632 TRANSACTIONS OF THK 



secrets of the faculty, for the notorious pillage of valuable 

 scientific property has completely closed their lips before their 

 patent has got the national seal upon it. 



Mr. Leonard invites communications from men of science for 

 our annual Transactions. All such papers will be welcomed, and 

 on approval by our committee on Arts and Sciences, they will be 

 published therein. 



Mr. Tillman made some remarks as to the efforts of some men 

 to endeavor, in making our propeller^, to imitate nature, while 

 there is no model in nature that will serve our scientific mechanism. 



Mr. Meigs — If any, perhaps the volvox, among the minute 

 creatures of water, acting like a wheel in revolution. 



Mr. Tillman— The late chief of the Patent Office, Mr. Ewbank? 

 will, if requested, I have no doubt, give the Club his views on 

 this propeller question, upon which he has bestowed much time 

 and consideration; and which, as Mr. Stetson has just well said, 

 let us learn; and which I say, when discovered, will make a 

 great fortune for the discoverer. 



Mr. Fisher moved for a committee of three to inquire and 

 report upon the practicability of organizing a " Steam Transit 

 Improvement Fund." Carried, and the chairman appointed as 

 that committee, Messrs. Fisher, Stetson and Butler. 



The committee on the selection of questions reported a con- 

 tinuation of " Steamships." 



At half-past 10 o'clock, P. M., the Club adjourned to the 

 second Wednesday in December. H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



December 9, 1857. 



Thomas B. Stillman, in the chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary. 



The Secretary read the following translation, made by him, viz: 



It is strange that men have wrought iron from the ore and have 

 made steel of it ever since the fabulous ages of the world, and yet 

 are still continually busy in trying to do it better. A list of the 

 experimenters and their experiments in iron and steel since the days 

 of fabled Vulcan, would form an enormous library ! Yet still the 

 experimental work is going on with increasing zeal. 



Mons. L'Abbe Pauvert, of Chatellerault, France, has taken out 

 in England, three patents for this purpose. 



