488 



Mr. Lubbock on the Heat of Vapours 



If the British Association should take the first step in pro- 

 posing a measure of this kind, and should solicit the illustri- 

 ous Humboldt to act as President, we are sure that scientific 

 men of all nations would gladly unite in offering this homage 

 to a man whose life and fortune have been spent in their cause, 

 whose voice has been so instrumental in awakening Europe 

 to the inquiry into the laws of terrestx-ial magnetism, and 

 whose ardent search after nature's truths has triumphed over 

 the Andes and the Altai. 



If such be your suggestion, then will a fresh laurel be added 

 to the wreath of this city. She who, through the power be- 

 queathed to her by her illustrious offspring, conveys with 

 rapid transit her inventions and her produce to the remotest 

 lands, well can she estimate the value of an union of men 

 whose labours can but tend to cement the bonds of general 

 peace. In such a body the British representatives would, we 

 trust, form no inconspicuous band ; and with minds strength- 

 ened by the infusion of fresh knowledge, they would, on re- 

 assembling for our own national ends, the better sustain the 

 permanent and successful career of the British Association. 



LXXIV. On the Heat of Vapours and on Astronomical He- 

 fractions. By John William Lubbock, Esq., Treas. 

 U.S., F.R.A.S and F.L.S., Vice- Chancellor of 'the University 

 of London, tyc. 



[Continued from p. 473, and concluded.] 



IF the constitution of the atmosphere be such as I have 

 concluded, by proper substitutions in the differential equa- 

 tions of refraction, an accurate table of refractions is to be 



procured, which may be .compared with that of M. Bessel 

 obtained empirically. 



