February i, 191 2] 



NATURE 



453 



of stability is dismissed in eight pages, but this chapter 

 is supplemented by experimental information given 

 at various places elsewhere in the book. The rest oi 

 part i. is taken up by the description of the several 

 models constructed and of an overhead launching gear 

 by which they were released ; Fig. i (a reproduction 

 of plate 12) gives an idea of the thoroughness with 

 which the evolution of each part is described. 

 Elaborate and vivid descriptions of the performance 

 of these models are given in each case, including as 

 a rule a map of the path followed during their flights. 

 Part ii., written by Mr. C. M. Manly, Dr. Langley's 

 chief assistant — to whom no doubt he would have 

 ascribed a large part of the success had he edited 

 himself the present account of his researches — is solely 

 concerned with the construction and the trials of a man- 

 carrying machine, the, two first chapters being devoted 

 to general considerations. The alteration of design 

 necessitated by the change of scale required further 

 'experiments with two of the models already described; 

 an account of these is found in chapter iii. A new 

 launching gear, shown in Fig. 2 (a reproduction of 



hundred plates of a high standard of excellence, includ- 

 ing many detail drawings, several maps, and reproduc- 

 tions of photographs ; an exhaustive index of twelve 

 pages is not the least commendable feature of this 

 latest and most important addition to the bibliography 

 of aviation. Maurice E. J, Gheury. 



THE BESSEMER MEMORIAL GIFT TO THE 

 ROYAL SCHOOL OF MINES. 



/^N June 29, 1903, on the very day that Lord Rose- 

 ^-^ bery promulgated the scheme for the establish- 

 ment of an Imperial College in Lxjndon, a meeting 

 was held at the Mansion House, under the chairman- 

 ship of the then Lord Mayor, Sir Marcus Samuel, for 

 the purpose of devising a scheme " to perpetuate the 

 memory of probably one of the greatest men who ever 

 lived " — Sir Henry Bessemer. It was abundantly 

 evident from the speeches delivered on that occasion 

 by the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Haldane, and Sir John 

 Wolfe Barry, that a very serious attempt was being 

 made to establish in the metropolis of the Empire an 



Fig. 3.— Quarter-size Model Aerodrome in Flight, August 8, 1903. 



plate 43), forms the subject of chapter iv., and the 

 next three chapters deal in an elaborate fashion with 

 the construction of the frame and of the supporting 

 surfaces of the large "aerodrome," and the method 

 of ensuring its equilibrium while in flight. 



Two chapters deal with the history of the engines of 

 this machine, and of a quarter-size model of it, which 

 it was intended to try first. This is shown in 

 full flight in Fig. 3 (a reproduction of plate 92). The 

 two last chapters contain the account of the shop 

 and field trials and of the failures — solely caused by 

 some defect in the launching gear — which ended the 

 trials. 



.\n interesting appendix on the flight of the 

 •American buzzard ends the book, which should b(; 

 perused if one wishes to form an adequate idea of the 

 value of the pioneer work done against difficulties of 

 all kinds, conquered by sheer determination to suc- 

 ceed, and only baffled— just as success was at hand — 

 by th(> lark of financial support due to the antagonism 

 of a hostile Press. 



The work is profusely illustrated by tnore than a 



NO. 2205, VOL. 88] 



institution having for its main object the organisation 

 of scientific education with reference to national and 

 imperial industries. Lord Haldane frankly admitted 

 that "it was clear that in our industrial methods we 

 were, in some respects, behind other nations. We 

 possessed magnificent energy, we had a splendid re- 

 cord; but in the application of science to industry we 

 had not hitherto developed anything comparable to 

 those great institutions for technical trainmg in the 

 higher sense, such as exist elsewhere." 



It was fitting that the inemorial to Bessemer should 

 be established in connection with an institution having 

 aims so definite as the Imperial College, and it was- 

 a happy thought to associate the memorial with the 

 Royal School of Mines, then about to undergo re- 

 organisation. Much has occurred since those days. 

 The Scientific development of the Royal School of 

 Mines as a teaching institution is one of the events 

 of the day. Visitors to South Kensington cannot fail 

 to have noticed how largely the accommodation in 

 that school has been increased, and those who have 

 more intimate acquaintance with the internal affairs 



