476 Cambridge Philosophical Society. 



" Sufficient reasons might perhaps be adduced to explain the irregular distribu- 

 tion of the objects to which different learned bodies arc devoted, and the absence 

 of societies specially instituted for the cultivation of some branches of science. 

 The cooperation of individuals is more practicable in some cases than in others, 

 and the publication of valuable papers on some technical subjects, not of general 

 interest, would be much curtailed if the expense were always left to fall upon the 

 authors. 



" It is more difficiilt to offer satisfactory reasons for the absence of method, and 

 for the disproportionate attention given to some subjects in many schemes of ele- 

 mentary education. In the great public schools of England the time of the stu- 

 dent is still almost entirely confined to the study of the Greek and Latin writers ; 

 and the difficulties which stand in the way of the introduction of other branches 

 of know^ledge have yet to be surmounted. Still, as in the days of Milton, ' "We 

 spend seven or eight years merely in sci'aping together so much Latin and Greek, 

 as might be learned otherwise easily and delightfully in one year ; and that which 

 casts our proficiency therein so much behind, is our time lost, partly in too oft 

 idle vacancies given both to schools and universities ; partly in forcing the empty 

 wits of children to compose themes, verses, and orations.' It appears to me that 

 some general notions respecting the diflJ'erent branches of human knowledge, em- 

 bracing at least their definitions, should form a chapter in all elementary educa- 

 tion." 



The contents of the Appendix have already been stated. 



We strongly recommend Mr. Lubbock's views to the attentive 

 consideration of philosophers, of literary and scientific men in gene- 

 ral, and also to that of bibliographers and librarians. The following 

 is his " System of Classification of the different branches of human 

 knowledge," already adverted to : — 



History. Civil History ; Statistics. History. Biography. Antiquities. 

 Numismatics. Diplomacy. Genealogies. Heraldry.— Geography; Geography. 

 Hydrography. Voyages and Travels. — History of the Arts, of the Sciences, 

 AND OF Literature. Ecclesiastical History. Sacred History. 



Philosophy. — Religion. Revealed Religion. Natural Rehgion. — Jurispru- 

 de>'Ce ; Common and Civil Law. Law of Nations. Statute and Common Law. 

 — Intellectual, Moral, and Political Philosophy ; Metaphysics. Ethics. 

 Education. Political Economy. — Logic (including Language) ; Logic. Art of 

 Writing. Hieroglyphics. Art of Printing and Engraving, Mnemonics. Gram- 

 mar. Rhetoric. — Mathematics ; Pure Mathematics. Astronomy. Mechanics. 

 Optics. — Natural Philosophy ; Electricity. Magnetism. Galvanism or Vol- 

 taic Electricity. Chemistry. Meteorology. — Natural History ; Mineralogy. 

 Geology. Agriculture. Botany. Zoology. — Medicine ; Physiology and Gene- 

 ral Anatomy. Comparative Anatomy. Materia Medica and Pharmacy. General 

 Pathology and the Practice of Medicine. Surgery. Medical Jurisprudence *. — 

 [Arts, Trades, and Manufactures ; Rural and Domestic Economy. Manu- 

 factures.] — The Fine Arts. — Architecture. Sculpture. Painting. Music. 

 Poetry. 



LXXIII. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



AT a meeting of this Society on the evening of Monday the 1 1th 

 of November (Dr. Hodgson, the President, being in the chair), 

 Mr. Whewell explained a new theory of the tides. The phsenomena of 

 the tides have hitherto been referred to the equilibrimn theoi-y, the 

 elevation of the waters which occasions the tide being compared 



* By many Forensic Medicine is considered a better title for this branch. 



