256 THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 



as have been afforded at Oxford, Cambridge, Edin- 

 burgh, and Dubhn. 



Again, with regard to the introduction to foreign 

 philosophers ; by what other means, could they have 

 been so effectually brought in juxta-position with 

 the philosophers of Great Britain and Ireland. I 

 have already alluded to the names of many of the 

 eminent men who have been brought to our country 

 by a desire to participate in the numerous advantages 

 afforded by this Association. And I need only refer 

 you to the friendships, which such communion is 

 likely to occasion and mature ; and what an advan- 

 taoe it is to a man in the pursuit of any branch of 

 Science, to have an opportunity of conferring with 

 minds bent on similar pursuits, and congenial enqui- 

 rers to induce you to accord to me, that this intention 

 has been perfectly realized. 



I come now to the consideration of another point ; 

 the obtaining a more general attention to the objects 

 of science ; stationary and Metropolitical Societies 

 can never occasion, — can never excite men to such a 

 general attention as occasional and itinerant assem- 

 blies will do ; the very circumstance attending the 

 assembly of so many eminent men, cannot fail to 

 attract the attention of all others ; but it has a better 

 effect, by bringing to a fixed point, the labours of 

 the learned ; do we not all feel, and acknowledge, 

 that when an hour is fixed for the delivery of an 

 essay in this hall, whatever our other occupations 

 are, and how difficult it is to obtain leisure for its 

 composition, yet it is done ; so with regard to man- 

 kind in general, such is our disposition to postpone 

 labour, that, if fixed periods are not determined on, 

 time passes on, and the fruition of our labours is not 

 accomplished. It is therefore a most desirable cir- 

 cumstance, that an annual period is fixed, at which 

 promised reports must be prepared ; communications 

 of discoveries, or theoretical suggestions, if desired 

 to be preserved to their authors must be made, 

 least before the revolution of a similar period, these 



