Obituary. Arthur Woolf

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Beaufort, and to Lieutenant Beecher, for the Admiralty Charts; to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Colonel Colly, for several of the Ordnance Maps of Ireland; and to your President, for thevolumes of the Philosophical Transactions, which complete the set of 123volumes from the commencement, presented by him to the Institution. The other presents, which are far too numerous to be here mentioned, will be recorded in a list accompanying this report. The following abstract of the receipts and expenditure during the year ending the Sist of December, 1837, will shew the present state bf the funis of the Institution :

D?.. Cr. Cash Ac- count. To Balanceinhand, Jan. 1.111 4 3 By Library...... 110 3 2 -Furniture...... 16 14 6 -Publication ...... 28 68 -Short Hand Writer . . 51 16 8 -Coals and Candles . . 27 18 11 - Stationery&Engraving 2713 4 -Petty Cash ...... 332 10 - Rent,Taxes,& Repairs 92 10 6 - Salaries& Commission 301 11 3 -Balance...... 27 1 5 -- S717 1 1 S717 1 1 -- I The Council have to regret the loss to the Institution by death of Arthur its Member, Arthur Woolf. This distinguishedindividual was woolfe- born at Camborne, in Cornwall. He was a millwright, and in that capacity went to London, and was employed in Meux’s Brewery. In 1804, he took out a patentfor his Two Cylinder Engine, working high pressure steam in a small cylinder, and allowing it to expand in a large one. When he first commenced erectingengines in Corn- wall, he induced the proprietors of the Foundries to improve their machinery, that a better style of workmanship might be used in the manufacture of steam engines;and he introduced an improved Hornblower’sdouble beat valve. The workdone atthe Consoli- dated Mines, proves him to have been a person of great talents. In October, 1814, the average duty of the engines in Cornwall was 204 millions-WoolPs engine at Wheal Abraham, however, performed 34 millions-and in December 1815, 52 millions ; and in May 1816, 57 millions; while the average duty of all the engines reported in Cornwall was 23 millions. In 1820, Mr. Woolf erected engines at the Consolidated Mines having cylinders of 90 inches in diameter, C

and a stroke of 10 feet-the most powerful that had ever been con- structed. In December, 1827, a trial took place with one of Woolfs 90-inch engines, andit performed a duty of 636 millions-the average duty of 47 engines reported in this year was 32 millions, For some years before his death he received a pension of &loo. a year from the propxietors of the Consolidated Mines. His name is associated with the improvements in the drainage of the Cornish mines; and whatever share posterity mayassign to his individual genius in these improvements, his name is recorded in the page of history among those who have dedicated their talents and the opportunities of a long life to the advancement of practical science. Sohjeck The Councilhave also endeavoured to make arrangementfor a for supply of original communications for the present session. With sion. this view they, in addition to the notice of Prize subjects already mentioned, have issued a list of subjects for discussion which were brought before the Institution during the last session, and requested swh information upon them a3 parties might be able to communicate. On several of these, important information has been received. The Council have also received promises of many communications at an early period, so that they look forward with confidence to thepresent session being equal in importance to any which has preceded it. Conch- Confident in this belief, theyresign with the greatest satisfaction ‘lon* the trustwhich has been confided to them. Their efforts during the past year to render the Institutionmore efficient and useful, have been amply rewarded in the success which has attended them; and they trust that, in every succeeding year, the Institution will more and more fully realise the hopes of its n~ostsanguine supporters, and ere long be recognised by all as conferring an honour no less on the British Nation than 0x1 every one of those by whose superintendance it is continually adapted to the wantsof each successive generation.