CORRESPONDENCE.
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entirely agree with Mr. Stephenson’s, yet it has been foundsufficiently accurate for every practical purpose, and is nowmuch in use for computing the strength of wrought iron hollowtubular girders.
The other parts of the letter have reference to the meeting ofthe British Association for the Advancement of Science, held atSouthampton , at which a brief statement of the results of theexperiments was given.
The next two letters are explanatory of the misunderstandingwhich continued to exist between Mr. Hodgkinson and myself,and the debate which ensued in the Mechanical Section of theBritish Association at Southampton . The discussion was muchto be regretted for several reasons, which however have no par-ticular interest in relation to the present subject of inquiry.
My dear Sir, Shrewsbury, October 7th, 1846.
Although I have not replied to your letters I have attentively perusedthem, and shall be prepared to discuss the calculations when we meet.Your notion of the formula, as applicable to tubes, does not quite tallywith mine.
I conclude you intend being in town on Saturday, as I understand thetube will be ready for another trial at Millwall .
I hear an unsatisfactory account of the exhibition at Southampton onall sides; indeed when I first heard of it I was both surprised and dis-appointed ; for I felt that either the Board or myself should have beenconsulted on a matter in which the interests of a large proprietary areconcerned. As the question now stands, a doubt is thrown over thewhole thing by what fell from Mr. Hodgkinson, which I deeply regret;but on this subject I will talk to you when we meet.
On Saturday morning I shall be engaged, but in the afternoon I willendeavour to see you at Millwall , and if I do not, pray arrange that wemay meet somewhere in the evening. I wrote to Mr. H. by this post,expressing a wish that he may be at Millwall on Saturday, which I trustwill be convenient to you and him.
Yours faithfully,