of the new direction were also Directors of the London and Richmond Company, and to this latter company the money of the North Wales Company was lent. But, as the North Wales Railway Company were not empowered by law to lend, nor the London and Richmond Company to borrow, the course taken was not to lend the money to the London and Richmond in its incorporate capacity, but to private individuals connected with the company on their notes of hand. After a time, the Richmond Railway was made, and sold to another company. The Directors of the North Wales Company, having lent the money on insufficient security and contrary to law, nevertheless thought proper, when this took place, to repeat the experiment, and they lent the money of the company to two other individuals. A shareholder applied to inspect the accounts, and after some resistance he was allowed to have access to them. Their Lordships would hardly believe in what manner those accounts were kept. He held in his hand a copy of the very account in question, and he found these entries,-"Loan to A' for investment, £1,500." "Loan to 'B' for ditto, £1,200." 'Loan to 'C' for ditto, £4,000." ""Loan to 'D' for ditto, £8,000." "Loan to 'E' for ditto, £3,000.' "Loan to F for ditto, 1,000." "Loan to 'G' for ditto, £1,000." In fact, the account was a cipher which explained nothing. The parties asked for an explanation as to who were represented by the letters "A," "B," "C," "D," "E,' 'F," and "G," but that was refused. These were the two main allegations contained in this petition; namely, first, a misapplication of the funds from the purposes for which they were intended by Parliament, from the North Wales Railway Company to the London and Richmond Railway Company; and, secondly, the manner in which the accounts were kept. The answer of the Directors to the latter

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charge related a most curious fact. They stated that this mode of keeping accounts, -namely, that of putting forward an unintelligible account to be inspected by the shareholders, and keeping a private ledger for their own use, was the common course taken by other railway companies, and they justified themselves by this most extraordinary plea.

MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. -Wednesday, the 9th of August next is fixed for the 18th meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science; and the place of meeting this year will be the town and sea-port of Swansea, famous for its copper-smelting furnaces and neighbouring oyster-beds. A liberal subscription has been entered into by the people of the town and surrounding country, who look forward with considerable expectation to this meeting of savans. Various sections in the Royal Institution and other buildings are in course of being fitted up for the occasion, and a large and distinguished company of visitors is expected to be present.

METHOD OF WELDING IRON, STEEL, AND SHEET IRON.-In an earthen vessel melt borax, and add to it one-tenth of sal-ammoniac. When these ingredients are properly fused and mixed, pour them out upon an iron plate, and let them cool. There is thus obtained a glassy matter, to which is to be added an equal quantity of quick lime. The iron and steel which are to be soldered, are first heated to redness then this compound, first reduced to powder, is laid upon them: the composition melts and runs like sealing wax; the pieces are then replaced in the fire, taking care to heat them at a temperature far below that usually employed in welding they are then withdrawn and hammered, and the surfaces will be found to be thus perfectly united. It is asserted that this process, which may be applied to welding sheet-iron tubes, never fails.Journal of the Franklin Institute.

certain other measuring instruments. Patent dated July 20, 1848; six months.

William Thomas, of Cheapside, London, merchant, for improvements in the manufacture of stays, boots, and shoes, also in fastening and connecting fabrics and garments. Patent dated July 26, 1848; six months.

John King, foreman to Messrs. Shears and Sons, Bankside, and Henry Medhurst, operative engineer to the said Messrs. Shears and Sons, for inprovements in gas metres. Patent dated July 26, 1818; six months.