544 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



tutc, according to the rules and by-laws; nor any liability incur- 

 red by the Institute, except on special resolution. 



Fifth — The meetings of the Mechanics' Club are free of all ex- 

 pense to those who attend them. 



Sixth — The Mechanics' Club shall select in advance, a subject 

 for discussion at each of its meetings, which subject shall be an- 

 nounced in the call of meetings. 



Seventh — Written communications to the Club are to be read 

 by the Secretary, unless objection is made; and if objected to, 

 will be read, if it be ordered by a majority of the members 

 present. 



Eighth — The Mechanics' Club will recommend what papers 

 read before them, or what part of other transactions they judge 

 worthy of publication, to the committee of arts and sciences, by 

 which the publications may be ordered in its discretion. 



Ninth — No person attending the meetings of the Club shall 

 speak more than once on any one subject, nor shall occupy in 

 such speech more than fifteen minutes, except by permission of 

 the Club. 



Tenth — No argument is allowed between members. Facts alone 

 are to be stated. 



Eleventh — All questions of order are decided without appeal, 

 by the presiding officer. 



Twelfth — The meetings of the Mechanics' Club are held at the 

 Repository of the American Institute, No. 351 Broadway, in the 

 city of New-York, on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every 

 month, at 7h o'clock, p. m. 



The committee of arts and sciences reported that they had 

 appointed Samuel D. Backus Chairman of the Club, for the cur- 

 rent year, and the Hon. Henry Meigs, Secretary. 



Mr. Backus, on taking the chair, expressed his thanks for the 

 honor conferred on him, and explained the course to be pursued 

 by the Club. 



The following were appointed a committee for the selection of 

 questions to be discussed at the meetings of the Club : Messrs. 

 Wm. B. Leonard, J. K. Fisher, Chas. Turner. 



Capt. Hedgcock, whose new quadrant had been made the sub- 

 ject of consideration by the Club this evening, not being present, 

 Mr. Edwin Smith called on Mr. W. G. Creamer to explain his 

 railroad brake, now in the Repository of the Institute. 



Mr. Creamer complied, and at some length, satisfied the Club 

 that his invention was worthy of full investigation; and that the 



