daubeny and Mr. Johnston have undertaken the analy- 

 tical researches respectively entrusted to ihem ; and specimens of 

 iron in different stages of its manufacture have been transmitted to 

 the latter gentleman from the principal iron works in Yorkshire. 



In Geology, the inquiry respecting parallelism in the lines of dis- 

 turbance of the British strata will receive, it is hoped, the joint con- 

 sideration of the Rev. Wm. Conybeare and the Rev. Pjpfessor Sedg- 

 wick. 



In Botany, the comprehensive inquiry proposed by the Committee 

 will be illustrated by contritbutions which Professor Henslow proposes 

 to add to the Flora Cantabrigiensis, and by a systematic catalogue of 

 the native plants of the county of York, which the sub-curator of the 

 Yorkshire Philosophical Society is preparing for the press. 



Lastly, in Zoological research, for which no provision was made 

 at the late meeting, the officers of the Association have received from 

 Dr. Knox the promise of a memoir on the natural history of the 

 Salmon. 



It will be observed that the object to which the Committees have in 

 general paid the first attention has been, to procure reports on the 

 state and desiderata of the several branches of science, preliminary 

 to measures which may be hereafter adopted to advance them. To 

 the investigation, however, of a few points of prominent interest and 

 importance they have at once proceeded to invite attention ; and of 

 these there are some which it is highly desirable should receive th^ 

 consideration of experimenters and observers who cannot be indi- 

 vidually solicited to take a share in them. Such is the examination 

 of those first data of chemistry (/Z<>rcim/Hf«(/a<io)Js, p. 234), which, 

 lying at the very foundation of the science, are proposed to be settled 

 by the common consent of experienced chemists, and to which it is 

 hoped that every one possessing the necessary means and habits of 

 accurate experiment will lend his assistance ; such, also, are those 

 meteorological and botanical researches {Recommeriddliuns, p. 233, 

 23G), which, belonging to a lower order of facts, arc open to a much 

 wider class of observers^ and are capable of being extended through 

 2 G 2 ■ all 



