81 
Ordinary Meeting, January 22nd, 1867. 
Dr, J. P, Joule, F.R.S., &c., Vice-President, in the Chair. 
Mr. Sidebotham called attention to the letters which had 
appeared in the “ Times’" newspaper during the last few 
days, with reference to chilled cast iron shot and shell, in- 
tended for penetrating armour plated ships, and as to whom 
the credit of first suggesting it rightly belonged. He said 
that no doubt whatever existed that at the Meeting of the 
British Association, in October, 1862, their member, Mr. 
Nasmyth, C.E., did most strenuously urge a speedy trial of 
chilled cast iron elongated shot and shell, as being not only 
much cheaper than steel, but better in every respect for the . 
purpose of penetrating iron-clad ships; he also gave his 
reasons for such an opinion, and held his own during a 
long discussion against all comers. 
Mr. Sidebotham then read letters to Mr. Nasmyth from 
P. Le Neve Foster, Esq., who acted as secretary to section 
G at the Cambridge meeting of the British Association, and 
T. Aston, Esq., Q.C., who took part in the discussion. The 
latter concludes his letter by saying : — 
“ There can be no doubt whatever, that any one who may 
claim to have been before you in teaching the public the 
use of chilled cast iron for projectiles intended to penetrate 
armour plates, must give proof of having done so prior to 
your vigorous advocacy of that material at the Cambridge 
meeting of 1862.” 
Mr. Sidebotham then read reports of the discussion from 
the “Times” and the “Athenseum;” both these are short, 
as such reports usually are, and do but represent a very 
small portion of what was said. The report in the “ Times” 
of October 7th, 1862, is as follows : — 
Proceedings — Lit. & Phil. Society. — Yol. YI. — No. 9— Session 1866-7. 
