VIII NOTES BY THE EDITOR 



conclusion. If it were admissible that I should go into detail on this sub- 

 ject, I could prove the economy of a permanent consulting body like this. 

 This is, however, a lower view than the saving of character, by avoiding 

 mistakes, and misdirection of public encouragement, and by loss of oppor- 

 tunity of encouraging that which is really useful. I should subject the 

 Association to some criticism, if I unfolded this subject specifically, partic- 

 ularizing the errors here generally alluded to, and abstain, merely remark- 

 ing that the amount which would have been saved to one department of the 

 government alone, from the application of the principle of the equality of 

 action and reaction, would have supported such a council for twenty years, 

 including the furnishing of means to show experimentally the applications 

 of the principle to the case in question. Not only in new undertakings 

 would the advice of such a body be most important, but they would be 

 appealed to for information in regard to existing ones, and would prove 

 most serviceable in advising on doubtful points. 



" Our country is making such rapid progress in material improvement, 

 that it is impossible for either the legislative or executive departments of 

 our government to avoid incidentally, if not directly, being involved in the 

 decision of such questions. Without specification, it is easy to see that there 

 are few applications of science which do not bear on the interests of com- 

 merce and navigation, naval or military concerns, the customs, the light- 

 houses, the public lands, post-ofiices and post-roads, either directly or 

 remotely. If all examination is refused, the good is confounded with the 

 bad, and the government may lose a most important advantage. If a 

 decision is left to influence, or to imperfect knowledge, the worst conse- 

 quences follow. Such a body would supply a place not occupied by exist- 

 ing institutions, and which the American Association, from its temporary 

 and voluntary character, is not able to supply." 



The subject of the formation of a National Academy of Science was also 

 presented to the American Institute at New York, in its anniversary 

 address, delivered by Dr. C. T. Jackson. It was here proposed that the 

 Academy should act as an umpire, and as the adviser of Congress in all 

 matters pertaining to scientific invention and discovery ; the members to 

 be nominated by the President, and confirmed by the Senate. 



The twenty-first annual meeting of the British Association was held at 

 Ipswich. England, June 2d, and continued, as usual, for one week. The 

 attendance was unusually large, and the meeting, in interest, was not infe- 

 rior to any former one. Many foreigners of distinguished scientific repu- 

 tation, attracted to England by the Great Industrial Exhibition, were 

 present at the Association, and contributed to its proceedings. The Presi- 

 dent, Prof. Airy, the Astronomer Royal, in the annual address, declared 

 himself opposed to the plan of establishing a National Academy, or Insti- 

 tute, as recommended at a former meeting. The reasons urged against the 



