It gives us great pleasure to have this opportunity of submitting and explaining to you a specially constructed airtight car which we have designed for the purpose of reaching high altitudes.

In the past many attempts have been made to reach great heights in open cars for the purpose of making scientific observations and experiments, and from these experiments it appears that the only difficulty which has been grappled with is that of the insufficiency of air for respiration purposes. To overcome this difficulty the general plan has been to take up in bags or other receptacles a supply of oxygen.

As no attempt, however, has been made to overcome the great inconvenience suffered by the occupants of the balloon, due to the exceedingly low pressure at these high altitudes, these many attempts, in spite of the oxygen supply taken, have been fraught with great inconvenience and danger.

During recent years, a considerable amour of work has been done in attempting to solv the problem of artificial flight, and in the mai this work has been very successful. One by on the difficulties which beset the problem have been overcome, and now apparently there : only one difficulty which stands between us an the solution of the problem—namely, the diffculty of balancing the machine. In the follow ing paper an attempt is made to further tb solution of this difficulty, by showing that it : capable of mathematical treatment.

We have not attempted to deal exhaustivel with the question ; we have confined ourselve to the consideration of simple forms of glider and the chief object of the paper is to draw the attention of all interested in the problem artificial flight to the capabilities of this method.

The number of successful glides accomplished by Mr. Wilbur Wright and his brother, with their double-decked gliding machine in America, would seem to be a proof of the value of those careful preliminary experiments which it has been the custom of these intrepid aviators to originate. After their first experiments, made with gliding machines in 1900 and 1901, they undertook laboratory experiments for the purpose of determining the amount and direction of the pressures produced by the wind upon plane and arched surfaces exposed at various angles of incidence; upon the results of these experiments a new pattern machine was constructed in 1902.

A memoir of the late Mr. James Glaisher, F.R.S., appeared in the April number of the Aeronautical Journal, so it seems hardly necessary for any further reference to be made to him. But since that time the instruments and apparatus used by him in his famous balloon ascents have, by the courtesy of his son, Dr. J. W. L. Glaisher, F.R.S., come into the possession of the Royal Meteorological Society.

Your Secretary, Mr. E. S. Bruce, was very desirous that these instruments should be exhibited at a meeting of the Aeronautical Society, and thought that it would be interesting to most of the members if a brief account of Mr. Glaisher's balloon ascents was given at the same time. I could not refuse this request, as Mr. Glaisher was for some time my chief at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, although I think a more interesting account might have been prepared by someone else.

The day is undoubtedly drawing near when we shall be utilising the highway of the air for travel, and it is becoming an interesting question as to what form the motor car of the skies is to take.

A great number of abortive attempts to produce a practical apparatus have thrown considerable light on the prospects. During the last few years we have seen a great development in the construction of navigable balloons, and, in my humble opinion, these many attempts have only shown clearly what immense difficulties have to be contended with, and how little hope there is of our attaining any real success in this direction.

In commencing the paper which I am about to read I would like, first of all, to make a few remarks as to what has been done towards solving the difficult, yet extremely fascinating problem of aerial flight.

In recent years much has been attempted, but, when all is weighed in the balance, I venture to think that comparatively nothing of any value has yet been accomplished, and the successful flying machine has yet to come. A debt of gratitude is due to M. Santos Dumont. M. Lebaudy, and other pioneers, for breaking down, as they have, prejudice against the subject; but, after all, do his or their machines embody any new principle ? Only by careful attention to certain mechanical details and a combination of mechanism already in existence have they accomplished what they have.

It is unnecessary for me to go into details of the defects of navigable air-ships. Most students of aeronautics are, I think, agreed that the flying machine of the future will be one which is heavier than the atmosphere and presents the least surface of resistance when travelling horizontally.