•34S 



TFIE CIVIL ENCFNKKR AND AUCHlTECT'S JOURNAL. 



[JUT.V, 



Captains Fit-/. Roy, Bethnnc, anil Wickham, of the Royal Navy, to fnrnish a 

 tirst approximation to Die |)ositiori and direction of the isodynaniic lines 

 over tliat portion of the Indian oecan wliicli is comprised between the me- 

 ridian of tlie Cape of Good Hope and New South Wales. 



March 2(>. — The Marqui.s ok NoRTHAMi'roN, I'rcsident, in the Chair. 



This evening was occupied by the reading of a paper, entitled " lin.iearchcs 

 in Klec/ricifi/, 17/// srrics : on the nource of jwwer in the Voltaic Pile" By 

 Michael Faraday, Esq. 



Mail 14.— Major Sabine, R.A.. V.P., in the ehair. 



The follow ing paper was read : — 



Frpi-rii/ifr/fal lifsrarches into fhr Strength of Pillai's of Cast front "'"^ other 

 Matiriith. Hy ]'i;ilt)n llndgkinson, Ks({. 



The author finds that in all long ])illars of the same dimensions, the re- 

 sistance to crushing by llexure is idjuut three times greater when the ends of 

 the pillar.s are Hat, than when they are rounded. A lung uniform east-iron 

 l>illar, Hith its ends firmly fi.\cd, whether liy means of (hscs or otherwise, has 

 llie same power to resist f>reaking as a pill.-ir of the same diameter, and half 

 the length, uilh the ends rounded, or turned so that the force wonlil pa.ss 

 through llie axis. The strenglh of a ]iillar with (jneend rounil and the other 

 (lal. is tlie arithmetical mean between that ofa pillar ot the .same dimensions 

 with both ends ronnd, and one with both ends tlat. Some additional strength 

 is given to a pillar by enlarging its diameter in the middle part. The author 

 next investigated the strength of long cast-iron pillars with relation to their 

 diameter and length. He ctmcludes that the index of the power of the diame- 

 ter, to which the strength is proportional, is .3'73C. He then proceeds to de- 

 termine, hy a comparison ot experimental results, the inverse power of the 

 length to which the strenglh of the ))illar is proportional. The highest value 

 (if this jiower isl'Jll', the lowest, I'ii.BT, the mean of all the comparisims. 

 r71 17. He thus deduces, first, approximate empirical formula- for the break- 

 ing weight of solid jiillars, and then proceeds to deduce more correct methods 

 of determining their strenglh. J'ixperiments on hollow pillars of cast-iron 

 are then described, and formula? rcjiresenting the sirength of such pillars are 

 derhiced from these experiments. After giving some results of experiments 

 still in progress for determining the power of east-iron pillars to resist lung- 

 conlinued pressure, the author proceeds to determine from his experiments 

 the sirength of pillars of wrought-iron and timber, as dependent on their 

 dimensions. The concln.siou for wrought iron is, that the strength varies in- 

 versely as the square of the pillar's length, and directly as the power .37o of 

 its diameter, the latter being nearly identical with the result obtained for 

 cast-iron ; for timber, the strength varies nearly as the fourth power of the 

 side of the square forming the section of the pillar. Experiments for deter- 

 mining the relatiim of the strength to the length in pillars of timber, were 

 not instituted, as, from the great llexure of the material, it was considered 

 that no very satisfactory conclusions on this point ctmld be derived experi- 

 mentally. In conclusion, the author gives the relative strength.? of long 

 pillars of cast-iron, w rought-iron, steel, and timber. 



INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. 



Address of the President. 



General Meeting, February i, 1840. 



Tuis being our first Meeting since my re-election as your President, allow 

 me to thank yon for the honour conferred upon me, and to congratulate you 

 on the choice you have made of the other Members of Council, and Officers, 

 who will 1 am sure be desirous of justifying the good opinion you have formed 

 of them, by as freiiuent an attendance at the Meetings and attention to the 

 business of the Institution, as theu' avocations will permit. This will indeed 

 lie but a proper return for the proof of your confidence in us, and I trust that 

 the list of attendances, if again called for at the end of the season, will prove 

 my anticipations to have been correct ; for notwithstanding the truth of the 

 olil saying, tliat " where there is a will, there is a way," it must sometimes 

 ha]ipcii, that the attendance of some of us becomes impossible, from absence 

 at too great distance or other cogent cause; yet I hope 1 may answer for my 

 coUeaguci as for myself, that it is our determination to show that we have 

 the " vill." But, gentlemen, he it remembered on your part also, tliat there 

 is a reciprocal duty to perform — that of attendance at our Meetings, to give 

 them the importance which the Council Table being full will not give, if the 

 seats arnmid the room are not respectably occupied ; and that blame may not 

 attach where jiraise is due, the Council (following the precedent set them) 

 have desired a Ust to be made and tabulated of the attendance at the ileet- 

 jiigs of each Member, Graduate, and Associate. 



1 trust, however, that there will be presented to your attention during the 

 session so much new and interesting matter as will rather ensure your attend- 

 ance as a iiersonal gratification than as a bare discharge of a duty ; unless 

 this should be the case, mine would be an ungracious task to require your 

 constant attendance, but if we succeed in exciting your attention, you will 

 then come unasked. This good can only be attained by numerous and useful 

 coniiuuuications, which arc valuable in themselves and give rise to instructive 

 discussions. The Council therefore reqiure plans and papers from you with 

 the view of ensuring your personal attendance ; and 1 wish to enforce this 

 especially upon the coimtry Members, from whom wc receive very few com- 

 munications. JiOoking !it the extent and rapid progression of public works 

 in this countiy at present, the new facts that are constantly being developed, 

 the luiinber and influence of the Members of oiu: Institution, there ought not 



ta be »>}' (le«rth ;t impgitant autl uit«reiiting coiumiuucation^. Tbat Vi 



have had many such, and that the number of them is increasing, I admit, 

 but still they ought to he much more numerous. My remarks at the last 

 Meeting referred more particularly to Graduates and Associates as flcfaulters 

 on this head, hut I must include the Memhers^ not only for what they could 

 themselves do, hut more for the exercise of the influence they possess over 

 Graduates in ihrecting their attention to ]iarticnhir objects or works on which 

 they might furnish communications. Half the work is done " when the sub- 

 ject is ^'.eei/ on" — I say this from experience, as would be proved by refer- 

 ence to the eommunications that have been iiiatlc through my suggestions at 

 works which I have visited, or by individuals over whom 1 may be supposeil 

 to have some influence. If gentlemen would bear in mind the wants of the 

 Institution whenever they visit any jiublic work, they would rarel\- leave it 

 without having reaped some knowledge that would be worth communicating, 

 and they may be assured that their labours would be duly appreciated. 



I named at the last Meeting the subject of the Library. — I stated that which 

 many gentlemen were not aware of, the understanding amongst ourselves, that 

 each Member of the Council should contribute annually some Book, Picture, 

 Drawing, or other present for the Library — I stated also that the Secretary 

 was preparing a list of such books as it is desirable wc should possess. This 

 list will be printed and circulated, and I Avisli the Institution to understand 

 that the Council do not desire to monopolize the right of presenting books 

 hut trust that their example will be followed hy everj- one belonging to the 

 Institution. \Ve have space now for a good Library, and for an Institution 

 like ours nothing can be of greater importance. It is especi,ally necessary 

 that our Library should contain as many good books of reference as possible, 

 and I beg to suggest to Members possessing such books, that in presenting 

 ing them to the Institution they do not deprive themselves of the advantage 

 of them, but will have the satisfaction of permitting others to participate with 

 them. 



The increasing business of the Institution appearing to the Council to re- 

 quire now the whole and undivided time and attention of one properly quali- 

 fied gentlemen as Secretary, they thought it their duty to make this a condi- 

 tion previous to appointment; I am glail to say Mr. Manby has accepted the 

 ofliee on these conditions. Mr. Webster, with whose abilities and science we 

 are all well acquainted, has been elected Ilonor.ary Secretary, and the more 

 of his time he can give us, the more, I am sure, we shall all feel obhged. 



The question of qualification for Honorary Members has already engaged 

 the attention of the new Council, and we may think it right shortly to bring 

 the subject before the Institution. As the 13ye Laws now stand, the neces- 

 sary qualification for a candidate for election as an Hoiioran' Member is, that 

 "he be eminent for science a.m\ experience in pursuits connected with the 

 profession of a Civil Engineer, but not engaged in the practice of that pro- 

 fession in Great Britain or Ireland." Now this distinction is so very circum- 

 scribed, that few men can be found who come strictly within its limits, 

 whether we refer to the present list of Honorary Members, or even to the 

 most distinguished individuals in this country who hold the liighest places in 

 science or scientific institutions, such as the President of the Royal Society — 

 the Marquis of Northampton, — the Chancellor of the University of London, 

 Lord Burlington. (I cite these two noblemen, whose love of and devotion 

 to science, and whose eminence in certain deiiartments of it, has entitled them 

 to the high places they fill, as ]iersons whom it might he very desirable to 

 connect with the Institution, should such be their wish, but neither of w horn 

 can, so far as I know, be strictly said to be " eminent for science and cx- 

 perience in pursuits connected with the jirofessiou of a Civil Engineer."') If 

 it be thought desirable to extend the terms of qualification, the definition may 

 be altered to include individuals distingiiishcil for their patronage and pro- 

 motion of the studies and works of Civil Engineering, or a class of Patrons 

 might be formed of such men. The Council will give this matter their best 

 consideration, and will, I am sure, in any recommendation they may make, 

 be guided by their desire only to extend the reputation and importance of the 

 Institution. 



My old and valued friend, Mr. Turner, of Rook's Nest, Surrey (formerly 

 the friend and ]tartiicr of Hmldart), having presented me with an excellent 

 portrait of that eminent philosopher and mechanic, I have thought that I 

 could not do better than oflcr it to the Institution, having previously had 

 Mr. Turner's entire approval of my so doing. Those who have seen Ilnddart's 

 Hope Machinery, whicli was I believe as- much the creation of his own brain 

 as ever machine was of any man's, will not dispute my claiuiiiig for him the 

 first rank for eminence in Mechanics: as a Navigator and Hydrograplier, he 

 was inferior to none ; I had the pleasure of knowing him, and have always 

 thought, that if the Mechanical Philosophers and Engineers of our d.iys were 

 to lie ranked in pairs, Huddart was the man to be placed by the side of Watt. 

 1 am glad therefore to be the instrument of putting the Institution in pos- 

 session of the portrait of Huddart, by Wildinan, after Iloppner ; but this is 

 not unmixed with a feeling of jealousy, arising from our Member Mr. Biirges 

 having discovered that Mr. Whitbread had, at his seat in Bedfoidshirc, a por- 

 trait of *'?«ra/oH (a soul-stirring name to Engineers), by Gainsborough; he 

 has, through Mr. Wliitbreail's kindness and by the aid of Mr. Turner, placed 

 the picture in the hands of iMr. Wildinan, the talented painter of Huddart's 

 portrait, and I can answer for Mr. Burges's kind intentions towards the In- 

 stitution ill the trouble he has so taken. 



I have only farther to add, that the Council have come to the resolution of 

 devoting the rooms on the ground floor to the use of the Members of the In- 

 stitution, and have directed the periodical publications to be placed there. 



Ws bops this nrrfiiigemegt M'iU );c found genciidl}' toiivcuieut autl iigrceablc, 



