TRAXSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 251 



which are taking place in the construction of artillery, and in the antagonistic 

 work of protecting the vessels of our navy from the terrible destruction to which 

 they are exposed by the superior power and longer range of the guns which can 

 now be brought to bear against them. It seems, at first sight, almost a matter of 

 regret that our inventive faculties should be strained to the utmost to produce 

 the most deadly weapon, ,nnd to ensure the most certain and extensive destruc- 

 tion of human life ; but there is no axiom more true than that of a late great com- 

 mander, that " the best security for peace is to be well prepared for wai-." On 

 the subject of gimnery and ship-armour, we shall be fortimate in having the pre- 

 sence of many of those who have taken leading parts in their construction or 

 improvement, and in the experimental and scientific iuAestigations of these im- 

 portant questions; but I am sure that the Section will join me in the expression 

 of deep regret that one amongst that number, second to none in mechanical skill, 

 in successful results, and in indomitable perseverance, no less a man than that 

 distinguished Manchester citizen, Mr. Whitwoilh, is prevented being here by 

 serious illness. I trust it is only temporai-y, and that he will yet live man)' years 

 to enjoy the profits and honours of successful enterprise. In the model-room, 

 however, will be found one of liis powerfid and beautiful pieces of ordnance, and 

 an armour-plate, four inches in thickness, pierced by the bolt discharged from his 

 12-pounder cannon. We are also to be favoured with some of the plates and other 

 illustrations of the recent highly-important experiments at Shoeburyness, which, 

 I trust, will be accompanied by explanations by our President, or b)' other members 

 of the Association who have taken part in conducting these experiments. The 

 respective merits of the various inventions which are now exciting attention, and 

 the various modes of constructing ordnance and ship-armour will thus, I hope, be 

 brought fairly and fully before the Section. The anxious attention of those most 

 interested in the management of railways was, during the late very severe winter, 

 when the theiTnometer fell in some places 10° or 12° below zero, unexpectedly 

 directed to the sudden and niunerous fractures in the tires of the wheels of the car- 

 riages and engines. The cause of these fractures, and the best mode of preventing 

 similar occurrences in severe cold are matters of public importance, and fit sub- 

 jects for notice and discussion in this Section. But serious as were the dangers 

 resulting from the intense cold of last winter, they are as nothing to those which 

 appear to attend the benefit of railway travelling by the excursion trains of the 

 summer. Within the last few days we have been horrified by the accotmts of two 

 of the most disasti'ous accidents which have occurred in this country. As to the 

 cause of one of these we have as yet but vague particulars. The other seems to 

 have residted from a failm-e in the working of the signals, and from a want of 

 perfect imderstanding between two signalmen. Another subject which has recently 

 attracted attention, through the terrible and disastrous conflagration inTooley-street 

 in London, is the extinction of fire. The powers which now exist for this piu'pose, 

 with the methods which are adopted, woidd form useful topics for consideration ; 

 and such notices as will illustrate the most approved methods of prevention — 

 whether by the adoption of plans of fireproof construction, or by the judicious 

 application of water — could not fail to be both interesting and instructive. Man- 

 chester has fortimately been comparatively exempt from calamities of this natm-e ; 

 and there are peculiarities in the means adopted for their prevention which are 

 deserving of attention. In those parts of this city in which protection against fire 

 was most important, the dimensions and arrangements of the pipes were deter- 

 mined with special reference to these circumstances. In place of the old wood plug, 

 a simple fire-cock, by which almost instantaneous communication could be made 

 with the water in the pipe, and to which a hose and jet coidd be attached, was 

 adopted, and the fire-engines were rather used as carnages or omnibuses for the 

 conveyance of the firemen and their implements, than for actual use at a fire. 

 Nearly eveiy block of building in Manchester is commanded by at least a dozen 

 fire-cocks within 100 yards. The question of the patent laws, and their bearing 

 on the encouragement or discouragement of mechanical invention, will be promi- 

 nently brought before the Section, and, I doubt not, very ably discussed by some of 

 our most eminent men, who have specially considered the effect of protection. It 

 is proposed to devote, if necessary, the whole of Friday to this important and in- 

 teresting question. Many other matters of interest and importance wUl, I hope, be 



