of the British Association . 121 



means of fostering and extending the love of literature and 

 science, and promoting its permanent advancement, to the 

 easy colloquial intercourse to which our annual convocations 

 give rise. The most elaborate and valuable reports are but 

 little known, and but imperfectly appreciated during the 

 meetings of the Association. They are for perusal in the 

 closet; and the full advantage of them is to be obtained 

 whether the reader attend our meetings or not. If the most 

 material portion of the operations of the Society is, therefore, 

 to be viewed as connected with the production of reports, or 

 even the following up of important and interesting subjects of 

 investigation, there is but little inducement by this means fur- 

 nished to personal attendance; and it is in the judicious en- 

 couragement to such attendance that, as it appears to me, the 

 life's blood of the Society consists. The Continental meetings 

 have been eminently successful ; and I should be sorry that 

 the plan of them, which has stood the test of many years' ex- 

 perience, should be too much departed from; for I should 

 fear that in considering the expediency of a distant expedi- 

 tion, the scale would hardly descend in its favour if the prime 

 object of our meetings were merely to afford certain specified 

 occupations for the intervals between them. 



The annual meeting of the British Association may with 

 propriety be regarded as a kind of Saturnalia in science, 

 as a period of relaxation and enjoyment, no less favourable to 

 the preservation and augmentation of intellectual vigour, than 

 well-regulated exercise, and change of scene and avocation, 

 are to bodily health. Too much stress, I would venture to 

 submit, has been laid on the direct, and too little on the in- 

 direct, influence of the Society, in the advancement of science; 

 for the unreserved and easy association of philosophical 

 minds has not only a tendency to remove prejudices and 

 correct errors, but to strike out new trains of thought, to 

 communicate new facts, and to suggest improved modes of 

 inquiry in every department of human knowledge. The re- 

 sult of a single meeting may thus, in fact, prepare for years 

 of investigation and research ; and it is this indirect influence 

 on the interests of science which constitutes the particular 

 charm of the Society, and its peculiar distinction from other 

 scientific associations. I need say nothing of the tendency 

 of our institution to keep up or revive old friendships, and 

 to generate new ones ; to produce an acquaintance with the 

 most agreeable parts of the human character ; and to bring 

 together men differing, perhaps, widely in some of the most 

 important points of opinion, on a sort of neutral ground, 



Third Series. Vol. 7. No. 38. Aug. 1835. R 



