Se 
NATURE 
[ Oct. 8, 1885 
Capt. Shelley. Altogether there were 248 members, represent- 
ing Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, the United States of 
America, France, India (Mr. Blanford), Italy, Japan, Norway, 
Holland, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Sweden, and Switzer- 
land. 
Mr. W. H. WuITe, who has succeeded Sir N. Barnaby as 
Director of Naval Construction, has entered upon his duties at 
the Admiralty. 
WE regret to learn of the death of Walter Weldon, F.R.S., 
the eminent technical chemist, in his fifty-third year. Mr. 
Weldon’s name is well known in connection with the Weldon 
process for the regeneration of the manganese peroxide used in 
the generation of chlorine, and with the consequent revolution 
in the production of bieaching-lime, affecting favourably such 
important industries as the cotton and paper trades. 
THE Annual Exhibition of the Photographic Society was 
opened on Monday; the exhibits are up to the average of 
recent years. 
Sir JoHN Luspock unveiled on Thursday last, at Birming- 
ham, a marble statue of the late Sir Josiah Mason, which has 
been placed in the square between the Science College and the 
Town Hall. Referring to the Mason College, Sir John said 
that such an institution was all the more needed on account of 
the extraordinary manner in which science is still neglected in 
our public schools, There were, indeed, according to the Tech- 
nical Commission, only three schools in Great Britain in which 
science is fully and adequately taught. The majority of schools 
devoted to it less than three hours out of forty. Scientific men 
claimed for it six hours, which, with the same number for 
mathematics, ten for modern languages, and two for geography, 
would still leave no less than sixteen for classics. He advocated 
the general teaching of science, because it would add to the 
interest and brightness of life, would purify and ennoble the 
character, and because, with our rapidly-increasing population, 
it was almost a necessity, if our people were to be maintained in 
comfort. As regards the first point, it was quite a mistake to 
regard science as dry and uninteresting. Sometimes it might 
destroy a poetical idea, such as the ancient Hindoo theory of 
rivers—that Indra ‘‘ dug out their beds with his thunderbolts 
and sent them forth by long continuous paths.” But the real 
causes of natural phenomena were far more striking, and con- 
tained more real poetry than any that had occurred to the un- 
trained imagination of mankind. Not our happiness only, but 
in many cases our very life itself depended on our knowledge of 
science. Huxley had well asked, ‘‘ Whether, if it were per- 
fectly certain that the life and fortune of every one of us 
would one day depend on our winning a game of chess we 
should not all learn something of the game. Yet it is a 
very plain truth that the life and fortune of every one of us 
depend on our knowing something of the rules of a game in- 
finitely more difficult. It is a game which has been played for 
untold ages, every man and woman of us being one of the two 
players. The chessboard is the world, the pieces are the phe- 
nomena of the universe, the rules of the game are what we call 
the laws of nature. The player on the other side is hidden 
from us. We know that his play is always fair, just, and 
patient. But also we know, to our cost, that he never over- 
looks a mistake, or makes the smallest allowance for ignorance. 
To the man who plays well the highest stakes are paid with 
overflowing generosity, but one who plays ill is checkmated— 
without haste, but without remorse.” The national necessity 
for science was most imperative. Even now we required to 
purchase food to the amount of 150,000,000/, a year. A century 
hence our coal would be approaching exhaustion, our population 
would be trebled, and we should require, to speak moderately, 
400,000,000/. to pay for food. Nothing but the development 
of scientific training and appliances would enable us, under 
these circumstances, to maintain our population in happiness 
and comfort. We had, in fact, the choice between science and 
suffering. 
Mr. H. H. JOHNSTON appeals in the Z¢mes for subscriptions 
to make good the loss which Mr. H. O. Forbes has sustained 
while embarking at Batavia for his exploring journey in New 
Guinea. The boat which was carrying all his baggage on board 
ship suddenly capsized, and the unfortunate explorer in a few 
seconds lost all his equipment, a loss which it would probably 
take about r050/. to replace. Mr. Forbes, it may be remem- 
bered, was subsidised by the Royal, the Scottish, and the 
Australian Geographical Societies, while the British Association 
at Aberdeen has madea grant of 150/. to help to replace his loss. 
What excellent work Mr. Forbes is capable of doing for science 
is shown in his recently-published work on the Malay Archi- 
pelago. He lost no time in getting to Brisbane, and has doubt- 
less there obtained on credit such articles as will enable him to 
go on with his work, as according to the latest news he is again 
on his way to New Guinea. Subscriptions may be sent to the 
Secretary, Royal Geographical Society, Savile Row, W. 
In a few days the rock in the Hell Gate entrance to 
New York harbour, from Long Island Sound, is to be 
blown up by a party under the command of General Newton, 
United States Engineer. For nine years the work of ex- 
cavation has been in progress. The rock has been honey- 
combed with chambers, the surface being still supported by 
columns of rock, into which dynamite cartridges have been 
fitted. Some 45,090 of these cartridges cased with copper have 
been laid. The work of distributing the cartridges began in 
July, 1884, and has just been completed, 275,000 lbs. of dynamite 
having been used. The explosion is to be brought about by 
means of an automatic detonator, placed upon Flood Rock, an 
electric connection with the land being established. It is 
expected that the explosion will pulverise the whole of the rock, 
without making much commotion in the water, or doing harm 
beyond a distance of 1000 feet. The ¢ébris will afterwards be 
removed, so as to make a channel 26 feet deep at low water. 
Flood Rock and the adjacent reefs under water which will be 
destroyed cover a space of nine acres. 
THE Rev. M. F. Billington, of Chalbury Rectory, Wim- 
borne, Dorset, writes to the 7zmes under date September 29 :— 
“*This afternoon, at 5 o’clock precisely, we witnessed from this 
hill, of 365 feet altitude, a most perfect reflection in the clouds 
of a ship in full sail. The Purbeck Hills, situate about thirteen 
or fourteen miles to our south-west, shut out our direct view of 
the sea in that direction, and in all our long experience of many 
beautiful views of the coast line we have never before observed 
this curious phenomenon. It lasted for about three minutes, 
and then slowly faded out of sight.” 
On September 29, between § and 9 p.m., a mirage somewhat 
similar to that described last week (p. 541) was again observed by 
many persons at Valla in Sweden. The entire lower part of the 
north-western horizoa shone with a lurid glare, above which 
was a cloud-bank assuming the most remarkable forms. From 
time to time animals, trees, and shrubs were seen. Soon a bear 
changed into an elephant, and soon a dog into a horse. Later on 
groups of dancers were seen, men being distinguished from 
women. 
of which was a valley, and nearer still a park with sanded paths. 
At about 9.30 the cloud sank into a mass, and the phenomenon 
disappeared. 
THE Royal Microscopical Society will meet at King’s College, 
W.C., on Wednesday, the 14th inst., at eight o’clock, when the 
Further north the cloud formed an oak forest, in front » 
