394 



NA TURE 



\_Feb. 26, 1885 



The death is announced, at Cannes, of Mr. John Francis 

 Campbell of Islay, at the age of sixty-four years. Mr. Camp- 

 bell did work in various departments of science. Many years 

 ago he collected the folk-lore of the Western Highlands, and 

 published a large selection of his collections. Mr. Campbell 

 was also a geologist, and in his " Circular Notes" and "Frost 

 and Fire " will be found many geological notes as well as specu- 

 lations. Quite recently, also, he published a curious book on 

 " Thermography ," and he was the inventor, our readers will 

 remember, of the sunshine-recorder at Kew. 



We regret to learn of the death of Mr. Thomas C. Archer, 

 Curator of the Museum of Science and Art, Edinburgh. 



M. Poydessau, the French engineer who assisted Lieut. 

 Bonaparte Wyse from 1876 to 187S in his surveys of the Isthmus 

 of Panama, in view of a canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific, 

 died at Panama on January 7. 



Die Nadu- announces the death of Dr. Friedrich Ritter von 

 Stein, Professor of Zoology in the University of Prague, who is 

 known by a work on Infusoria ; and of General Sonklar, one of 

 the first and oldest of Austrian Alpine climbers, whose oro- 

 graphic work in connection with the Austrian Alps has gained 

 him much credit in his native country. He was Professor of 

 Geography at the Military School of Vienna ; his latest work 

 was a chart of the rainfall of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. 



We learn also of the death of M. Louis Godard, the aeronaut. 

 In 1863 he and his brother Jules went up with Nadar, who still 

 lives, in the monster balloon called Le Giant. A breakage in 

 the mechanism necessitated a speedy descent, during which a 

 gust of wind turned the car upside down. The thirteen pas- 

 sengers had barely time to cling to the ropes, and, the grappling 

 irons breaking, the car dragged half a mile on the ground before 

 a landing could be effected. During the siege of Paris Godard left 

 by balloon, and at Tours served on an aeronautic commission. 

 He took no part in recent experiments and discussions on 

 navigable balloons. 



On the afternoon of January 19, we learn from Science, the 

 first balloon ascent ever made in the United States solely in the 

 interest of meteorology took place at Philadelphia. Gen. 

 Hazen, chief Signal Officer, U.S.A., recognising the importance 

 and value of a more complete knowledge of the upper atmo- 

 sphere, entered into a contract some time ago with the well- 

 known aeronaut, Mr. S. A. King, for a number of "trips to 

 the clouds," an ascent to be made at any time on eight hours' 

 notice. The U.S. Signal Service has had this subject under 

 consideration for several years. Prof. Abbe began in 1871 to 

 collect meteorological records made in balloons. In r872 the 

 records of fifty ascents had been tabulated, studied, and valuable 

 results obtained. In 1876 1000 small balloons were sent with 

 the Polaris expedition, to be used in determining the height of 

 the clouds ; but, owing to an unfortunate accident, they could 

 not be utilised. At various times the chief Signal Officer has 

 sent observers on balloon excursions which were made for pur- 

 poses other than scientific. The considerable certainty with 

 which the movement of a storm can now be predicted renders 

 it possible and desirable to make systematic use of the balloon 

 in the study of unusual atmospheric conditions, and the series of 

 ascents just begun is planned with that end in view. Among 

 other things it is desired to determine the difference in the tem- 

 perature gradient in well-defined "high" and well-defined 

 " low " pressures. For this purpose it is necessary to foretell the 

 arrival of a particular atmospheric condition at Philadelphia, from 

 which place the ascents will be made. This can readily be done 

 so as to give the aeronaut eight hours' notice for the preparation 

 of his balloon, and the observers who accompany him sufficient 

 time to reach Philadelphia from Washington. The first ascent 

 was expected to be rather experimental and suggestive in 



its character. It was the intention to start at 7 a.m. on the 

 19th, and a telegram to that effect was sent to Mr. King, who 

 responded that he would be ready. But, owing to the extreme 

 cold, it was found that the balloon could not be handled for fill- 

 ing without danger of cracking ; and waiting for the sun to warm 

 it up caused so much delay, that the start was not made till 4.15 

 p.m. The balloon was the Eagle Eyrie, holding 25,000 cubic 

 feet when filled, and having a lifting power of about 1000 

 pounds. The occupants of the car were Mr. King and Private 

 Hammond, a skilful observer detailed from the office of the 

 Chief Signal Officer for the purpose. Mr. Hammond car- 

 ried with him a complete outfit for making barometric, thernio- 

 metric, and hygrometric observations. Owing to the late 

 hour of starting, the observations made were not so numerous 

 as could be desired, although seven complete sets were obtained 

 before darkness rendered further reading impossible. A safe 

 and quiet landing was effected at about 7.30 P.M. near the village 

 of Manahawken, on the New Jersey coast. The greatest height 

 reached was somewhat over one mile. This trial-trip has sug- 

 gested some modifications in the plans, which will render future 

 ascents more successful. The danger incident to a balloon 

 ascent is greatly over-estimated by many. In the company of 

 an "experienced and skilful aeronaut the risk to life and limb 

 is hardly greater than on a railway train or a steamboat. 

 Volunteers for this service are by no means wanting among 

 those connected with the signal service ; and Prof. Abbe is so 

 desirous of knowing what is going on "inside of a storm," that 

 he means to make an ascent himself in order to find out. 



The Faculty of Harvard College, by a majority of thirty to 

 two, have decided that Freshmen may be admitted without 

 matriculating in Greek. It is expected that the Classics will soon 

 suffer a further comparative decline, the literature and history of 

 the United States being given greater prominence in the 

 curriculum. 



At a meeting of Convocation of the London University, held 

 on Tuesday, Lord Justice Fry moved, " That, in the opinion of 

 Convocation, the objects of the Association for promoting a 

 Teaching University for London would, if carried into effect by 

 this University, add to its usefulness and importance." His 

 Lordship said that, while he did not wish to cast the slightest 

 slur on the past history of the University, he maintained that 

 there should be a combination of teaching with examination. 

 In his opinion the success of the scheme was inevitable, and it 

 would be far better that it should be carried out by the Uni- 

 versity than by another examining body. The motion having 

 been carried, the Special Committee was authorised to give 

 effect to the resolutions passed. 



The December number of Prof. Caporali's Nuova Scieina, 

 which completes the first year of this remarkable publication, 

 continues to advocate his peculiar system of the universe with 

 unabated vigour and learning. His theory of psychogenesis is 

 here advanced a further stage, and it is now contended not only 

 that psychis is co-eternal with matter, but that it is the true start- 

 ing-point of all evolution. In the present issue the chief articles 

 are : " Modern Italian Thought," "The Pythagoric Formula of 

 Cosmic Evolution," and "The Anglo-Saxon Anticlerical Evo- 

 lution." Notwithstanding some curious misconceptions, the last 

 mentioned paper will be read with interest by English students 

 of contemporary thought. 



An extensive Fish Culture Establishment is in course of con- 

 struction at Delaford Park, Iver, Buckinghamshire, in connection 

 with the National Fish Culture Association. The site is situated 

 close to the River Colne, which is famous for its trout, and 

 affords an abundant supply of fresh water for the purposes 

 required. A number of ponds are being formed upon the most 

 approved scientific principles, in which the various species of 

 Salmonidce, coarse fishes, &c, will be propagated for the benefit 



