by Weights instead of Springs. By Mr Alexander Steven, Joiner, Bonnyrigg, presently at 6 Preston Street, Edinburgh. A working model was exhibited. (3659.) Referred to a Committee.

The following Reports of Committees were read and approved :

:

2. On Dr George Wilson's Paper on Railway and Ship Signals. Mr Swan, Convener. (3616.)

3. On Mr P. Stevenson's Mode of taking the Density of Floating Bodies. Dr George Wilson, Convener. (3617.)

4. On Mr Bryson's Compressible Siphon. Dr George Wilson, Con(3624.)

vener.

5. On Mr George Weir's Reversing Turbine. Mr Aytoun, Convener. (5643.)

The following Reports not being ready, were ordered to be sent, when lodged, to the Prize Committee, viz. :—

6. On Mr H. Cleland's Boring Machine. Mr D. Stevenson, Convener. (3597.)

7. On Messrs Schenck and Macfarlane's Lithography. Mr Sang, Convener. (3644.)

8. On Mr Spence's Papers on Naval Affairs and Mechanical Appliances in H.M. Dockyards. Mr Lang, Convener. (3606-1-6.)

The following Donations were laid on the Table, viz. :

1. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Birmingham, 24th January 1855. Presented by the Institution. (3649.)

2. Journal of the Geological Society of Dublin, Vol. VI. Part II. (Dublin 1855.) Presented by the Society. (3650.)

3. Two Copies Return ordered by the House of Commons on the subject of James Dowie's Patent Boots, 1852, 1853, 1854. Presented by Mr Dowie, Bootmaker, 455 Strand, London. (3658-1-2.)

4. Transactions of the Architectural Institute of Scotland. Session 1854-55, Vol. IV. Part I. Presented by the Institute. (3660.)

5. Objects and Regulations of the Statistical Society of London. (London 1855.) Presented by the Society. (3661.)

6. List of the Fellows of the Statistical Society of London.

1855.) Presented by the Society. (3662.)

7. The Assurance Magazine, in continuation, No. XX. Presented by the Institute of Actuaries of London. (3663.)

(London

July 1855.

8. Formal Report of John A. Roebling, C.E., to the Directors of the Great Railway Suspension Bridge at Niagara Falls. 1855. Presented by Thomas C. Gregory, Esq., F.R.S.E., F.R.S.S.A., Resident Engineer, Great Western Railway, Canada West. (3664.)

Thanks voted to the Donors.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

I. The Minutes of last Meeting were read and approved.

II. The Society appointed the following Prize Committee to award Prizes for Session 1854-55, viz. :-

DAVID RHIND, Esq., President.

W. A. SMAIL, Esq., Vice-President.
ALEXANDER KIRKWOOD, Esq.

DAVID STEVENSON, Esq.

WILLIAM BERTRAM, Esq.
JAMES LESLIE, Esq.
WILLIAM SWAN, Esq.
Rev. Professor Kelland.
ROBERT THORNTON, Esq.
ROBERT AYTOUN, Esq.
Professor GREGORY.

Dr DOUGLAS MACLAGAN.

The Secretary, ex-officio Convener.

The Society adjourned till next Session.

APPENDIX (P*).

LIST OF PRIZE SUBJECTS FOR SESSION 1855-56.

THE ROYAL SCOTTISH SOCIETY OF ARTS proposes to award Prizes of different values, of Thirty Sovereigns and under, in Gold or Silver Medals, Silver Plate, or Money, for approved Communications primarily submitted to the Society, relative to Inventions, Discoveries, and Improvements in the Mechanical and Chemical Arts in general, and in their relation to the Fine Arts, and also to means by which the Natural Productions of the Country may be made more available; and, in particular, to—

I. INVENTIONS, DISCOVERIES, or IMPROVEMENTS in the Useful Arts; such as, but not limited to, the following, viz. :

1. Mechanical Arts.

INVENTIONS OF IMPROVEMENTS in Flax Machinery, and in preparing Flax for manipulation,-in the construction of Fire-Proof Buildings, in applying Glass to new and useful purposes,― in methods of uniting the Joints of Glass or Earthenware Water-Pipes, without employing White Lead or other poisonous substance,-in Sewerage,-in Economical Appliances for increasing the Sanitary Condition of Towns,-in Methods of Warming and Ventilating Buildings,-in Ventilation of Mines, -in constructing Economical and Salubrious Dwellings for the Working-Classes,-in Extinguishing Fires,-in Locks,— in Tools, Implements, and Apparatus for the various Trades,— in Rifle Guns and Bullets,-in Bricks,-in Cements and Mortars,-in Machines for Planing Wood,-in Printing Machines, Cases, and Rollers,-in Stereotyping,—in Cranes,

in the Machinery for Collieries, &c., in preserving Timber and Metals in Marine Works,-in Locomotive, Stationary, and Marine Engines,-in Screw Propellers,-in Railways, Plant, and Signals,-in Machines for Cutting, Dressing, and Boring Stone,-in Microscopic Apparatus,-in Steel or other Metallic Pens,-in new or improved Motive Power,in the construction of Cameras and other Apparatus used in Photography, in the Temperature Correction of the Aneroid Barometer, &c. &c.

2. Chemical Arts.

INVENTIONS OF IMPROVEMENTS in methods of rendering the Electric Light available in practice, particularly in the Illumination of Mines, &c. &c.,-in new and useful applications of Gutta Percha and Vulcanized India Rubber, or similar Gums,in substitutes for, or improvements upon, the process of Vulcanizing India Rubber,-in Dyes, and in their economical extraction from Dye Woods, &c.,-in Paints,-in Paper,in Glass,-in Writing Inks,-in the Manufacture of Hats.

3. Relative to the Fine Arts.

INVENTIONS OF IMPROVEMENTS in Photographic processes, and their application to taking Microscopic objects and machinery, -in Electrotype processes,-in Die-sinking,-in methods of illustrating Books to be printed with the letterpress,-in Paper Hangings,-in Articles of Porcelain, Common Clay, or Metal, -in Glass Staining,-in Engraving on Stone,-in Chromatic Lithography.

4. Natural Productions.

DISCOVERY of Plumbago in the United Kingdom or Colonies, or a good substitute for it, equal to that of Cumberland.

II. EXPERIMENTS applicable to the Useful Arts.

III. COMMUNICATIONS of Processes in the Useful Arts practised in this or other Countries, but not generally known.

IV. PRACTICAL DETAILS of Public or other Undertakings of National importance, already executed, but not previously published ;

—or valuable suggestions for originating such undertakings.

KEITH PRIZE, value Thirty Sovereigns.

For some important "Invention, Improvement, or Discovery, in the Useful Arts, which shall be primarily submitted to the Society" during the Session.

REID AND AULD PRIZES.

For the First, Second, and Third best Models of "anything new in the Art of Clock or Watch Making, by Journeymen or Master Watch and Clock Makers,"-if these should be considered worthy of Prizes, the sum of TEN SOVEREIGNS, divided among them in such proportions as the Prize Committee shall fix, according to merit.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

Communications lodged in competition for Prizes shall not have been Patented, nor have been previously published, nor read before any other Society. Patent articles may, however, be exhibited and described.

The Descriptions of the various inventions, &c., must be full and distinct;-be legibly written on Foolscap paper, leaving margins at least one inch and a-half broad, on both sides of the writing on every page, so as to allow of their being bound up in volumes; and, when necessary, be accompanied by Specimens, Drawings, or Models. All drawings to be on Imperial Drawing Paper, unless a larger sheet be requisite. The Drawings to be in bold lines, not less than a quarter of an inch thick, or strongly coloured, so as to be easily seen at about the distance of thirty feet when hung up in the Hall of Meeting, and the Letters or Figures of Reference to be at least 1 inch long. When necessary, smaller and more minutely detailed Drawings should accompany the larger ones, for the use of the Committees, having the same letters or figures of reference.

The Society shall be at liberty to publish in their Transactions copies or abstracts of all Papers submitted to them. All Models,