12. On Elliot's Imitation of Electro-Magnetic Rotation. Mr Swan, Convener. (3703.)

13. On Johnston's Kitchen-Grate Swey. Mr Steele, Convener.

(3731.)

14. On Mr George Slight's Apparatus for Boring the Cheeks of Cranes. Mr Aytoun, Convener. (3730.)

15. On Mr Alexander Cleugh's method of Preventing Water-Cocks from Bursting during Frost. Mr A. Kirkwood, Convener. (3724.)

16. On Mr Sang's proposal of a Committee to determine the Molecular Changes in Glass. Professor C. Piazzi Smyth, Convener. (3734.) 17. On Dr Stark's Paper on Writing Inks. Dr Douglas Maclagan, Convener. (3626.)

The following Reports not being lodged, were ordered, when lodged, to be sent direct to the Prize Committee:

18. On Sang's Application of the Micrometer to the Levelling Telescope. Mr Swan, Convener. (3696.)

19. On Professor C. Piazzi Smyth's method of giving Stability to Astronomical Instruments at Sea. Ditto, Convener. (3733.)

20. On Macpherson's Paper on Artistic Lithography. Mr Leith, Convener. (3732.)

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

1. Second Annual Report of the Directors of the Association for Promoting Improvements in the Dwellings and Domestic Condition of Agricultural Labourers in Scotland, with Supplementary Report containing Woodcuts and Plans. By William Fowler, Architect to the Association. (Edin. 1856.) Pp. 40. Presented by the Association. (3743.) 2. Three Sheets of Designs for such Cottages, with Specifications. Presented by the same. (3752-1-2-3.)

3. The 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th Annual Reports and Transactions of the Royal Society for the Promotion and Improvement of Growth of Flax in Ireland-for years ending October 1851 to October 1855. Presented by the Society. (3749-1-5.)

4. Journal of the Geological Society of Dublin. Vol. VII. Parts I. and II. (1855-56.) Dublin, 1856. Presented by the Society. (3747-1-2.)

5. Description, with Illustrations, of the Improvements in Propelling and Navigating Steam-Vessels, Invented and Patented by J. & M. W. Ruthven, engineers, Edinburgh. Presented by the Patentees. (3750.) 6. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Birmingham, 30th January 1856. Presented by the Institution. (3751.) 7. Observations on the Flow of Water through Pipes, Conduits, and Orifices. By James Leslie, Esq., M. Inst. C.E. (London, 1855.) 8vo, pp. 47. Presented by the Author. (3755.)

Thanks voted to the Donors.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

I. The Minutes of last Meeting were read and approved. II. The Society appointed the Prize Committee to award the Prizes for Session 1855–56, viz. :—

PETER STEVENSON, Esq.

ALEXANDER KIRKWOOD, Esq.

ROBERT M. Bow, Esq., C.E.
JOHN ADIE, Esq.

Rev. Professor KELLAND.
SAMUEL LEITH, Esq.

WILKINSON STEELE, Esq.

President.

JAMES TOD, Secretary, Convener ex officio.

The Society then adjourned till next Session.

APPENDIX (T).

LIST OF PRIZE SUBJECTS FOR SESSION 1856-57.

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 such as-but not limited to the following, viz. :—

I. INVENTIONS, DISCOVERIES, or IMPROVEMENTS in the Useful Arts.

1. Mechanical Arts.

INVENTIONS or IMPROVEMENTS 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 constructing Economical and Salubrious Dwellings for the Working-Classes, -in Extinguishing Fires,-in Locks,-in Tools, Implements, and Apparatus for the various Trades,-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 Optical Apparatus,-in Steel or other Metallic Pens, in Electro-Magnetic or other new or improved Motive Power,-in the construction of Cameras and other Apparatus used in Photography, &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, and in sufficient quantity to be advantageously quarried,—of Kaolin for Pottery, of Slate Pencil of good quality,-of Woods suitable for Engraving.

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 Na

tional importance, already executed, but not previously published; or valuable suggestions for originating such under

takings.

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 year's Interest of the Reid and Auld Bequest, being about SEVEN GUINEAS, divided among them in such proportions as the Prize Committee shall fix, according to merit.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS,

AND DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING AND LODGING COMMUNICATIONS.

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

VOL. IV. APP.

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