210 
MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE AND ART. 
or two topics connected with the others which have 
struck my own mind, although, from my limited 
acquaintance with the subjects, I could not venture to 
say that they are absolutely the most deserving of notice. 
Among the most remarkable of the recent discoveries in 
Inordinate Chemistry are those of MM, Wohler and 
Deville, relative to silicon and boron. Ecah of these 
substances is now proved to exist in three very different 
states, analogous to the three known states of carbon, to 
which they are thns closely allied,—namely, charcoal , 
graphite , and diamond* The last of these states is of 
course the most interesting. Crystallized boron pos¬ 
sesses a hardness, brightness, and refractive power, 
comparable to those of diamond; it burns in chlorine, 
without residue, and with circumstances resembling 
those of the combustion of diamond in oxygen; it is not 
acted on by any of the acids, and appears to be the 
least alterable of all the simple bodies. 1 have been 
informed that its powder is already used in the arts, 
instead of diamond dust; and it seems not improbable 
that, when obtained by the chemists in crystals of larger 
size, it may rival the diamond as a gem. 
The science of Geology appears, of late years, to 
have entered upon a new phase of its devolepment,— 
one characterized by a stricter reference of its 
speculative views to the principles of those sciences 
with which it is connected, and upon which it ought to 
be based. Wo have an example of this in the able 
Memoirs of Mr. Hopkins, on what may be called 
Dynamical Geology , including the changes which have 
taken place in the earth’s ernst by the operation 
of internal forces. Another instance of the application 
of sound physical principles to this science is found in 
the explanations which have" been recently offered of 
the phonomcna of slaty cleavage . A Report on this 
interesting subject was presented to the Association by 
Prof. Phillips at its last Meeting* and will be found in 
the volume just published. These sounder views origi¬ 
nate, I believe, with himself and with .Mr. Sharpe: but 
they have been enlarged and confirmed by Mr. Sorhy, 
Dr. Tyndall, and Prof. Haughton. We have another 
interesting proof of the readiness of geologist of the 
present day to submit their views to the test of exact 
observation, in the measuiemcnts undertaken by Mr. 
Horner for the purpose of approximating to the age of 
sedimentary deposits. Of the geological changes still 
in operation, none is more remarkable than the forma¬ 
tion of deltas at the mouths of great rivers, and of 
alluvial land by tbeir overflow. Of changes of the 
latter kind perhaps the most remarkable is the great 
alluvial deposit formed in the valley of the Nile by the 
annual inundations of that river; and here it fortunately 
happens that history comes to the aid of the geologist. 
These sedimentary deposits have accumulated round 
the bases of momumenis of known age ; and we are, 
therefore, at once furnished with a chronometrie scale 
by which' the rate of their formation may be measured. 
The first of the series of measurements undertaken 
by Mr. Horner was made with the co-operation 
of the Egyptian Government, around the obelisk 
of Heliopolis, a monument built, according to 
Lepsius, 2300 years B.O. A more extensive series 
of researches has been since undertaken in the 
district of Memphis? but Mr. Horn^ji has not yet I 
believe, published the results. The problems now to 
be solved in Paleontology are clearly defined in the 
enunciation of the problem recently proposed by 
the French Academy of Sciences as one of its prize 
questions, viz., “ to study the laws of distribution of 
organic beings in the different sedimentary rocks, 
according to the order of their superposition ? to discuss 
the question of their appearance or disappearance, 
whether simultaneous or succesiye; and to .determine 
the nature of the relations which snbsist between the 
existing organic kingdom and its anterior states.” 
Tbe prize was obtained by Prof. Bronn, of Reidlebersr; 
and his Memoir, of which I have only seen an outline, 
appears to be characterized by views at once sound and 
comprehensive. The leading result seems to be, that 
the genera and species of plants and animals, which 
geology proves to have existed successively on our globe 
were created in succession , in adaptation to the 
existing state of their abode, and not transmuted, or 
modified, as the theory of Lamark supposes, by the 
physical influences which surrounded them. 
I must now pass from the results of science to the 
administrative measures which have been adopted by 
this Association for its advancement, and more especi¬ 
al l y to those which will be brought under your con¬ 
sideration at the present Meeting. One of the modes 
in which this Association most effectively promotes the 
advancement of science is, you are aware, by the pre¬ 
paration and publication of Reports on the history, and 
actual state, of its several branches. With tbe help of 
these, original investigators may, with little labour, 
ascertain all that has been accomplished in each de¬ 
partment, before they proceed to increase tbe store; 
and so not only prepare their own minds for their task, 
but also avoid the waste of labour which has been too 
often incurred in the re-discoyery of the same truths. 
To further the same objects, it was proposed by Prof, 
Henry, of Washington, at the Glasgow Meeting of the 
Association, that a catalogue of papers occurring in the 
Transactions of scientific Societies, and in the scientific 
journals, should be prepared by the Association, the 
Smithsonian institution undertaking to execute^ that 
part of the work which related to American science. 
A committee, consisting of Mr. Cayley. Mr. Grant, and 
Prof. Stokes, was appointed to consider this proposal, 
and their Report was submitted to the Cheltenham 
Meeting. The subject has since been under the con¬ 
sideration of the Council of the Royal Society, and a 
preliminary Report has been drawn up by a sub-com¬ 
mittee of that body, which will probably be brought 
before your Committee at this meeting. 
A still more importaut question has been, for some 
vests, under the consideration of this Association, and 
that of the Royal Society—the question, namely, 
whether any measures could be adopted by the Govern¬ 
ment or Parliament, that would improve the position 
of science or its cultivators in this country. The Par¬ 
liamentary Committee of the Association have taken 
much trouble in the attempt to arrive at a solution ot 
this large and complex question. They consulted, in 
the first instance, several of the most eminent scientific 
men of this country; and in their first Report, pre¬ 
sented to the Meeting of the Association at Glasgow, 
they have analyzed the replies obtained, and have re¬ 
commended certain general measures founded thereon. 
The most important of these are the provision, at the 
cost of the nation, of a central building in London, in 
which the principal scientific societies of the metropolis 
may be located together, and the formation of a Scien¬ 
tific Board, to have thq control and expenditure of tbe 
public funds allotted to the advancement of science. 
This Report was brought under the consideration of 
your Committee of Recommendations at the last two 
Meetings of the Association, and the opinions of the 
members of the General Committee have been since 
iu vited in reference to its suggestions. The Council of the 
Royal Society have likewise deliberated on the same 
question and" have passed certain resolutions on the 
subject, which accord in substance with the conclusions of 
the Parliamentary Committee. A copy of these 
resolutions was forwarded by Lord Wrottesley, as 
President of the Society, to" Lord Palmerston, and 
motions have been made in both Houses of Parliament 
for the production of the correspondence. The first of 
ibc i'i: jects above referred to, name I v, the juxtaposition 
of the scientific Societies of London in one locality, has 
been since accomplished by the grant of Burlington 
House for the use of the Royal, Linnean, and Chemi¬ 
cal Societies ; and the result affords a fresh instance of 
the readiness of her Majesty’s Government to listen to, 
and comply with suggestions of men of science* 
when deliberately and carefully made. I cannot but 
