Extract from the Illustrated London News, Vol. III, 1843, p.132

Meeting of the British Association at Cork

The thirteenth meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science commenced at Cork on the afternoon of Wednesday the 16th inst., this being the second time that these meetings have been held in the "sister island," the former meeting, which was the fifth, having been held in Dublin. The city of Cork had, prior to the late meeting at Manchester, sent but one invitation; still its applications then were so strongly and influentially supported that it was selected, notwithstanding a very powerful application from York, where thirteen years since the association took its rise, and where it is understood that the meeting for the ensuing year will be held. In the selection of officers, those for the present year have never been exceeded in efficiency or intelligence. The president is the Earl of Rosse (better known, perhaps, as Lord Oxmantown), a nobleman celebrated in the annals of science as one of the first astronomers of the day, and whose fame has recently become European from the construction of his gigantic telescope; whilst the vice-presidents are the Earl of Listowel and Viscount Adare, M.P., two noblemen highly esteemed in this vicinity; with Sir W. Hamilton, the President of the Royal Irish Academy, and Astronomer Royal; and Dr. Robinson, Dean of Armagh, equally celebrated as a mathematician and astronomer. The local secretaries are Professor Stevelly, the wellknown mathematician of Belfast; the Rev. J. Carson, the eminent statist, of Dublin; with Mr. W. Clear and Mr. W. Kelleher, two gentlemen well known in the district from their extensive scientific acquirements. The council for perfecting the local arrangements contains the names of individuals equally distinguished in scientific attainments.

It is but fair to acknowledge that the citizens of Cork have proved themselves worthy of the above preference, by the liberal scale upon which preparations were made for the reception of the association. The locale fixed for the reception of members, to be devoted to the places of meeting, and other incidental expenses, exceeded six hundred pounds. All the interesting local, mechanical, and intellectual sources of gratification were thrown open, to the members. The means of intercourse with Liverpool, Bristol, Dublin, and Glasgow were increased by additional steampackets being placed on at those ports, and whatever Cork might lack in the means of affording intellectual gratification was made up for in the hospitality of the inhabitants. To keep up the spirit of excitement which generally exists during the week in the towns where the meetings are held, the proprietor of the theatre announced the engagement of Miss Novello and her sister, Miss Sabilla Novello.

A great influx of members took place on Wednesday morning, on the arrival of the Bristol, Liverpool, Dublin; and Glasgow steamers, and the strangers were, on their arrival at the reception room, met by a committee consisting of the Mayor, Archdeacon Kyle, General Austin, Sir Thomas Deane, Sir James Pitcairn, and other leading citizens, who took it in turns to be in attendance at the room. Amongst those who arrived are the Earl of Rosse and family; the Marquis of Northampton; Sir T. D. Acland, M.P.; Sir C. Lemon. M.P., Mr. R. I. Murchison, President of the Geological Society, who came expressly from the continent to attent the meeting, accompanied by Lieutenant Kochsarroff, a Russian engineer, now employed by the Russian Government in a survey of the Carpathian Mountains; Sir William Hamilton, Astronomer Royal of Ireland; Dr. Robinson of Armagh; the Dean of Ely; Colonel Sabine, F.R.S.; Mr. J. Griffith, President of the Royal Geological Society of Ireland; Dr. Hamel, Councillor of State, from Russia; M. Hoetuis, from Maestricht; . Dr. F. Tannan, Berlin; M. Canlebrana, Bolanos, Mexico; Dr. Lauberg, Christiana ; Professors Lyall, of London, Apjohn, M'Cullagh, and Lloyd, of Dublin; Professor Forbes, of London; Mr. W. H. Hughes, High Sheriff of Hampshire; Professor Kane, of Dublin; Mr. W. Snow Harris; the Bishop of Killaloe; Mr. Charles Dickens; Professor Wheatstone, &c. The visitors from Glasgow and Dublin were brought over by the Vanguard, a new iron steamer of 330 horse power and 700 tons burthen, which made this its first voyage from Dublin to Cork in thirteen hours, being five hours less than the shortest voyage ever before made.

Before proceed to the business of the meeting we shall present to our readers a sketch of the preparations for the reception of the distinguished visitors; with a series of illustrations, the drawings for which (with the exception of those of the Cove, the Courthouse, and the Imperial Hotel) have been executed with much taste and skill, by James Mahony, Esq., of Cork.

First, is a picturesque view of THE COVE or harbour which is so commodious, that it will admit the largest vessels at any time without striking sail, and has a land locked anchorage, ten fathoms water in some places, and in seven fathoms water within a cable's length of the shore.

On the days of the late meeting, the Cove presented a very animated appearance; and just previously, a series of grand fetes were given on board several of the ships of war lying here. That on board the Tyne (the admiral's ship) was on a very grand scale, nearly three hundred of the elite of the town and neighbourhood of Cove assembled, and continued the merry dance until morning. The vessel was very tastefully fitted up, having a spacious saloon on the deck, and on the gun deck a splendid supper was laid out. A grand display of fireworks was exhibited as soon as the company assembled, and nothing was left undone to increase the comfort and amusement of the guests. Next is a GENERAL VIEW OF CORK, a very fine city, surpassed by few in the excellence or width of its streets, and beginning to be remarkable for the architectural beauty of its public buildings; of these, three are shown in the view, viz., the Savings Bank, Anglesey Bridge, and the Corn Exchange.

THE COURT HOUSE,

in Great George's Street, and erected by Messrs. Pain, is a magnificent structure. The front range of Corinthian columns projects from the building about 20 feet. The columns are 30 feet high from the approach, which is by a flight of 11 steps. The width of the portico is 72 feet, and height from the ground to the top of the group of figures on the apex of the pediment, is 66 feet. The group represents Justice between Law and Mercy. The area measures 280 feet in length, by 190 in depth. It contains two semicircular courts, in the rear of which are the public offices of the same.

THE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, AND IMPERIAL HOTEL

In the former was the inquiry room, to which members invariably made their way on their first arrival in the town. The Imperial Hotel, adjoining, is stated to extend over an English acre of ground. The principal room in this establishment is 75 feet long by 35 feet broad, and 25 feet high; a corridor communicates with another room 60 feet long by 30 feet broad; and this again with another room 56 feet long by 38 feet broad, and 22 feet high. Here were held the association promenades and soirées. In this spacious hotel, accommodation was provided by the local council for 130 guests; and Lloyd's and the Victoria Hotels were alike secured for the accommodation of the members. We now come to THE MODEL ROOM, (Agricultural Museums,) fitted up in the left wing of the Corn Exchange, This room was filled with articles of manufacture and machinery; in the foreground of our sketch is a Jacquard poplin loom and ingenious brocading machine for weaving in coloured flowers, with gold and silver, which was at work each day during the meeting of the British Association. Messrs. Atkinson and Co., of College Green; Dublin, the poplin manufacturers, forwarded this very curious poplin loom, with two of their most skilful weavers; and the gold tissue poplin pattern woven was the same as Messrs. Atkinson and Co. had the honour of manufacturing for her most gracious Majesty the Queen. It is a most tasteful and superb specimen of Irish manufacture. Next is THE GREAT ROOM OF THE CORN EXCHANGE

With a general meeting of the Association. The Corn Exchange formed one of the principal points of attraction. The noble saloon shown in the engraving is 75 feet square, and high in proportion, and it was refurnished and decorated for the occasion. It was newly floored, and at the further end was a dias, or raised platform, on which lecturers and members took their places. It was brilliantly lit with gas, in six large lustres, and the fittings displayed good taste and ingenuity. The Cork arms were beautifully painted over the great entrance; and the imperial crown, with the Letters "V.R.," shone radiantly high above the chair. The reunions here were extremely brilliant .

Amongst the other various attractions which Cork presented on this interesting occasion were the exhibition of the Cork Art Union, with it collection of paintings by living artists, and a few pictures by Barry and Grogan. The Cork Institution underwent a lustration for the occasion; and the fine collection of statues, the gift of George IV., to the society; was much admired. The Cork Library and the Chamber of Commerce were also prepared for the visitors. There was likewise a superb exhibition of the Horticultural Society; so that the city presented a continued round of recreation to the naturalist and the artist; the man of science and the man of pleasure.

The places of meeting appointed for the sections were very convenient, those of A, Mathematical and Physical Science; C, Geology and Physical Geography; D, Natural History; and G, Mechanical Science, being held at the Court House in Great George street; Section B, Chemistry and Mineralogy, at the Royal Institution, Nelson place, Patrick street; Section E, Medical Science, at College buildings, Warren's place; and Section F, Statistics, at the very appropriate place of the Chamber of Commerce.

The presidents appointed to the different sections were A, Mathematics and Physics; Professor. M'Cullagh, of Dublin; B, Chemistry and Mineralogy, Professor Apjohn, of Dublin; C, Geology and Physical Geography, Mr. Richard Griffiths; D, Natural History, Mr. E. Thomson; E, Medical Science, Sir James Pitcairn, M.D.; F, Statistics, Sir Charles Leman; and G. Mechanical Science, Professor M'Neill, of Dublin.

We have not space to detail the preliminary arrangements of the association; but the following resolution, which was unanimously carried, gave very great satisfaction :-

That subscribers to the local fund, being members of the British Association, shall have the privilege of obtaining tickets to admit ladies to all the meetings of the association on the following terms-subscribers of £1 to obtain one ticket for 10s., and subscribers of £2 or more, two tickets at 10s. each. Subscribers who do not wish to avail themselves of the above privilege, to obtain tickets to admit ladies to the soirées alone, without charge, in the same ratio as above stated.

Professor Phillips suggested the propriety of allowing the privilege to extend to young men, being the sons of members of the British Association, who are contributors to the local fund, or at the recommendation of two members of the association, which was agreed to.

The business of the association commenced on Wednesday afternoon with the first meeting of the general committee, at the College rooms, Warren's place, the Earl of Rosse, president elect, in the chair. The meeting was very fully attended, and the proceedings were of a very interesting character.

Professor Phillips, the assistant secretary, read the minutes of the last meeting at Manchester, and also a letter from Modena to Dr. Faraday, acknowledging the invitation of the Royal Society there for a deputation to attend the present meeting.

Colonel Sabine, F,R.S., one of the general secretaries, read the report of the council. It stated that, in obedience to a resolution passed the last year at Manchester, appointing a committee to communicate with the council of the Royal Society to join them in making an application to the Government to defray the expenses of the publication of the reduction of the catalogue of stars in the "Histoire Celeste," and of the catalogue of stars in the southern hemisphere made by Lalande, which had been effected at the expense of the association; such application had been made, but refused by the Royal Society. An app1ication had, however, been made direct to Sir Robert Peel for the grant of £1000 for the purpose, and which, after a minute inquiry as to the manner in which the funds of the society had been expended, and the circumstances under which the reductions had been made, was granted by the Lords of the Treasury, to be under the superintendence of Sir John Herschel, but with an understanding that it was not to form a precedent for future applications on any objects undertaken without the previous approbation of Government.

Dr. Robinson, of Armagh, explained at some length the circumstances under which these were first made, and the importance which would result to astronomical and nautical science by the publication of these important labours.

The first general meeting of members was held on Thursday evening, at the Corn Exchange, when the Marquis of Northampton took the chair, which he resigned to the Earl of Rosse, the President elect, who addressed the meeting in a speech which continued about an hour, and in which his lordship eloquently discoursed of the pleasures and advantages of science.

A vote of thanks to the English members was then passed for their having this year visited Cork.

The meetings of the different sections commenced on Thursday morning; but, as usual on the first day of meeting, the proceedings, were neither numerous nor varied. The other days of the sectional meetings were Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. Among the proceedings on Saturday, we notice that Dr. Robinson read the report of a committee appointed by the Mathematical section to superintend the construction of the "Captive Balloon." He said that the object of the balloon was to ascertain the temperature of the atmospheric air at various heights. By this apparatus, they would be enabled to ascertain the density of the atmospheric air 8000 yards high. Their first experiment, which would take place in January next, would be at a height of 1000 yards.

On Saturday evening the second meeting of the General Council was held at the Great Room, Corn Exchange, which was brilliantly lighted. The platform was occupied by several noble and distinguished members of the Association, among whom we recognised the President, Lord Rosse, the Marquis of Northampton, Lord Adair, Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., Professor Owen, Mr. Lyall, Professor Phillips, Colonel Sabine, Mr. Taylor, Professor Forbes, Major Beamish, Mr. C. C. Babbington, &c., and among the audience were several ladies of fashion.

The meeting was called for the purpose of hearing a lecture of Professor Owen, on the Dinornis, a gigantic species of bird, and one of whose bones has been recently discovered in New Zealand. The bones of the leg and toes of the dinornis differed from those of the ostrich and apteryx. They differed from the cassowary also.These were the only birds to which it was referable in some points; but, differing as it did from them in material formation and genus, it equally differed from all other birds, and he (Mr. Owen) gave it the name of dinornis, the dangerbird, from its extraordinary magnitude.

Next week we shall conclude our illustrations of this important and interesting meeting.

[Taken from Illustrated London News, Vol. III, 1843, p.132]