294 Proceedings of the British Association for 1850. 



stitute, like that of France, established on the basis of out 

 existing institutions, and a class of resident members enabled 

 to devote themselves wholly to science, the youth of Scotland 

 would instantly start for the prize, and would speedily achieve 

 their full share in the liberality of the State. Our universi- 

 ties would then breathe a more vital air. Our science would 

 put forth new energies, and our literature might rise to the 

 high level at which it stands in our sister land. But it is to 

 the nation that the greatest advantages would accrue. With 

 gigantic manufacturing establishments, depending for their 

 perfection and success on mechanics and chemistry ; with a 

 royal and commercial marine almost covering the ocean ; with 

 steam ships on every sea ; with a system of agriculture lean- 

 ing upon science as its mainstay ; with a network of railways 

 demanding for their improvement, and for the safety of the 

 traveller, and for the remuneration of their public-spirited 

 projectors, the highest efforts of mechanical skill, the time 

 has now arrived for summoning to the service of the State 

 all the theoretical and practical wisdom of the country ; for 

 rousing what is dormant, combining what is insulated, and 

 uniting in one grand institution the living talent which is in 

 active but undirected and unsupported exercise around us. 

 In thus pleading for the most important of the objects of the 

 British Association, I feel that I am not pleading for a cause 

 that is hopeless. The change has not only commenced, but 

 has made considerable progress. Our scientific institutions 

 have already, to a certain extent, become national ones. 

 Apartments belonging to the nation have been liberally 

 granted to them. Royal medals have been founded, and 

 large sums from the public purse devoted to the objects which 

 they contemplate. The Museum of Economic Geology, in- 

 deed, is itself a complete section of a Royal Institute, giving 

 a scientific position to six eminent philosophers, all of whom 

 are distinguished members of this Association. And in every 

 branch of science and literature the liberality of the Crown 

 has been extended to numerous individuals, whose names 

 would have been enrolled among the Members of a National 

 Institution. The cause, therefore, is far advanced ; and every 

 act of liberality to eminent men, and every grant of money 



