XX1X 
by foreigners ; and there was, in the Journal of this Institution, an 
article by Mr. Kinahan shewing the close relation of Cornish 
mining-terms to the Irish language.* 
The discussion which followed dealt incidentally only with Mr. 
Ferguson and his views.—Dr. BARHAM repudiated the idea that 
tin-mining was of so modern a date in its origin as the suggestions 
of these authors would imply; and quoted the testimony of 
Diodorus Siculus, and others.—Dr. LE NEVE Foster did not 
see why the natives might not themselves have found out the 
nature of tin; and he thought that Mr. Kinahan’s coincidences 
might be explained by the fact that Erse and Cornish were cognate 
branches of the Celtic language.—Mr. WortTH agreed with Mr. 
Cornish, as to the sparseness of the population; but held that 
there was geological evidence to carry back the origin of tin- 
mining thousands of years before Diodorus.—Mr. J. H. CoLLins 
cited some of Mr. Kinahan’s suggested explanations, to shew that 
they were untenable. 
In the absence, through illness, of Mr. W. Copeland Borlase, 
who had promised information concerning some ancient Cornish 
villages and smelting-works which he had investigated, Mr. 
WHITLEY gave a lucid and interesting description of the nature 
and laws of storms, especially in their bearing on the West of 
England ; his remarks being illustrated by means of several well- 
executed diagrams. 
Dr. BARHAM spoke on the important subject of Surface Tem- 
perature ; which is being investigated by himself and Mr. Whitley. 
The inquiry is likely to lead to practical results, in the securing 
early crops of vegetables from much of the danger to which they 
are now exposed from frost. It has already been proved that a 
very light and cheap shelter will afford a large amount of protec- 
tion by preventing radiation. 
Rev. C. M. EpwarD CoLLINs then addressed the company at 
much length on the subject of local historical manuscripts. He 
exhibited those of Hals and Tonkin, traced their chequered his- 
tory, and read from them and others some quaint and interesting 
extracts. 
* See Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, No. xiv. Notes on 
the similarity of some of the Cornish rock-names and miners’ terms, to Irish 
qwords.—By G. Henry Kinawan, M.R.LA., &e. 
