112 Chronicles of Science. [Jan., 



wooden structure erected by its side. The design for the new 

 bridge was prepared by Mr. J. Cubitt, and the estimated cost 

 was 269,000/. Space will not admit of a detailed description of 

 this bridge, which was opened by the Queen in state on the 6th 

 November last. 



HoTborn Viaduct. — On the same date the Holborn Yiaduct was 

 completed and declared open to public traffic. This important work, 

 extending from the top of Holborn Hill on the west to the top of 

 Skinner Street Hill on the east, crosses over the ancient valley of 

 the Old Bourne, affording a straight line of communication where 

 two steep hills previously impeded the traffic. The works have been 

 carried out from the designs of Mr. Heywood, the city architect, at 

 a total cost of about 2,000,0007. 



Proceedings of Societies. 



Institution of Civil Engineers. — Considerable indignation has 

 been recently aroused amongst the members of the engineering 

 profession in England and India, in consequence of a Circular Order 

 issued by the Government of India, from which it was distinctly to 

 be inferred that the practice of accepting bribes from contractors 

 and others was recognized by the profession in England. At the 

 first ordinary meeting of the Institution, on the 9th November, the 

 President reported that on receipt of a copy of the Order in question, 

 a meeting of the Council took place, at which a series of resolutions 

 were passed totally repudiating the calumny, copies of which were 

 forwarded to the Secretary of State for India. At a deputation of 

 the Council, which subsequently waited upon the Duke of Argyll, 

 his Grace promised to forward the representations of the Institution 

 to the Government of India, and to call for some explanation as to 

 the circumstances which led to the publication of the Order ; and in 

 a subsequent letter to the President of the Institution, his Grace 

 declared that " he regarded with implicit confidence the indignant 

 repudiation of the Institution of any recognition of the practice 

 referred to in the notification." 



Society of Engineers. — The principal paper which has been read 

 before this Society in the present Session, is one by Mr. P. F. 

 Nursey, on " English and Continental Intercommunication." After 

 referring to the present defective means of transit across the British 

 Channel, the author briefly alluded to a few impracticable sugges- 

 tions which have, from time to time, been proposed for the purpose, 

 and then referred more in detail to those projects which have been 

 put forward by experienced engineers. These may be divided into 

 three classes, namely: — 1. Those for tunnelling under the bed of 

 the sea between England and France. 2. Schemes for carrying a 



