564 Meeting of the British Association. [Oct., 



successful merchant's capital was the increase of 'electricity by this 

 machine. Given the smallest quantity of electricity, and the 

 instrument increased it at the rate of compound interest, and this 

 increase went on at a perfectly uniform rate. But just as the 

 capitalist finds that he cannot always go on getting higher and 

 higher interest for his money, but must ultimately, perhaps, be 

 content with 4-J- per cent, instead of 5, so was it to some extent 

 with this machine. "When a very high charge was reached, the 

 increase of the quantity of available electricity was not so great, 

 owing to sparks passing in various parts of the machine, preventing 

 the operator from retaining the full quantity of electricity which 

 was got by it. There was great necessity for an easy-going electric 

 machine, and that now shown fulfilled this condition. 



Two papers by Mr. Ladd were next read on some new magneto- 

 electric machines ; and Mr. Claudet brought forward his discoveries 

 in binocular vision, and his self-acting focus-regulator. 



The greater part of the proceedings in this Section on Monday 

 consisted of a paper and discussion on the storm-warnings — their 

 importance and practicability ; and a resolution was carried unani- 

 mously that this Section apply to the Council of the British Asso- 

 ciation to make a communication to Her Majesty's Board of Trade, 

 urging them to institute arrangements for carrying storm-signals 

 to be resumed. Colonel Sykes brought forward ample evidence to 

 show that these warnings should be resumed. Mr. John Don, the 

 President of the Dundee Chamber of Commerce, also spoke in 

 favour of then resumption. Mr. D. Milne Holme, of TTedderburn, 

 Dr. Balfour Stuart, the Duke of Buccleuch, Sir John Ogilvy, and 

 others, took part in the discussion. 



The proceedings opened on Tuesday with some meteorological 

 papers, which were followed by several papers on electrical sub- 

 jects. The chief subject of interest was the alleged correspondence 

 between Xewton and Pascal. Two papers were read bearing on 

 the question ; one by Professor Hirst, stating some of the circum- 

 stances attending the production of the correspondence before the 

 Academy of France, and indicating grounds for receiving with 

 caution this remarkable claim that has been put forward by the 

 Academy — a claim which if established would transfer to Pascal 

 much of the glory that has been associated with the name of 

 Newton. Sir David Brewster also read a short paper, pointing 

 out that the correspondence was a forgery, almost unparalleled in 

 literary or scientific history. M. N. de Khanikof, a celebrated 

 French Orientalist, made an interesting speech on the MSS. of 

 Pascal, and spoke highly of M. Chasles, who had brought the corres- 

 pondence referred to before the notice of the scientific public. 



Section A was the only one which sat on Wednesday, when 



