1854.] 



THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



169 



magnetic needle was placed. The enclosed magnet acted on 

 the needle and deflected it, at a certain angle, from its natural 

 position; but the instant that the wax melted, the magnet fell to 

 the bottom, and the vibration of the needle indicated the fact. 

 It was thus ascertained that under a pressure of thirteen thousand 

 pounds on the square inch, wax requires thirt} 7 degrees additional 

 heat to melt it; about one-fifth of the whole temperature at 

 which it melts under the pressure of the atmosphere. 



During the experiment, it was observed that the plunger 

 gradually descended in the tube, and on examination it was dis- 

 covered that the water had, under the influence of the enormous 

 pressure, been forced through the pores of the iron, though three 

 quarters of an inch thick. On afterwards examining the tube 

 closely with a lens, not the least opening could be seen by 

 which the water could have escaped. This result far exceeds 

 that of the celebrated Florentine experiment, by which the in- 

 compressibility of water was supposed to be proved by its forcing 

 a passage through the pores of a globe of silver, very thin in 

 comparison with the three-quarter inch iron tube. It was not 

 ascertained whether any of the melted wax had been forced into 

 the pores of its containing vessel. 



INCORPORATED BY ROYAL CHARTER. 



Fourth Ordinary Meeting, January 14th, 1854. 



The following Donations to the Museum and Library of 

 the Institute were announced : 



1. — A number of Minerals and Fossils from Ireland and 

 Canada, by Thomas Herrick. 



2. — Indian Relics by Dr. Richardson. 



3. — Hay's Book of British Birds by Mr. Hope. 



The thanks of the Institute were ordered to be presented to 

 Mr. Thomas Herrick, Dr. Richardson and Mr. Hope, for their 

 valuable donations. 



The names of the following Candidates for Membership 

 were read : 



Leslie Battersby, (Jun. Mem.) Toronto. 



Hon. 8. B. Harrison, " 



D. Macdonell " 



Rice Lewis " 



A. M. McKenzie, C.E Guelph. 



Hon. J. H. Cameron, Q.C Toronto. 



George Netting " 



The following Gentlemen were elected Members: 



F. A. Whitney Toronto. 



J. W. G. Whitney 



C.H. Jarvis 



Rev. E. St. John Parry 



J. Small, M.D 



Capt. C. R. Scholefield ' : 



J. E. Small " 



A Paper was read by A. Brunei, C.E. on "The Comparative 

 advantages of Single and Double Track Railways.'' 



fifth Ordinary Meeting, January 21st, 1854. 



A Donation from Capt. Lefroy, RA. FR.S. of " A Map 

 of the British Provinces in North America, drawn in \11&," 

 was announced. 



The names of the following ' Candidates for Membership 

 were read : 



P. M. Vankoughnet, Q.C. (Life Member) . . Toronto. 



Joseph Workman, M.D " 



William- Hallo-well, M.D " 



Hewson Murray (Jun. Mem.) 



The following Gentlemen were elected Members: 



Leslie Battersby Toronto. 



Hon. S. B. Harrison " 



D. Macdonell " 



Rice Lewis " 



A. M. McKenzie, C.E Guelph. 



Hon. J. H. Cameron, Q.C Toronto. 



George Netting " 



A Paper was read by Mr. G. H. Dartnell, on " The Duration 

 and Expectation of Life in Canada.'' 



Sixth Ordinary Meeting, January 38th, 1854. 



The names of the following Candidates for Membership 

 were read : 



James Edwin Ellis Toronto. 



Agustus J. Thibodo, B.M Kingston. 



G. P. Ure Toronto. 



Notice was given by Mr. D. Crawford, that at the second 

 General Meeting from the present, he would move for an altera- 

 tion in the Bye-Law relating to the Balloting for Members. 

 The following gentlemen were elected Members : 



P. M. Vankoughnet, Q.C Toronto. 



Joseph Workman, M.D " 



William Hallowell, M.D " 



Hewson Murray, (Jun. Mem.) 



APaper, communicated by W. E. Logan, F.R.S. & G.S. Provin- 

 cial Geologist, " On the Physical Structure of the Western Dis- 

 trict of Upper Canada," was read by Professor Croft. 



