harmlessly amused; but it might, without extravagance, be hoped that such an amusement would have at least a tendency to something higher, at least a tendency to something better; and might, in its degree, contribute to higher ends than pastime. The immaterial part of their nature might become more consciously developed to themselves; observation might be stimulated-reflection awakened-imagination quickened-possibly slumbering genius aroused-at all events, taste refined-self-respect and respect for their fellow-men cherished-and (would it be too much to say?) a consciousness disclosed within them of filial relationship with the Creator of mind with all its sympathies, and of matter with all its varieties and combinations. In recommending oral reading as a domestic recreation for the more educated classes, the speaker dwelt chiefly upon the effect which such a practice might in its degree contribute to produce upon the prevailing estimate of style or art in literary composition. He maintained that nothing, as a general rule, would bear reading aloud which was not a work of art and acceptable as such, independently of the information conveyed to the mind of the hearer. Nine-tenths of the reading of nine-tenths of the readers of the present day is newspaper reading, written for the most part without any profession of art, and for purposes of information only, and such as to read or hear read a second time would be intolerable. The diffusion of this kind of reading contributed to the plausible, prevalent, but pernicious notion, that in composition matter is everything and manner unimportant. He contended, on the contrary, that style or art is the measure of the skill -the intelligibleness- the attraction-the persuasiveness with which incidents, sentiments or opinions are expressed; and suggested that the frequent reading aloud to cultivated auditories of compositions which bore the stamp of general consent as standard works of art, would have a tendency to counteract prevailing impressions disparaging to the cultivation of style, and to recall us to a more just and salutary estimate of its importance. The speaker asked permission to conclude with an experiment, and to read to the audience-not with any histrionic effort, but simply and plainly, as any gentleman of education might be expected to read ita classic morsel-written a hundred years ago-containing no sensational incidents, containing, indeed, scarcely any incidents at all, and indebted for its reputation exclusively to the style or art with which it was composed. If he should be so fortunate in this experiment as to give his audience even a little pleasure, he considered that he should have established what he had ventured to propound. He then read the story of Le Fevre, from Sterne. [W. H. B.] GENERAL MONTHLY MEETING, Monday, April 4, 1864. COLONEL PHILIP JAMES YORKE, F.R.S. in the Chair. Alexander Collie, Esq. Albert Grant, Esq. Bernard Augustus Hewitt, Esq. The Rev. Sir Edward Jodrell, Bart. M.A. F.S.A. Godfrey Lushington, Esq. Vernon Lushington, Esq. Colonel Richard Cornwallis Moore, Royal Artillery, C.B. James Stern, Esq. John Tozer, Esq. LL.D. Serjeant-at-Law, were elected Members of the Royal Institution. Hananel de Leon, M.D. Thomas Leckie, M.D. Lieut.-Col. Archibald Parke. Lieut.-Col. Joseph Carleton Salkeld. Thomas Stevenson, M.B. were admitted Members of the Royal Institution. The Secretary announced the following additions to "The Donation Fund for the Promotion of Experimental Researches" (see page 151). The PRESENTS received since the last Meeting were laid on the table, and the thanks of the Members returned for the same: viz. FROM Governor-General of India-Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India :- Secretary of State for India-Bombay Magnetical and Meteorological Observations in 1861. 4to. 1862. Architects, Royal Academy of British-Proceedings. 4to. March, 1864. Bavarian Academy, Royal-Sitzungsberichte, 1863. Band II. Heft 2. 8vo. 1836. Brett, Jacob, Esq.-Illustrated Catalogue of Pictures and Works of Art of John Watkins Brett, Esq. 8vo. 1864. British Meteorological Society-Proceedings. No. 10. 8vo. 1864. Chemical Society-Journal for March, 1864. 8vo. Editors-Artizan for March, 1864. 4to. Athenæum for March, 1864. 4to. Chemical News for March, 1864. 4to. Engineer for March, 1864. fol. Horological Journal for March, 1864. 8vo. Journal of Gas-Lighting for March, 1864. 4to. Mechanics' Magazine for March, 1864. 8vo. Medical Circular for March, 1864. 8vo. Practical Mechanics' Journal for March, 1864. 4to. Technologist for March, 1864. 8vo. Faraday, Professor, D.C.L. F. R.S.- Memorie della Reale Accademia delle Scienze di Torino. Serie 2a. Tome XX. 4to. 1863. Geographical Society, Royal-Proceedings, Vol. VIII. No. 2. 8vo. 1864. Hart, Ernest, Esq. "M.R.I. (the Author-On some of the Forms of the Disease of the Eye constituting Amaurosis. (K 90) 8vo. 1864. Huselden, A. F. Esq. (the Author)-Notes on the British Pharmacopoeia. 16to. 1864. Horticultural Society, Royal-Proceedings, 1864. No. 5. 8vo. Institute of France, Mémoires de l'Académie des Sciences. Tome XXVI. 4to. 1862. Petermann, A. Esq. (the Editor) - Mittheilungen auf der Gesammtgebiete der Geographie. 1863, No. 12; and 1864, No. 1. 4to. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences-Proceedings. 1863. No. 3. 8vo. Photographic Society- Journal, No. 143. 8vo. 1864. Pilbrow, James, Esq.-Dubuat: Principes d'Hydraulique, &c. Nouvelle Ed. 3 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1816. Statistical Society of London-Journal, Vol. XXVII. No. 1. 8vo. 1864. Vereins zur Beförderung des Gewerbfleisses in Preussen-Verhandlungen, Nov. und Dec., 1863. 4to. Yates, James, Esq. F.R.S. M.R.I.-C. Dowling's Synoptic Table of the Weights and Measures of the Metric System: with Description. WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, THE LORD WENSLEYDALE, Vice-President, in the Chair. JOHN PERCY, M.D. F.R.S. On recent Improvements in the Smelting of Iron and the Manufacture of Steel. [No Abstract received.] WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, Friday, April 15, 1864. SIR HENRY HOLLAND, BART. M.D. D.C.L. F.R.S. Vice-President, in the Chair. PROFESSOR A BEL, F.R.S. DIRECTOR OF THE CHEMICAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT. On the Chemical History and Application of Gun-cotton. THE history of Gun-cotton affords an interesting illustration of the facility with which the full development of a discovery may be retarded, if not altogether arrested for a time, by hasty attempts to apply it to practical purposes, before its nature has been sufficiently studied and determined. When Schönbein, in the autumn of 1846, announced that he had discovered a new explosive compound, which he believed would prove a substitute for gunpowder, the statement attracted general attention, and attempts were made with little delay in different countries to apply the material to purposes for which gunpowder hitherto had been alone used. Schönbein, and Böttger (who appear to have discovered Gun-cotton independently, shortly after the former had produced it) lost little time in submitting their discovery to the German Confederation; and a committee was appointed for its investigation, by whom Gun-cotton was eventually pronounced inapplicable as a substitute for gunpowder. In this country Gun-cotton was experimented with immediately after the method of its preparation was published by Schönbein. Researches were instituted into its nature, preparation, &c., by Porrett and Teschemacher, John Taylor, Gladstone, and others. A few experiments were made on its application as a propelling and mining agent, and the manufacture of the material upon a considerable scale was set on foot by Messrs. Hall, the well-known gunpowder makers at Faversham; a patent having been previously taken out in this country for the production of Gun-cotton according to Schönbein's process. This factory had, however, not been long in operation before very disastrous explosion occurred at the works, by which a number of men lost their lives, and which was ascribed to the spontaneous ignition of the Gun-cotton, by the jury, who endeavoured to investigate its cause. From that time, the manufacture of Gun-cotton upon any considerable scale was abandoned in England, and no important contributions to our knowledge of this material were made, until, in 1854, Hadow published the results of some valuable investigations, which served to furnish a far more definite knowledge regarding the true constitution and proper method of producing Gun-cotton, than had hitherto existed. In France, Gun-cotton was also made the subject of experiments as early as the winter of 1846; and its manufacture was carried on at the Government powder-works at Bouchet, near Paris. Some interesting balistic experiments were instituted, under the direction of Piobert, Morin, and other men of eminence, with Gun-cotton, in comparison with different kinds of gunpowder, the results of which indicated, that, for producing equal effects to those furnished by a given weight of Gun-cotton, it was necessary to employ a double quantity of sporting-powder, three times the quantity of musketpowder, and four times the weight of cannon-powder. It was also found that the best results appeared to be obtained by arranging the Gun-cotton so that it should occupy the same space as the charge of gunpowder required to produce an equal effect; and other data were arrived at, which show that the investigators were being led to work in a direction similar to that afterwards so successfully pursued by Baron von Lenk, in Austria. Unfortunately, however, disastrous explosions occurred at the works at Bouchet; one as early as March, 1847, in a drying chamber; and two, following closely upon each other, in 1848. One of these took place in a magazine, near which it was believed that nobody had been for several days; the other occurred also in a magazine where Gun-cotton was being packed; and on this occasion several lives were lost. These disasters appear to have put an end, until quite recently, to experiments with Guncotton in France. After the material had been pronounced upon unfavourably by the Committee of the German Confederation, one of its members, Baron von Lenk, continued to devote himself to its study, and with such success, it appears, that a committee was eventually appointed by the Austrian Government in 1852, to inquire fully into the merits of the material. A sum of money was paid to Schönbein and Böttger, in recognition of the value of their discovery; and an experimental manufactory of Gun-cotton was established at the Castle of Hirtenberg, near Vienna. A particular form of gun was devised by Baron von Lenk, for employment with Gun-cotton, of which a 12-pounder battery was established. The performances of these guns were considered sufficiently satisfactory to warrant the preparation of four more batteries, which were sent to the army of observation in Galicia in 1855, but did not go into active service. It appears that, in consequence of a want of uniformity in the effects of the Gun-cotton, and of an injurious effect upon the guns, added probably to the prejudice entertained against it by the artillery corps, the material fell into disfavour, and its application in cannon was for a time abandoned. It was received, however, with much greater favour by the |