ON THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE. VII 



memorative of the death of Samuel George Morton, of Philadelphia, were 

 also adopted. The number of new members elected at this meeting exceeded 

 one hundred. 



The annual address before the Association was delivered by Prof. A. D. 

 Bache, the retiring President ; subject, " The Organization, Condition and 

 Progress of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, with 

 Remarks on the Direction in which its Greatest Usefulness may be looked 

 for." In the course of the address, some suggestions were made respecting 

 the formation of a National Institute, somewhat similar to those offered by 

 Sir David Brewster, at the British Association, in 1850.* In relation to 

 this subject, Prof. Bache said as follows : "In this connection I would 

 throw out for your consideration some reasons which induce me to believe 

 that an institution of science, supplementary to existing ones, is much 

 needed in our country, to guide public action in reference to scientific mat- 

 ters. It is, I believe, a common mistake to associate the idea of academies 

 and institutes with monarchical institutions. We show in this, as in many 

 other things, the prejudices of our descent. Republican France has cher- 

 ished her Institute, seeking rather to extend than to curtail its proportions. 

 One of the most ardent republicans is its perpetual secretary that set- 

 ting sun whose effulgence shows that it is merely passing below the horizon 

 to illumine another sphere ! 



" Nor does the idea of a necessary connection between centralization and 

 an institute strike me as a valid one. Suppose an institute, of which the 

 members belong in turn to each of our widely-scattered States, working at 

 their places of residence, and reporting their results, meeting only at par- 

 ticular times and for special purposes, engaged in researches self-directed 

 or desired by the body, called for by Congress, or by the Executive, who fur- 

 nish the means for the inquiries. The details of such an organization could 

 be marked out so as to secure efficiency without centralization, and constant 

 labor with its appropriate results. The public treasury would be saved 

 many times the support of such a council, by the sound advice which it 

 would give in regard to the various projects which are constantly forced 

 upon their notice, and in regard to which they are now compelled to decide 

 without the knowledge which alone can insure a wise conclusion. The 

 men of science who are at the seat of government, either constantly or tem- 

 porarily, are too much occupied in the special work which belongs to their 

 official occupations to answer such a purpose ; beside, the additional 

 responsibility which, if they were called together, they must necessarily 

 bear, would prove too great a burthen, considering the fervid zeal, and I 

 might almost say fierceness, with which questions of interest are pursued, 

 and the very extraordinary means resorted to, to bring about a successful 



* See Annual of Scientific Discovery, 1851, Editorial Notes, p. vii. 



