The Principality

MEKTIIYB. Two coal-pits are being refitted by the Pt « -clarran Iron Company, and 1.0. two furnaces as erroneously stated in our last, „

CARDIFF. CLERICAL INTELLIGENCE.—Tin Rev. W. I. Conybeare has been appointed to the vicarage of Axminster, Devon. Patron, the Dean of Llandaff. TiiE DOUBLE MUHDER NF,VR SWANSEA.—The High Sheriff has received a communication from the Secretary of State to the effect that the lives of the two men, Martin and Leary, who were sentenced to death at the late assizes by Mr. Justice Wightman, will be spared. They are to be transported for lif We understand that Wyndham Lewis, Esq., heir to the estate of .the late Rev. W. P. Lewis, of New House, in this county, attained his majority yesterday, when great, rejoic- ings took place at Llanishen. Mr. L. invited all his tenants alld their families and a large party of gentlemen from this town and neighbourhood to celebrate the event. Every preparation was made for the occasion, and all parties seemed pleased with the reception they had met. The fine weather added greatly to the comfort and enjoyment of the company. GLAMORGANSHIRE TENANTS OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER. —The following sums are paid as rent for property held in this county:—The Earl of Dunraven, for the manor of Ogmore, £ 49 Os. lid., and for the fisheries, 5s. together, £ 49 5s. lid. the same for land Oil Kymney-comrnon, 10s. the repre- sentatives of \V. David, for the coal mines under "Brynmenin- common, LID per annum; B. Attwood, Esq., and others, for license to minp within the lordship of Ogmore, E105 per annum. "IMPENDING RUIN" OF THE SHIPPING INTEREST,—As a proof of the sad infatuation of the owners of shipping property, who are courting the "ruin" they have been predicting, the fact may be adduced that there is scarcely a single ship for sale at Sunderland, other than new vessels or those building. Several sales have recently been made to noted Protectionists; and some of the latter, unable to get ships to suit them already built, have contracted for ships now on the stocks.—Gateshead Ob tier. ABUBE OF CORPORATION PROPERTY.—TV THE EDITOR OF THE Pit IPALITY.—Sir, — At the quarterly meeting of the Cardiff Town Council held on Thursday last, I Had to my astonishment in the first of their discussion, the exorbitant payment of £ 40 to Mrs. Stockdale, sen., for only five or six days' lodgings for the judge during the assizes. A conversation took place respecting the,furniture and carpets, which the corporation had put into that house for the judge and his staff during the assizes, at which time Mr. Harries, one of the councillors who had the supplying of the same, very kindly said he would see the carpets taken up, properly housed, and taken care of until again required for the use of the judge. It is evident from the above fact, that at the time the furniture and carpet were purchased, they were intended for that purpose alone. But to the astonishment of myself and many of my fellow-ratepayers, I find on following the proceedings of that honourable body, the council, that they had entered into a singular arrangement with Mrs. S., which "set aside the agreement. It appears that the sai I corporate body allowed the said furniture and carpets to be for Mrs. S.'s use and lodgers, year after year, merely for five or six days' use of a little crockery and cutlery for the judge and his staff, during his stay at Cardiff. But singular very few of the councillors knew of this strange arrangement, which set aside the agreement. One of them asked if there was not a memorandum of the agreement, and was told there w.-Is not. I think it but just to the ratepayers, that all inventory of the corporation property should be made with memorandums of agreements, so that the ratepayers one and all may know what becomes of the same, and not allow our property to be thus smuggled away for the advantage of one, to the disadvantage of the many. I hope this question has not d-qppad among the councillors. I hope it will be well sifted out among many others, that they will be firm and steadfast, an 1 have, a proper explanation and understanding not to allow the matter half settled, half understood, and allow adjournment upon adjournment, and nothing done nor settled on. I am, I say again, among in-t.,iv others dissatisfied with the ¡ wishy-washy way the business of the town is of late y^rriel on; it is unbecoming, men. of business, and as a man of business I feel myself bound to raise my voice against it.—I SIR, K II ATE PAYE R. THE BISHOP OF EXETER, AND MR. S'tIORE.Sjll e of oar con- temporaries have been parading in their columns the following extracts from a statement sent fa rth by the "Exeter p e bte relative to the case of Mr. Shore It is utterly false that he -» inter- dicted by the laws of England from preaching the Gospel uadec pain of being immured within the walls of a prison. THere is no law, ecclesiastical-or temporal, in this part of Great Britain, which. would subject Mr. Shore to Imprisonment for a single hour for such an act. True it is, that, ha/ing been ordained a deacon and a presbyter in the Church, he cannot at his mere good pleasure divesthimself of the sacred character which, nnder the most so- lemn vows to God and man, he sought and obtained from his Bishop. A judicial pmoess is necessary, which, however, is amat- ter of easy anil e to any one who is earnest in seeking, from conscientious motives, to be relieved. I can promise him this, if he intimate* a wish, that he be quietly and without legal resistance on his part, deposed from au offic and function which are a burthen to him, he shall be so deposed, gratuitously within a mottih." The meaning of this seems to be, that Mr. Shore, having been ordained by Uishop Phillpotts a pres. byter of the Church of England, is bound to apply to the said bishop to unordain him, before he can be permitted to enjoy his liberty as a British subject, either civil or religious. We had ima- gined, in our simplicity, that if a clergyman should, exercise hi discretion in throwing off "canonical obedience," no man in this frea country could interfere with his so doing, or call upon him to ask leave for voluntarily laying down what he had voluntarily taken up. If the law be really opposed to this opinion, we can only say- it ought not to be tolerated for another session of Parliament. Why does not the bishop declare Mr. Shore excommunicated, if it so pleases him P That would surely unord&in the presbyter as completely as any other ceremony, and give quite sufficient scopa to Henry of Exeter's pontifical importance. The religious public generally place so little faith in the power of anj man°, mitred or uamitred, to qualify another man for the ministry of the Gospef that they will feel no respect whatever. for any disqualifying pro- cess which the bishop may resort to. When his lordship has suc- ceeded in coiling a rope of sand of his own twisting, we shall fed some interest iu seeing him untwist it. The y,nonkrininq of Mr' Shore would be a far less tangible affair, and not worth looking after. b POLICE, MONDAY, AUGUST 7.-(Before the Mayor, th" Rev. James Evans, and James Lewis, Esqr,)—John Davie", appeared to make a declai ation, according to the rules and regain- tions of a benefit society, called the Brotherly English Society held at Bristol, that he was now well-, and did not require anv niore assistance from the funds of that soeietv. Bridget Williams was again brought up this week, charged with being drunk and disorderly in the streets at half-past Vw eh'« o'clock on Friday night last. Committed to gaol for one calendat month with hard labour. UJ" Morgan Morgan and Thomas Miles, against whom the com plainant did not appear last Thursday, were brought up to-dar again, when Mr. Pidell informed their worships that he ini received satisfaction from them case dismissed. Anne Williams (noticed in our last J came forward to-da-- t3 prosecute the charge of assault against Eoan Evans after heariii- the evidence of tin case, for and againit, the magistrates advised Evan Evans to settle the matter with the complwaant which 11" did by paying her £ 110s. Robert Williams, a collier, charged with bsing drank an-T threatening to murder his wife, was sentenced to remain six hou"- ill the stocks. Richard Tregethan, a sailor, charged with being drank and dis- orderly, was discharged. Denis Thomas, a navigator, came forward to prosecute a char,; against Mr. Willet, for non-payment of wages, amounting" t> £ 6 12s. 2d., though it was sworn that Mr. Willet was personal!-y served with a summons to appear he did not came, but their wor- ships determined they would adj udicate an order for £ 5 was sicned by them, which was the greatest amount the law permitted theru to allow. Elizabeth Davies, Eliza Morgai, Hannah and Susan, DalJie[, appeared to answer the charge of Wm. Ineledon, who said, tint OiJ. the 27th of July last he was sent to execute a warrant of d'sti™- for rent 011 the effects of Edmund Morgan, living in a house b^ion" ing to Mr. Beck, on the tunnel; a woman that was in th""house sent for Elizabeth Davies, who used threatening language and s ii! that if he would not leave, she wo aid stab him she then'took him by the collar, when Eliza Morgan struck him in the fa,"ee* an-'1 whits struggling with Elizabeth Davies, the whole attacked Ili, Ile I,t- last broke from them and re-entered the premises, they attacked him, and after beating him violently, kicked him or of the door, where a boatman put a rope round his neek the women were hurraing and encouraging the man. Seventeen shillings costs of distress were ordered to be paid by the parties jointly, and in th", event of non-payment, they were to be brought forward jwi,* next Monday, Charles Carter, sailor, charged with being drunk and disorderly in Saint Mary-street, was ordered to pay 2s. 6d. to the Superantiual tion F lind's Box. COROXEK'S INQUEST.—An inquest was held yesterday morning 011 the body of Richard Flood, a sailor on board the Katahdin of Bath, U.S., Alfred Morlee. It appears that the deceased on Tuesday last went home with his shipmates and complained of sickness; they thought no more of it and retired to rest; in the morning he was missing; it is sup- posed that he got up in the night and fell overboard; his body was found on the Wednesday at eleven o'clock, a.m. Verdict, accidentally drowned. MUSICAL INSTRUCTION".—We beg to call the attention of our readers to an advertisement in another column relative to the above subject. Mr. and Mrs. Tiley are, it appears eminently qualified for the discharge of their duties, and their testimonials are, we believe, satisfactory. TAFF VALE RAILWAY-.—The traffic for theVeek ENDING c\u gust 5th, 1848, was Y,1,768 10s, Od. °

ABERDARE. READING SOClETY.On Tuesday, the 8th ins"mt, the first yearly meeting of this society was held at the reading room the Rev. J. Griffith, M.A., vice-patron, in the chair. The Rev' Thomas Price, Baptist minister, secretary, read the report, from which we learn that 69 members had joined the society amongst whom were the Rev. Mr. Griffith, Ü. A. Bruce, lliq" Richard Fothergill, Esq., G. R. Morgans, Esq., Thos. \Ydytlë Esq., D. Williams, Esq., and Mr. G. Smith. The report also, stated that in consequence of the extra expenses attendant up,au establishing the society, they were somewhat in debt to the treasurer; but still with the support of the gentlemen of the neighbourhood they would start upon this second year under very favourable circumstances. Mr. Bruce has made a dona- tion of two pounds, and Mr. Morgans, of Gadlys, has presented the society with zC5 for the purchase of books to circulate amongst the members. Oil the suggestion of Mr. Thomas Price, it was determined to establish in connexion with the institut oi evening < isses for the instruction of working men in writing, r :adi.ng, arithmetic, geograi)hy, The -committee deserve srp;ort, and we trust that it will be accorded to them by the people of Aberdare. Let these who car j;ive books, maps, money, or anything to help the institution and let those who cannot give anything else give their time and energies. Young men of Aberdarc -il you we con£He-we earnestly urgo you to support the HEADING SOCIETY.

Lo. Mesurier; S. W. Leonard, London; J. Ll. Morgan, M.D., Haverfordwest; Marquis of Northampton; W. 11. Nichol, tTsk G. NV. Ormerod, A., Manchester; Professor Oldham, Dublin; John Percy, M.D., F.R.S.; G. C. Pierson, London; Richard Phillips, F.R.S., London; Henry Penry, Esq., London; R. itoberts, Esq., Manchester; P.M.Roger, M.D.; Professor Pamsey, LL.D., University College; A. C. Ross, M.D., Penzance; J. Ronaldson, F.R.S., Chiswich; J. Scott Russell, M.A., F.R.S., London; Wm. Spencer, F.R.S., London; Capt. Robert Shortrede; Col. Sabine, tt. A.; Richard Taylor. F. L. S.: Richard Taylor, jun., F.G.S., Falmouth; John Taylor, F.R.S., London; Professor S. P. Woodward; the Venerable Archdeacon Williams, LLandovery; Colonel Yorke. London. On the morning of "Wednesday a meeting of the council was held at the theatre of the Royal Institution. This meeting was private and preliminary to the general committee, which was held in the .same place at one o'clock. This meeting,, it was remarked by Professor Grove, was the largest general committee that has been held in connexion with the meetings of the Association. The chair was taken by the president for the past year, Sir Robert Jlarry Inglis, Bart., M.P., F.R,S. The Marquis of Northampton, in very eulogistic terms, moved that the Bishop of St. David's should be added to the vice-presi- dents, in consequence of the death of the late Marquis of Bute. This motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The report of the council was then read by Col. Sabine. REPORT OF THE COUNCIL TO THE GEXEEAL COMMITTEE. 1. With reference to the subjects on which the council was re- quested by the General Committee, assembled at Oxford, to make applications to her Majesty's Government and to the Court of Di- rectors of the East India Company, the council has to report that similar instructions to those of the General Committee having been passed by the council of the Royal Society, applications in accord- ance I were made by the president of that society and of the British Association acting conjointly, and were favourably re- ceived. On the subject of the first resolution the council under- stand from Lord Auckland's reply, that the Board of Admiralty will appropriate a suitable vessel for the purpose of an investigation ■■ into the phenomena of the tides, as sooh as the most advisable plan shall have been determined upon, and proper instructions sug- gested. With respect to the second resolution, the Court of Di- rectors of the East India Company have issued orders for carrying into regular and continual operation the tide observations on the coasts of Western India and Seinde and with respect to the third resolution, the Court of Directors have placed the standard bar and scale of the Indian arc of the meridian at the disposal of M. Struve, and have permitted him to take it with him to Russia, in order that it may be there compared with the similar instruments which have been employed in the measurement of the Russian are of the meridian 2. The council have been informed that a deputation from the Philosophical Society of Birmingham has been appointed to pre- sent at this meeting an invitation from that society, and from other public bodies at Birmingham, to the British Association, to hold the meeting of 1849 in that town. 3. The council have received from Mr, Phillips, Assistant-General Secretary, a coiniltiiiicatioil entitled Reasons for thinking that the annual meetings of the British Association ought not to be restricted to places that present formal invitations and guarantees of expenses, 4. The council have added the following names to the list of cor- responding members of the British Association :-—- Mr. Struve, of St. Petersburg, M. Le Verrier, of Paris, Charles Bonaparte, Prince of Caninp, The Chevalier Bunsen, Professor Nillsen, of Sweden, Professor Eskmark, Christiania, Dr. Van der Hoven, of Leyclen, Dr. J. Mylne Edwards, of Paris. 6. The council Lave deemed it desirable to take into serious con- sideration the expediency of maintaining for a longer period the establishment at Kew for this purpose they re-appointed the committee whose former report on the sanie subject was submitted to the General Committee at Southampton in 18-16, and they now submit to the General Committee a second report from the same committee. The council have also to express their concurrence in the opinions contained in that report, with respect to the services which have been rendered to science by that institution; even on the limited scale on which alone it has been in the power of the British Association to minister it, and to the probability that ere long the interests of science, and the requirements of the public, will call for a public establishment, having for its purpose some of the important objects originally contemplated by the meeting at Kew. The council also concur in the opinion expressed by'the committee of the expediency of deferring for the present the prepa- ration of a memorial to the Government upon the subject. Swansea, adopted 9th August, 1818. ROBERT H. INGLIS. A report was read on the Association Establishment at Kew which it was recommended to discontinue in preference to applying for Government aid to keep it open, as it was found to be expensive. This report was signed by Sir John Herschel. It was then proposed by Sir Henry de la Beche, and seconded by Professor Walker, that the report should be adopted and entered on the minutes. Carried unanimously. The Chairman stated that he held in his hand a copy of an unpublished work by one of the most untiring friends of natural science, but of which, he had placed 250 copies at the disposal of the council. He re- ferred to the materials for a natural history of the neighbour- hood of Swansea," by Lewis Western Diilwyn, Esq., for which he was sure the warmest thanks of the Committee would be given to the venerable author. Dr. Lankester moved the cordial thanks of the General Com- mittee to Mr. Diilwyn. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bab- bington, and carried amidst great applause. The President e pressed his hope that Mr. Diilwyn might be long spared to de- Vote his attention to the advancement of science. The treasurer then presented his accounts, from which it ap- peared that there was a balance of £ 9 Is. Id. against the associa- tion. Col. Sabine, E.A., read the following list of the officers of sec- tions. OFFICERS OF SECTIONS. A.—Mathematics and Physics.-Presiclent, Lord Wrottesley; vice-presidents, the Dean of Ely, the Rev. Dr. Whewell, Yis- count Ad are; secretary, Dr. Strelly. B. -Pres:l dent, Richard Phillips, Esq., F.R.S. vice-presidents, W. R. Grove, Esq., F.R.S., Dr. Percy, F.R.S., J. D., Llewelyn, Esq., F.R.S,; secretaries, Thomas Williams, Esq., M.D., Thomas Ilenry, Esq., M.D., Robert Hewitt, Esq. C. — Geology.—President, Sir II. de la Beche, F.R.S. vice- presidents, G. B. Greenough, Esq., the Dean of LlandufF, Sir Egerforct secretaries, Starling Benson, Esq., Professor Oldham, Professor Ramsay. D.—Natural History, §e.— President, Ll. W. Dillwyn, Esq., F.R.S.; vice-presidents, L. L. Dillwyn, Esq., F.R.S., w. -Spence, Esq.. F.R.S.; secretaries, Dr. L-Lilikester, Dr. Falconer, A. Humphreys, Esq. Sub-section.—Ethnology.—Vice-presidents, Dr. Latlnm; the Rev. J. M. Treherne, F.It.S., Dr. Meyer; secretary, G. G. Francis, F.S.A. F. — Statistics.—President, J.H.Vivian, Esq., ilf. P.; vice- presidents, Sir C. Lemon, M.P., F.R.S., Lieut. Col. Hughes, F.It.S.; secretaries, Joseph Fletcher, Esq., Capt. R. Siiort- ville. G.—Mechanical Science,—President, Professor Walker,F.R.S.; vice-presidents, Joseph Glynne, Esq., F.R S., J. Scott Russ 1 Esq., F.R.S. The thanks of the meeting were then proposed to Sir R. 11. Inglis by tNIr. L. W. Diilwyn, and seconded by Professor Walker. The Vote was carried amidst great applause; after which Sir Robert I thanks. The General Committee was then adjourned till three o'clock u Monday next. THE FIRST GENERAL MEETING -was held in Park-street chapel at eight o'clock in the evening. It is certainly a novel feature in the history of science, that her votaries should assemble within the walls of a Welsh Dissenting chapel. The large and convenient building was extremely crowded by a highly respectable and fashionable audience. Pre- cisely at eight, Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bart,, M.P., F.R. S took the chair and immediately proceeded to address the members of the association as at the corresponding period of tins meeting last year, I received from your hands the honour of Leing placed in the chair, it was my duty to furnish you, like my -who had preceded me, with a summary of the progress of science, during preceding years. A more humble and appropriate duty belongs to me now. I have only to give you a short account what has-been done by the Council ia obedience to your wishes last year, and to resign the chair to one eminently qualified to fill it. In regard to the first, the president of this association has waited with the president elect of the Royal Society in an appli- cation to the board of Admiralty to assist us in carrying on some of our operations. The result of this has been successful. Q b- servations on the phenomena of tides are in progress, as willbe seen from our last volume, and at one of the first meetings this year a very interesting paper on the theory of tides was read by Dr. Hewitt. The valulible observations at the observatory at Kew have,, been continued, which will be laid before you in a more formal manner. Tlie. second duty which remains for me to per- ioral is to resign the chair of the noble President. It is difficult to say in the presence of the Marquis of Northampton what one like to say in his absence. To those who already know him jt is- not necessary that I should say anything, but to the few who do not already know him, I may say that the unaffected courtesy and pordia) benevolence of his nature joined with the most ardent tt,.i-lvm -at to sC;e.Hj ic .pawavts loud cheers). Ia his present position he will have additional means of gratifying himself and of benefitting you. I cannot but congratulate the British Asso- ciation on this occasion, when the greatest scientific association in the kingdom meets for the first time in the ancient domains of the Britons, and on finding itself welcomed in this great capital of the metaiurgical energy of the principality (cheers). Wishing great success to the meetings of the British Association wherever held, I have great pleasure in resigning the chair to my noble friend on my right, who succeeds to it under eircumstances so peculiar and distinguishing among her Majesty's ancient subjects of the principality. I return you my sincere thanks for the cordial man- ner in which you have received my imperfect service in my endea- vours to serve the Association. 1 have now great pleasure in re- signing this chair to my noble friend. The hon. baronet retired amidst loud applause. The Marquis of Northampton came forward, and was received with loud and long-continued cheers. He said Gentlemen and ladies of the British Association, I cannot but express my thanks for the kindness in which the commencement of my taking the chair was received, as well as the kind manner in which Sir Ro- bert Harry Inglis was pleased to speak of me. I shall be happy if I shall be able to render this Association any assistance in the promotion of science. Gentlemen, in addressing you, I cannot but feel the disadvantageous situation in which I am placed as comp ared with my friend Sir Robert Inglis. I am not, as he was last year, addressing you in an ancient and venerable seat of academic discipline, where the surrounding buildings proclaimed the long residence of learned leisure and elegant taste; where, during the lapse of centuries, science and learning have made their abode, and where religion has constituted their union. There, in that Oxford which has sent forth so many labourers for the cultivation of knowledge where the divine, the statesman, and the philosopher have taken their early lessons in those arts which were to make their names household words among their countrymen there, where this Royal Society had its cradle, the British Association might well anticipate a generous welcome, and an audience fit, though not few, and assistance from a Daubeny, a Powell, and a Buckland. The British Association has now arrived at a place where it can- not enjoy similar advantages. Remote from the metropolis^ from the chief seats of English learning, and from those great high- ways of communication, by which modern ingenuity has almost annihilated space and time, Swansea cannot with reason expect a meeting numerous like those of York, and Cambridge, and Ox- ford, and still less like those that have congregated at Liverpool and Glasgow. Deprived however of these advantages, Swansea still possesses attractions, and can advance special reasons why, sooner or later, it would be the duty of the British Association to select it for its place of meeting. Among these, I should select as one of the most important, a consideration which is in some sense an objection, namely, the fact that its inhabitants are remoter orbe that they are in a corner as it were of Great Britain. It is one of the objects of the British Association to visit all parts of Great Britain; to carry the torch of science everywhere, not only to enlighten, but to receive fresh light from every portion of the island. Wales comprehends an important and separate portion of the island a people to whom at one time the whole of it belonged a people speaking a different and more ancient language, civil- ised when the Saxon and Norman ancestors of the proud Lon- don, and Oxford, and Cambridge of modern times were hea- thens and barbarians a people who had seen among them a Julius Caesar and a Constantine. These considerations will at least be of great interest to the Ethnological section of the association. To the mineralogist and geologist again the mineral riches of Wales, to which England is so much indebted for its manufac- turing prosperity and political importance, will be no small attraction. Moreover, the chemist and mechanician will be anxious to witness the ingenious processes by which iron and copper are here on a gigantic scale, separated from their ores. These reasons are sufficient to account for, and indeed to de- mand a visit from the association, without mentioning the warm invitation that we have received; the kind hospitality that we have been promised, To those who were at Southampton and Oxford it would be quite superfluous to allude to the eloquent terms in which the advocate of Swansea, Mr. Grove, like a potent magician, or like a representative of the bard and druid of ancient Britain, summoned us to the shores of the Bristol channel. My predecessors in this chair have advocated the claims of the British Association on the good will of their countrymen, and stated the services that it has performed to the cause of knowledge. They have pointed to the papers read and dis- cussions held in our different sections to the reports drawn up with the greatest care by men of the highest abilities and eminence, during our vacation. They have indicated the scien- tific investigations and experiments carried on at our expense, and which would not have so soon, if at all, been carried on, had the^association not existed, They have summoned as witnesses in favour of the association, the band of illustrious foreigners who have joined our ranks, and making themselves-English* men for the time, have given us the honour of their presence, the assistance of their science, and the pleasure of their friend- ship they have proudly adverted to the services performed by our Government at the request of the association, They have, for instance, adverted to the reduction of the catalogues of stars, to the cession of the Royal Observatory at Kew, to the' expedition of Sir James Ross, and to the great combination for inquiries on terrestrial magnetism. I cannot think that more than this slight allusion is required from me. The British ASSJ- ciation has now existed eighteen years it has visited the chief universities and the most important commercial towns of the em- pire, It has everywhere received the most kind and generous encouragement. There are some points to which I think it right to allude, and first I will refer to the great system of inquiring into terrestrial magnetism, now carrying on by our own and other Governments, at the united request of the British Association and the Royal Society. These inquiries, which have not been suspended, will be brought to a close next December, and I trust the valuable inventions by which, at Greenwich and at Kew, magnetical disturbances are noted by self-registering instruments, will secure still more ample information than we shall have attained at the termination of the present year. I next advert to the Observatory at Kew, and regret to say that on account of the great expense it will not be within the power of the association to continue to do so much longer. It must be very gratifying to geologists to see a mathematician so eminent as Mr. Hopkins apply a mind, accustomed to the severest studies, to the most important and difficult subjects of geology. The question itself is one of the greatest difficulty. One that has exercised the talents, and divided the opinions of the ablest philosophers; one that requires for its solution the aid of many sciences. It is, therefore, one particularly fitted to be presented to a meeting like this, where men of every science pres( are present. At our meeting at Southampton Sir J. I-Ierclicl, in words of singular'poctio beauty, first intimated the remarkable astronomical discovery, which so soon after was announced to the whole world, and which added an unknown planet to our system. I had the honour, as President of the Royal Society to give to M. de Verrin the modal awarded to him by our council. My pre- decessor in this chair had the satisfaction of receiving at Oxford both J.e Verrier and Adams, the two gentlemen who had simultaneously, though without concert, pursued the same original and laborious investigation in search of the great celestial globe that disturbed the course of Uranus. Of the two discoverers of Neptune, I fear that I cannot hope to see here the il- lustrious countrymen of Laplace; Mr. Adams perhaps may honour Swansea with avisit, certain I aux that you gentlemen would delight to welcome the two philosophers whoso names will now shine together like a twin star as long as astronomy shall be considered tho subliaiest of sciences. In our last volume is a communication oil the 111 icrosc;Jpie structure of shells, by Dr. Carpenter, for the illustration of which the Association has gone to a eonsiderablc expense. The microscope, as a scientific instrument, affords to physiologists the same means of penetrating into the depths of or- ganisation that the telescope gives the astronomer to pierce into the depths of soace. Gentlemen, the members of the British Association must have derived the liveliest satisfaction from the principal events in science that have occurred since our last meeting. I mean the publication by Sir John Herchel of the results of his labours at the Cape of Good Hope. We cannot indeed asso ciate our body in tny way with that great scientific enterprise. Its author was influenced alone by his loye of science, and by the desire to complete the labour of his illustrious fatller. To you, gentlemen, I say heartily, that it would not become you to rest on your oars or to look at the goodly volumes that contain your Reports and record your proceedings, and to say, We have done enough." You have not doae enough. You are bound by the engagement you have taken in be- coming members of this noble body—you are bound to Sir David Brewster its originator—to Mr. Harcourt, its legislator—to Lord Fitzwilliam who took the honourable but perilous post of its iirst president—and to those offi- cers who have so zealously served it, to do your best for its continued prosl gerity. You'are ail, or mast of you, aware, that for many years our pecuniary funis were increasing, and that we IlIWlc large grats of money for scieirrie purposes. You must also he aware from whence those funds arose • naordV from the annual and life subscnptlOils of our members. Our annual sub- scriptions are now of a very limited amount, being almost cntirclycoatined to those llwmhcrswho join us in different localities, many of whom only pay in a subscription for one year. It is true that we have funded a portion of our life subscriptions, bat a considerable part of.them has been applied to scientific grants; more, perhaps, than we were strictly justified ia so apply- ing. The const queues has heen, tInt for several years our cxpenditurVhas exceeded our income. It would be vain to dissemble, and idle to (eny the inevitabkfeonsequenee of such a continued excess. However, gentlemen, I cannot but believe tiu t, were it ncccssary, an ap- peal to the generosity of those friends of the association who have followed its progress from year to year, would not be made in vain. I cannot conclude tnis address without the gratitude of the as- sociation for the great liberality that has been exhibited by the oorpuratioll and ¡.¡;lla.bit.fVlt, of Swansea for oar reception. The noble marquis resumed his seat amid the deafening applause of the audience. W. R. Grove, Esq., on coming forward, was received with long continued cheers. He said that his voice had been heard oil se- veral occasions among the members of the British Association, an,d among his friends and fellow-townsmen at Swansea but not on an occasion like the present. His voice that evening was tre- mulous with an intensity of gratification which converts pleasure to pain. He had to propose a vote of thanks to the president of the Rqyal Society and the British Association. The noble mar- quis had referred to his (Mr. Grove's) name in his address, as the person who had presented the petition in favour of Swansea, which was answered in their being there to-night. He had been bold in his advocacy of the claims of Swansea, because he felt that he told them the truth in saying that it was their duty to visit Wales. They felt that his cause was that of truth, and there they were in answer. Since then he had been intensely anxious in regard to the success of the meeting; but much of his anxiety had sub- sided in witnessing the liberal and energetic manner in which the inhabitants of Swansea and the people of Wales had come forward. He might say that they had done all they could. He thought he should not be deviating from the truth if he said that never before had the Association received such welcome as it did from the people of Swansea and neighbourhood. They had been received w:th one feeling and without one dissentient voice. Though they had not the ad vantage of other towns in regard to railway communication, and other advantages, he thought they had made up for it in the cor- dial welcome which had been given. All necessary duties had been discharged by the local committee with the utmost harmony. He felt proud of being among them it was in this town he was born, and here his fathers were born. He was happy to propose a vote of thanks to the noble marquis. Had he been absent he could have spoken much of him; but he should not be doing his duty towards himself and the meeting if he did not express his sense of the untiring zeal, ability, and assiduity of his labours for science. He was always present when wanted, always active and kihd, and had won the affections of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He hoped they would thank him, and give him a cordial welcome to Swansea anclWales (cheers). Sir Henry de, la Heche seconded the motion in a short address on the importance of the mining districts of South Wales. The mineral treasures of this district formed an article in our national wealth. In this neighbourhood the Association could receive, as well as communicate, much light; and let no one think that his stock of knowledge was too scanty to be-communicated to the general treasury. The noble marquis had been his friend for many years. He was always ready and willing to communicate his mental resources to aid in the acquisition of knowledge for the glory of God and the good of his country. He had, therefore, much pleasure in seconding the proposal of Mr. Grove. The noble marquis, in returning chanks, answered several ob- jections against the Association. One very groundless and un- founded charge was, that the British Association was inimical to revelation. The fact of their being then assembled in a place of worship proved how weak the objection was and the objection had been fully answered when the University of Oxford invited them there, and when Sir R. H. Inghs took the chair. They were very much obliged to Sir Robert for thus silencing unreasonable men. The revelation of God contained the great principles which were necessary for their happiness here and hereafter. Revealed and natural religion were the two anchors on which the hopes of humanity rested. He then expressed their obligation to several dikinguished foreigners who had honoured the Association by making it the medium to communicate their scientific discoveries to the inhabitants of this kingdom. After highly eulogising Sir 111 Murchison, who was unable to be present on account of his being on a geological tour in Switzerland, the noble president sat down amidst loud cheers. Professor Phillips gave information in regard to the forthcoming meetings and the treasurer, John Taylor, Esq., F.R.S., stated that number of members present stood as follows at eight o'clock that evening:- Old life siibscril)crs 89 Oldannuaisubscribers. 30 New ditto 14 New life members 2 Associates 258 L-idies' tickets 149-542 From whom they had received the sum of £ 482 (cheers). It was afterwards announced that from thirty to forty more had landed from the packets since the commencement of the meeting. J. H. Vivian, Esq., M.P., briefly invited the members to visit the garden and grounds 'of Singleton on Friday evening, and expressed his great pleasure at seeing such an assembly before him. The President rose to apologise for having used the words '■gentlemen and ladles" ii-i his address for ladies and gentle- men," which he understood was a gross mistake of his. Every effort to apologise however on the part of the noble marquis re- sulted in the commission of the same blunder, which ended at last in a perfect storm of amusement. The proceedings then terminated. The town is very fu ] 0 visitors many having arrived about 10 o'clock on Wednesday evening.