BRITISH ASSOCIATION 215 



The Reports of the Committees appointed by it are 

 as a rule far more valuable than ordinary memoirs, 

 and so are the Presidential Addresses, but perhaps 

 the most useful function of the British Association lies 

 in causing persons who are occupied in different 

 branches of science, and who rarely meet elsewhere, 

 to be jostled together and to become well acquainted. 

 Its organisation was a wonderful feat, for it was 

 created upon paper, and has required nothing ever 

 since beyond a little easing and extension here and 

 there. 



The plan of one meeting is as like that of another 

 as two Roman camps. On entering the reception- 

 room, time seems to have stood still, for the same 

 familiar faces are seen in the same places ; the placards 

 that refer to letters, to programmes, to excursions and 

 to the other multifarious business of the Association, 

 are similarly arranged, so after the experience of a 

 single year a member finds himself at home on every 

 future occasion. But the sustained racket of it is 

 great, and I found it too long continued for my own 

 nerves. I had a complete breakdown when I was 

 General Secretary, which compelled me to resign 

 what otherwise was a very pleasant post : it would 

 have been playing with death had I continued to 

 hold it. 



My period of office began at the time when the 

 old order of supreme management by a few magnates 

 was giving way to a more democratic government. 

 Its earlier and distinguished members, such as 

 Sabine and Murchison, had naturally so much weight 

 in Council that when they were active and in close 

 touch with their juniors their opinions were sure to 



