Nas 
effect, is an actual translatory motion shared by the whole 
vessel. By far the greater part of it is due to rocking 
about some centre (whether fixed or instantaneous), at 
some distance from the passenger, just as a boy moves 
really up and down on a see-saw, while the plank simply 
rocks about a fixed centre. A very large portion of the 
apparent motion of translation will therefore be cured by 
neutralising the rocking; and so far as rolling is con- 
cerned, we have no doubt that all rocking will be effec- 
tually cured. Even as regards pitching, we are disposed 
to think that in large vessels this is seldom very trouble- 
some when there is pitching and nothing else. It is the 
combination of pitching with rolling which is so difficult 
to bear ; and we have reason to know that a vessel's pitch- 
ing is almost invariably accompanied with a roll of very 
considerably greater amount than the fore and aft motion. 
Apart from the much more confused and distressing 
character of the combined motion, we think that the 
pitching would be found to be a much smaller effect than 
is commonly believed, if the rolling were wholly got 
rid of. 
On the whole, while we are unwilling to commit our- 
selves to any prophecy, either of complete success or of 
partial failure, we think very favourably of the proposal. 
As a mere scientific experiment it is one of the very 
highest interest. As a practical design it offers a sure 
prospect of realising a large part of its intention, and a 
fair prospect of attaining a high degree of success. We 
feel confident that it will save a great many who would 
otherwise suffer, from being sea-sick at all, but we can 
hardly hope that there will not be sufficient residual 
motion in very heavy weather to cause some degree of 
uneasiness to very sensitive persons; nor would we 
venture to predict what will be the numerical reduction in 
the proportion of persons relieved from sickness, or the 
amount of alleviation to those not wholly saved from it. 
It remains to say a few words on the question of safety. 
The inquiry of the timid will be, What if anything goes 
wrong? How will you control this great moving mass of 
150 or 200 tons if a valve should give way or a pipe 
burst? The answer is immediate. In case of accident, 
the saloon would simply be disabled from moving inde- 
pendently of the ship, and the worst that could happen 
would be that the passengers would not get the relief 
desired, but would simply be as in the saloon of an ordi- 
nary vessel, and with much better ventilation. Even if 
the machinery broke down badly, it would be the work of 
a moment for those in charge to jam the saloon most 
effectually, so as to make it a fixed part of the ship. The 
hydraulic machinery is similar to that which has been for 
along time used by Mr. Bessemer in controlling large 
masses of molten iron, and has, therefore, been fully tested 
and shown to be efficient. 
SCIENCE IN CEYLON 
SUPPLEMENT toa recent number of the Ceylon 
LA Observer contains the first address of the new 
Governor of Ceylon, his Excellency the Right Hon. W. H. 
Gregory. Onthe opening of the session of the Legislative 
Council, his Excellency proposes to take a vote of 50,000 
rupees for the commencement of a Museum of Natural 
History and Antiquities. The cost of the building when 
NATURE © 
[NMov. 21, 1872 
completed in the rough is to be 80,000 rupees. He says, 
“the want of a museum in which may be represented thi 
natural history, antiquities, and industrial products of 
island has been forcibly urged on me by persons of 
classes. For a comparatively small sum, conside ri 
the object in view, a museum may be constructed, whi 
shall not be a mere random collection of miscellaneo 
objects, but a scientific teaching exhibition. To carry 
out thoroughly our purpose, it will be necessary that th 
head of the institution should be a person compet 
from knowledge and scientific training to arrange 
proper sequence the various specimens as they come m 
to give information to the student, and probably to giv 
lectures occasionally on the different branches of 
collections, such as on the principles of classification, 
habits, instincts, and economical uses of each cla: 
The salary of the Director to be appointed is to be ; 
liberal one, in order that a man of high acquirements maj 
be induced to undertake the task. The archeology of 
island is to be well represented in the museum, anc 
contain reproductions of the many ancient inscrip 
therein existing in the form of photographs, casts, 
hand copies. The collection generally is to be stri 
confined to the products of Ceylon. New regulations 
to be made for the management of the forests and to’ 
vent the present waste of timber, for the carrying ow 
which foresters are to be appointed. A hope is expresse 
that the cultivation of cinchona will be extended, Th 
soil and climate of Ceylon are peculiarly adapted to 1 
growth of this plant, Ceylon samples of bark fetchin; 
higher market price than similar ones from Ootacamunt 
It is also hoped that the production of tea may be 
up by the planters. Silk may, perhaps, also be added t 
the productions of the island. The mulberry tree grov 
quickly and vigorously in Ceylon, the worms are reé 
ported hardy and to thrive well; but difficulties ari: 
from the want of patient and skilled hands in th 
winding of the silk. The dried cocoons would probal ] 
have to be sent to Europe to be spun, as they are at pre: 
in largely increasing quantities from various parts of 1 
East. Regulations are to be made for the prese 
of game, z.c., deer, elk, buffaloes, and pea-fowls, not fo 
the benefit of the sportsmen, but for that of the native: 
population. ; 
The natives complain that bodies of strangers enter 
district, drive into a narrow compass and shoot down an 
wound large quantities of deer, the flesh of which is drie 
carried away, and sold; that this wholesale destru ‘ia 
goes on at all seasons; and that the breed of buff 
is deteriorating by the slaughter of the wild males. 
tame buffaloes are, in Ceylon, turned out loose into tl 
jungle when not employed in the paddy fields or elsewher 
and interbreed with the wild ones. During the whol 
the Governor’s journeys in the northern and eastern p 
vinces he saw only two deer and heard onepea-fowl, alth 
riding over ground where, a few years previously, all k 
of game abounded. We think the Governor was unluc 
in his experiences. There are still plenty of peacocks | 
be seen about Trincomalee, at least where we lately can 
across upwards of thirty in one afternoon. It is still € 
tremely desirable that the wanton destruction of gan 
should be put a stop to, A close time is to be e 
and driving prohibited except by the inhabitants of: 
