
Aug. 3, 1871] 

prepared a memoir, in conjunction with M. Boussingault, on the 
relative value of different manures ; in 1847 a paper onsugar in beet- 
root ; in 1852 two very complete memoirs on caoutchouc and gutta- 
percha, their chemical composition and different characters ; in 
1859 another paper on starch and ceilulose; in 1861 one on 
dextrine and glucose; in 1867 a paper on the constitution and 
structure of woody tissue ; besides a large number of others on 
economical and vegetable chemistry. As separate works, Prof. 
Payen published a compendium of theoretical and practical agri- 
culture, a compendium of industrial chemistry, a work on the 
diseases of the potato, beet, corn, and wine, a treatise on the dis- 
tillation of beet, a work on alimentary substances, and a report 
on the vegetable and animal substances made to the French 
Committee of the Jury of the International Exhibition in London, 
He was appointed Professor of Industrial Chemistry at the 
Central School in 1830, and at the Conservatoire des Arts et 
Meétiers in 1839, and was elected member of the Institute in 1842. 
WE are informed by Dr. Edward L. Moss, R.N., that within 
the last few days he has obtained several specimens of Apfendi- 
cularia furcata and acrocerca in the incoming tide off the east 
coast of Portland. They have in every instance been captured 
in their ‘‘ Haus,” or have formed it shortly after capture, and have 
remained in it as long they were left undisturbed, These rare 
and interesting visitors to our tidal waters were accompanied by 
oceanic diatoms which Dr. Moss had never before seen near 
the English coast. 
THE sixth annual meeting of the Quekett Microscopical 
Club was held on Friday evening last at University College. By 
the annual report of the committee read, it appeared that the 
number of the members now amounts to 550. ‘The president, 
Dr. L. S. Beale, F.R.S., gave the usual presidential address. 
At the election of officers which followed, Dr. L. S. Beale 
was elected president for the year 1871-72 ; for vice-presidents, 
Dr. Robert Braithwaite, F.L.S., Mr. Arthur E. Durham, 
F.R.C.S., Mr. Charles J. Leaf, F.R.M.S., Mr. Henry Lee, 
F.L.S. ; for four members of committee, Messrs. W. H. Gold- 
ing, Thomas Greenish, E, Marks, and F. Oxley ; for treasurer, 
Mr. Robert Hardwicke, F.L.S. ; hon. secretary for foreign cor- 
respondence, Mr. M. C, Cooke, M.A. ; hon, secretary, Mr. T. 
Charters White. 
THE Royal Archzological Institute has just held its annual 
meeting at Cardiff, under the presidency of the Marquis of Bute, 
who, in his inaugural address, dwelt on the many objects of 
archeological interest in which South Wales abounds, especially 
as the locality of some of the best known incidents of the 
Arthurian romances. The historical section was presided over 
by Mr. G. A. Freeman, who delivered a very interesting address 
on the early ethnology of South Wales. A long excursion was 
undertaken by the members into Monmouthshire, the principal 
bjects of interest being Caldicot Castle, Caerwent (the Roman 
Venta Silwium) and Chepstow. 
THE annual meeting of the Institution of Mechanical En- 
gineers was held last week at Middlesborough, Mr. John Rams- 
bottom, of Crewe, being president of the meeting. Papers were 
read by Mr. William Crossley, of the Askham Ironworks, Lan- 
cashire, on the manufacture of hzematite iron; by Mr. J. Low- 
thian Beil, upon the preliminary treatment of materials used in 
the blast furnace ; by Mr. Hill, on an improved compound 
cylinier blowing engines recently erected at the Lackenby Iron 
Works, Middlesbrough ; a description of the geological features 
of Cleveland by Mr. John Jones, secretary to the iron trade of 
the district ; by Mr. John A. Haswell, of Gateshead, desc) ibing 
the break drums and the mode of working at the Ingleby incline 
_on the Rosedale branch of the North Eastern Railway ; by Mr. 
NATURE 



261 

Jeremiah Head, of Middlesborough, on a simple construction of 
steam-engine governor, having a close approximation to perfect 
action ; and by Mr. Charles Cochrane, of Middlesborough, on 
steam boilers wth small water-space and Roots’ tube boiler, 
The many objects of interest in the neighbourhood were also 
visited by the members. 

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION MEETING AT 
EDINBURGH 
EDINBURGH, Wednesday Morning 
A VERY important point in the peregrination of the 
British Association lies in the fact that the men 
of science are now assembled in one of the foci of com- 
mercial enterprise, now in an old centre of learning, and 
now in a locality which, although coming under neither 
of these heads, yet gives large scope for benefiting the 
surrounding region. That the Association should meet 
at Edinburgh at this present juncture is extremely 
fortunate. In the first place Science was largely taught 
at Edinburgh by the aid of State-endowed professors 
before either of our old English Universities thought it 
worth while to investigate wita any earnestness those 
branches of natural knowledge which are now recognised 
as not only the necessary accompaniment of a liberal 
education, but as the foundation of the nation’s greatness. 
In the second place, we learn from the Edinburgh news- 
papers that the scientific mind of the metropolis of 
the North has been recently stirred on the subject of the 
importance of scientific research, and has addressed a 
memorial to the Royal Commission now sitting, urging 
that the point shall be strongly taken up. 
It may be interesting to mention that this is the third 
time that the British Association has met at Edinburgh, 
The first time was in 1834, under the presidency of Sir 
Thomas Brisbane ; the second in 1850, when Sir David 
Brewster occupied the chair. Already more than 1,300 
members have entered their names, a larger number than 
were fresent at the last Edinburgh meeting. 
The ample accommodation turnished by the Scotch 
capital is being admirably utilised by the local organisers. 
The Reception Room is in Parliament House ; the sec- 
tions meet in the University Buildings. In addition to 
the assemblage of our own savans, the following dis- 
tinguished scientific foreigners are either in Edinburgh 
or are expected in the course of the meeting :—The 
Emperor of Brazil; Dr. Janssen, of Paris; Dr. Buys 
Ballot, of Utrecht; Prof. v. Baumhauer, of Haarlem; 
Prof. Van Benedcen, of Louvain; Dr, D. Bierens de 
Haan, of Leyden; Dr. Boogaard; Dr. Colding, of 
Copenhagen ; Prof. Deltfs, of Heidelberg ; Baron Desi- 
derius; Baron Roland Eé:o6s, of Pesth; Don Asturo 
de Marcoastin, of Madrid; Prof. Margo, of Pesth; 
LAbbé Moigno, of Paris ; Prof. Morren, of Liége ; Prof. 
Szabé, of Pesth ; Prof. Zenger, of Prague; Dr. 
Youmans, of New York. Of these Dr. Janssen, Prof. 
Van Beneden, Dr. Buys Ballot, Profs. Szabo and Zenger, 
and Dr. Colding, have already arrived. The University 
of Edinburgh has taken the opportunity of conferring the 
honorary degree of LL.D. on the following distinguished 
men of science :- Dr. Gassiot, Prof. Sylvester, Prof. 
Stokes, Prof. Challis, Dr. Huggins, Dr. Alien 1homson, 
Dr. Janssen, Prof. Van Beneden, Dr. Colding, Mr. 
Spottiswoode, Dr. Carpenter, Prof. Andrews of Belfast, 
and Dr, Paget ot Cambridge. 
We are enabled, through the courtesy of the officers of 
the Association, to give in our present number ful rc pors 
of the president’s inaugural address, and of the opening 
addresses in Sections A, B, and C. In Prof. Geikie’s 
address we have a suitable and altogether to be com- 
mended innovation in the shape of an account of the 
local geology of the neighbourhocd, which has been 
printed separately, and issued with an admirably clear map, 

