136 British Association for the Advancement of Science. 
cludes returns from the Savings Bank, Assay Office, Workhouse, 
&c. During’the past year, 25,000 gold wedding rings had been 
assayed and marked. 'The number of steam engines is 240, of 
which 65 are high pressure, and the remainder condensing en- 
gines.—Prof. Powell read a paper on Academic Statistics, show- 
ing the proportion of students in the University of Oxford, who 
proceed on to degrees. Among other results*it is stated that the 
ratio of the number matriculated to those who pass final exam- 
ination, is 1 ; 2.67.—Mr. Fripp read the report of the committee 
appointed to inquire into the condition of the working classes in 
Bristol. This document goes into minute details and exhibits 
immense labor.—Mr. Clark presented contributions to the medical 
statistics of Birmingham by a local committee, comprising elabo- 
rate returns from the town Infirmary, General Hospital, &c. 
; Section G. Mechanicat Science. 
‘Mr. J. L Hawkins madea tion on paving roads with 
blocks of wood, placed with the grain in a vertical position. He 
considered that roads formed of sound wood, with the grain ver- 
tical, might be made so even as to constitute a sort of universal 
railway, on which carriages might be drawn by a small proportion 
of horse-power, and on which steam carriages might run as safely 
and almost as fast as on railways.—Mr. Scott Russell read a papet 
on the most economical proportion of power to tonnage in steam 
bas It is a subject of anxious inquiry when about to construct 
new steam vessel, what is the best amount of power to place in 
A 8 ship, so as to secure in the highest degree, economy, rapidity 
and regularity. The general principle at which after much study 
of the subject, Mr. R. had arrived, was this: that in a voyage by 
a steam vessel in the open sea, exposed of course, to adverse winds, 
there is a certain high velocity and high portion of power which 
may be accomplished with less expenditure of fuel and of ee 
than at a lower speed with less power. 
Dr. Lardner read a very extensive paper detailing a saline. : 
experiments by himself and Messrs. Woods and Harle on the 7é 
sistance of the air to railway trains. The following are his 
eral conclusions. 1. The resistance to a railway train, Re 3 
things being the same, depends on the speed. 2. At the same 
speed the resistance will be in the ratio of the load, if the cal 
riages remain unaltered. 3. If the number of carriages be Bs 
a 4 
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* 
a 
