The noble chairman then addressed the meeting; and, after expressing his sympathy with the melancholy event which deprived them of the presence of the Marquis of Lansdowne, panegyrized the Association and its effects in expressive language. "I trust (he said) that Bristol will follow the example of the other places which this Association has visited; and that, for this week at least, all sectarian feelings will die away, and the hideous forms of political and religious animosity will be banished: it is not by hating our fellow-citizens that we show either our patriotism or our religion. This happy consummation is one of the great moral advantages of the Association. There is another point to which I wish to advert: there have arrived to join us many distinguished persons from foreign parts; I am sure it is not necessary for me, in Bristol, whence Sebastian Cabot sailed, to urge upon you to welcome and cherish them. Shew to them that the time has at length arrived when Science and her sisters, Religion, Arts, and Literature-those four enchantresses, with their magic wand, have scared away the fiends of national enmity and strife; and that all nations are now united in furthering the common interest of our common species."

Dr. Daubeny, as one of the secretaries for the Bristol meeting, on whom the task devolved, next addressed the assembly, and gave an excellent resumé of the proceedings of the past year, and analysis of the volume of transactions, which has just been published. Wė are reluctantly compelled to confine ourselves to his concluding remarks:-"What proportion of such inquiries (i. e., those contained in the volume over which he had gone) may be attributable to the influence of this Association, and how much might have been merely the result of that increased taste for physical research to which the Association itself owes its existence, I do not pretend to determine; this, however, at least, must be allowed, that many of the most important truths communicated might have been long in winning their way to general recognition, and in ridding themselves of those exaggerated and mistaken views which are the common accompaniments of every infant discovery, had it not been for the opportunities which these meetings afford of examining the very authors of them, with respect to their own inquiries; of confronting them with others who have prosecuted similar trains of research; of questioning them with respect to the more doubtful and difficult points involved; and of obtaining from them, in many instances, an exhibition of the very experiments by which they had been led to their conclusions. * It is consolatory to reflect that Providence has attached to every one of the conditions of society through which nations are destined to pass, capabilities of moral and intellectual improvement; and that the very sciences which so amply minister to our physical enjoyments also afford the means of those higher gratifications which spring from the exercise of the taste and the imagination. Thus, although it may not be easy for the citizen to indulge to any extent in studies alien from the pursuits which engross his hours of business, yet it cannot be deemed

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incompatible with the latter to mount up to the principles of those sciences which are connected with the arts he practises; to study their relation one to the other; and to acquaint himself with the steps by which they have reached their present eminence. It cannot but be useful to the chemical manufacturer to study the laws of that molecular attraction which binds together the elements of the substances which he prepares; to the mechanic, to examine the processes of the arts in connexion with the general laws of matter; to the miner or land-surveyor, to inform himself with respect to the physical structure of the globe; to the agriculturist, to become acquainted with the principles of vegetable physiology, and the natural relations of plants."

The secretary then proceeded to read the report of the finances of the Association; by which it appeared that the receipts were £3,185. 15s. 3d., the disbursements, £2,576. 8s., leaving a balance of upwards of £600.; the property of the Association amounting altogether to £4,564.

The secretaries of the different sections then read their reports of the proceedings of the sections in the morning.

At the Dinner on Tuesday, the Rev. W. D. Cony beare presided. The attendance was not so numerous as on the previous day-only two hundred being present.

In consequence of the unpropitious state of the weather, the intended promenade and horticultural exhibition at Miller's gardens were abandoned, and the Geological, Mechanical, and Statistical Sections met in the evening. The proceedings are noticed under the respective Sections.

On Wednesday, the dinner was attended by about 180 members; Professor Griffith in the chair. In the evening the Theatre was again excessively crowded.

Dr. Daubeny having been called on by the Chair, came forward and delivered a lecture on Mineral and Hot Waters. This led to a discussion by Professor Phillips, Mr. Taylor, Dr. Hare, and Prof. Whewell. The opinions entertained were-that the lower you descend into the earth, the higher is the temperature, and for that reason it is imagined that, at the centre of the earth there is an absolute fluid of fire, and that the rocks (particularly St. Vincent's) were torn asunder by some volcanic action, and that hot springs are produced by the same cause. The presidents of the different sections having read their reports, the meeting broke up, but not till after midnight.

Professor Buckland presided at the dinner on Thursday, which was attended by about 150 gentlemen. In the evening, Miller's Nursery grounds were thrown open to the members of the Institution, and the ladies they brought with them; and interesting as the proceedings of the week had been, this promenade came in for its full share of public approval. The philosopher, who at the different meetings had astonished the auditors by the vast depth of his scientific knowledge, was here seen indulging in the luxury of female

society, throwing aside the stern tone of the lecturer, and mixing with the busy throng.-In the course of the day, Mr. J. Simpson, Advocate of Edinburgh, delivered a lecture on the Philosophy of Education, at the Assembly-rooms. It was attended by a genteel audience of both sexes, and elicited very warm admiration. Mr. Simpson's views are just and rational, and he is eminently happy in the illustration of his principles. Anecdotes of Sir Walter Scott, and frequent playful and entertaining allusions, rendered his arguments as popular as they were clear, and well calculated to promote the best interests of society.

A great number of the members of the Association went to Hanham, by water, on Friday_morning, to view the progress of the Great Western Railway. The arrangement of the procession, and the provision for the requisite accommodation of the visitors were undertaken by Captain Claxton. During the progress of the procession, the banks of the river were crowded with spectators-Another portion of the members embarked in the Killarney steamer, and after viewing the fine botanical and mineralogical collection of Mr. Bright, at Ham Green, Mr. Miles's splendid picture-gallery, at Leigh Court, continued their voyage round the Holms, and returned to Bristol in the evening.

There was a general meeting this evening at the Theatre. The Marquis of Northampton presided. The presidents of the different Sections reported their proceedings, and Dr. Buckland alluded most particularly to the discoveries made by Mr. Cross. The patrons of science owed him great obligations for an achivement which would immortalize his name in the annals of geology.

The President said that Dr. Buckland had observed that Mr. Cross had no intention, when he came to Bristol, of at all communicating his discoveries, but was led to do so by the discussion he heard. This was a very singular and pregnant instance of the advantage derived from this Association.

Dr. Buckland then delivered a short lecture on Geology, and the meeting broke up at 11 o'clock.

The ceremony of laying the first stone of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, performed by the Marquis of Northampton, was a splendid sight; this commencement of the greatest work of science and art, which the skill and ingenuity of man has ever yet attempted, was well timed, and proved a highly interesting termination to the proceedings of the week. The rocky ridges on both sides of the river were crowned with animated human life, and the effect, amid such scenery, can hardly be imagined, far less described.

The following dimensions of the bridge will enable our readers to form some idea of this gigantic undertaking:

Previous to the meeting being dissolved, the sum of £2,710. was voted for the prosecution of scientific inquiries during the ensuing year, being an access of £950 on the previous grant. After a lengthened and animated discussion, it was determined that the meeting of 1837 should be held at Liverpool: the Earl of Burlington was elected president, Dr. Dalton, Sir. P. Egerton, and the Rev. E. Stanley, vice-presidents, Dr. Henry and Mr. Parker secretaries.

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Ar a meeting at the Society's Rooms, Leicester Square, Mr. Gould, after making some remarks on various birds which were on the table, entered into a description of a new genus of birds, for which he proposed the name of Aplornis, on account of its simple structure. This genus, Mr. Gould observed, partakes of the characters of the genera Lamprotornis, Lanius, and Turdus ; we will, however, endeavour to give an idea of its distinguishing characters by comparing it with the genus Lamprotornis. When thus compared, Mr. G. remarked that the species of Aplornis are altogether of a more robust form: the beak, which is distinctly notched, the wings, the legs, and the tail, are shorter in proportion; the latter is s'ightly forked. It may also be distinguished by the want of the splendid colouring so remarkable in Lamprotornis, all the species of which, it will be remembered, are of a beautiful rich green colour, with a satin-like gloss. There were two species of this new genus on the table, both belonging to the society; one from New Holland, and the other from the Friendly Islands.

At a subsequent scientific meeting, Mr. Gould exhibited eight species of a genus of Sylviida; a genus characterized, some time back, by Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield, under the name of Zosteros, at which time only two species were known: one or two have since been described. Of others, which were new (and then before the society), Mr. Gould intended describing only two, as he thought it probable the remainder would be noticed in works about to be published by other individuals. For one Mr. G. proposed the name of albogularis, and the other, tenuirostris. The genus Zosteros, Mr. G. observed, is principally distinguished from others of the Warbler tribe by a zone of white feathers, which surrounds the eye, the attenuated and somewhat curved beak; the nostrils being covered by an operculum, and the plumage of both sexes being alike, and undergoing no seasonal changes. All the species known are found in the old world, and they are all, more or less, of a greenishyellow colour. They approach nearest to the genus Sylvia, as restricted by Mr. Swainson.

The continuation of a paper was then read, entitled “ Catalogue of the Birds found in the neighbourhood of Scarborough," by Mr. Williamson, which contained considerable information relating to the habits of many of the British birds.

MEETING OF THE PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL ASSOCIATION.

THE members of this excellent Institution, held their fourth anniversary at Manchester. The members of the Council met on the 20th of July, to make the necessary arrangements for the public business of the meeting, when a discussion took place relative to the place of holding the next anniversary :-Cheltenham was finally determined upon, and Dr. Boisragon proposed as president.

In the evening, the members of the Association assembled at the Royal Institution, when the attendance was unusually numerous, including, among other distingished individuals, Professor Kidd, Drs. Fox, J. Johnstone, T. Starr, Hastings, R. Streeten, Barlow, J. Conolly, Goldie, J. C. Williams, Jeffreys, Bardsley, Chaytor, Holme; Messrs. Crosse, Nankivell, H. L. Smith, C. H. Hebb, J. A. Ransome, Turner, &c. &c.

Dr. Holme having been called to the chair, opened the business with a short address, which he concluded by proposing that Dr. Hastings be requested to read the report of the council.

This report gave a succinct outline of the proceedings of the Association, and announced the gratifying fact that the number of members amounted to six hundred, being an increase of one hundred since the anniversary meeting at Oxford. The report then alluded to a similar Association formed in the eastern provinces ; the members of which had come to the unanimous resolution of seeking an intimate connexion with the parent Association, for the purpose of co-operating with it in the advancement of medical science. The finances of the institution, which are in a very flourishing state, and the published Transactions of the society, next came under consideration. It was announced that, in compliance with the resolution passed last year respecting the formation of a benevolent fund, various local committees had been formed, with whom the central committee were in communication.

The report of the council was approved and adopted on the motion of Professor Kidd, seconded by Dr. John Johnstone.

Several other resolutions, relating to the affairs of the Association were subsequently moved and seconded by Mr. Tudor, Dr. Jeffreys, Dr. Scott, Mr. Ransome, Dr. Barlow, Mr. Hebb, Dr. J. Conolly, Dr. Brown, Dr. Goldie, and Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Turner, of Manchester, after paying a warm tribute to his friend, proposed, that Dr. James Lomax Bardsley be requested to deliver the Retrospective Address at the anniversary meeting for 1837, which was seconded by Dr. Streeten, of Worcester.

The report of the committee of the Benevolent Branch of the Association was then read, and a resolution passed, that the regulations of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Benevolent Society, proposed by the central committee, be adopted.

VOL. V.-NO. XVII.

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