INAUGURAL ADDRESS BEFORE THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 497 



cannot be altogether left out of our calculations. 

 I am, therefore, on the whole, inclined to think 

 that, while not losing sight of larger schemes, the 

 wisest policy, for the present at all events, and 

 pending the experiment of the Government Fund, 

 will be to confine our efforts to a careful selection 

 of definite persons to carry out definite pieces of 

 work : leaving to them the honor (or the onus if 

 they so think it) of justifying from time to time 

 a continuation of the confidence which the Gov- 

 ernment or other supporting body may have once 

 placed in them. 



Passing from the proceedings to other features 

 and functions of our body, it should be remem- 

 bered that the continued existence of the Asso- 

 ciation must depend largely upon the support 

 which it receives from its members and associ- 

 ates. Stinted in the funds so arising, its scientific 

 effectiveness would be materially impaired ; and, 

 deprived of them, its existence would be precari- 

 ous. The amount at our disposal in each year 

 will naturally vary with the population, with the 

 accessibility, and with other circumstances of 

 the place of meeting ; there will be financially, 

 as well as scientifically, good years and bad years. 

 But we have in our invested capital a sum suffi- 

 cient to tide over all probable fluctuations, and 

 even to carry us efficiently through several years 

 of financial famine, if ever such should occur. 

 This seems to me sufficient; and we have there- 

 fore, I think, no need to increase our reserve, 

 beyond perhaps the moderate addition which a 

 prudent treasurer will always try to secure, 

 against expenditure which often increases and 

 rarely diminishes. 



But, however, importaut this material support 

 may be to our existence and well-being, it is by 

 no means all that is required. There is another 

 factor which enters into the product, namely, the 

 personal scientific support of our best men. It 

 is, I think, not too much to say that without 

 their presence our meetings would fail in their 

 chief and most important element, and had best 

 be discontinued altogether. We make, it must 

 be admitted, a demand of sensible magnitude in 

 calling upon men who have been actively engaged 

 during a great portion of the year, at a season 

 when they may fairly look for relaxation, to at- 

 tend a busy meeting, and to contribute to its pro- 

 ceedings ; but unless a fair quota at least of our 

 veterans, and a good muster of our younger men, 

 put in their appearance, our gatherings will be to 

 little purpose. There was a period within my 

 own recollection when it was uncertain whether 

 the then younger members of our scientific growth 

 104 



would cast in their lot with us or not, and when 

 the fate of the Association depended very much 

 upon their decision. They decided in our favor ; 

 they have since become presidents, lecturers, and 

 other functionaries of our body ; with what result 

 it is for you to judge. 



Of the advantages which may possibly accrue 

 to the locality in which our meetings are held, it 

 is not for us to speak ; but it is always a ground 

 for sincere satisfaction to learn that our presence 

 has been of any use in stimulating an interest, or 

 in promoting local efforts, in the direction of 

 science. 



The functions of the British Association do 

 not, however, terminate with the meeting itself. 

 Besides the special committees already mentioned, 

 there remains a very important body, elected by 

 the General Committee, viz., the Council, which 

 assembles at the office in London from time to 

 time as occasion requires. To this body belongs 

 the duty of proposing a president, of preparing 

 for the approval of the General Committee the 

 list of vice-presidents and sectional officers, the 

 selection of evening lecturers, and other arrange- 

 ments for the coming meeting. 



At the present time another class of questions 

 occupies a good deal of the attention of the 

 Council. In the first generation of the Associa- 

 tion, and during the period of unwritten but not 

 yet traditional law, questions relating to our own 

 organization or procedure either "settled them- 

 selves," or were wisely left to the discretionary 

 powers of those who had taken part in our pro- 

 ceedings during the early years of our existence. 

 These and other kindred subjects now require 

 more careful formularization and more deliberate 

 sanction. And it is on the shoulders of the 

 Council that the weight of these matters in gen- 

 eral falls. These facts deserve especial mention 

 on the present occasion, because one part of our 

 business at the close of this meeting will be to 

 bid farewell officially to one who has served us 

 as assistant secretary so long and so assiduously 

 that he has latterly become our main repertory 

 of information, and our Mentor upon questions 

 of precedent and procedure. The post hitherto 

 held by Mr. Griffith (for it is to him that I allude) 

 will doubtless be well filled by the able and ener- 

 getic member who has been nominated in his 

 place ; but I doubt not that even he will be glad 

 for some time to come to draw largely upon the 

 knowledge and experience of his predecessor. 



But, besides matters of internal arrangement 

 and organization, the duties of the Council com- . 

 prise a variety of scientific subjects referred to 



