130 MEETING OP THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 



meeting. He apologized for the delay which had occurred, but 

 hoped it would be excused on account of the importance of the sub- 

 jects which had been discussed before the committee. Invitations 

 had been sent from Bristol, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, 

 and Newcastle, soliciting the Association to fix its next meeting in 

 those several places, and the decision was finally made in favour of 

 Bristol, on account cf that city having sent the first decided invita- 

 tion. Every kind of accomodation had been offered by the public 

 and corporate bodies. A difficulty then arose in selecting the offi- 

 cers of the Association in provincial towns, as they might not wish 

 to undergo the arduous labours and duties necessary to give effect 

 to the proceedings ; but there did not appear to be the least proba- 

 bility of any inconvenience arising in the present instance. Mr. 

 Harcourt then enumerated the several sums of money recommended 

 by the sections to be advanced for the prosecution of scientific ob- 

 jects in various branches ; and of a determination to apply to go- 

 vernment to send out an expedition to the Antarctic regions, for the 

 purpose of discovering the Southern magnetic poles. He would not 

 waste time in advocating the propriety of the system adopted by the 

 Association, for there could not be a doubt of its being the most ef- 

 ficacious in imparting knowledge. The resources, he had much 

 gratification in announcing, had increased to a greater degree at 

 this than at any former meeting. From the occurrences in the sec- 

 tions, not only were new subjects remarked, but the spirit which 

 these discoveries evinced, was also shewn. The members also de- 

 rived incitement to new exertions, from the kindness with which 

 they had been treated in every place, and surely in none more than 

 the metropolis of Ireland. In science, the Association afforded im- 

 portant means for facilitating discoveries, and for awarding the just 

 meed of approbation to the talents of distinguished philosophers. It 

 was said to Dr. Black, by a friend, " How do you happen to have 

 made important discoveries, and then stop short of completing those 

 inventions, as Priestley and Watt have done." " They have not 

 escaped me," was the reply, " but I am afraid of the reviewers."—. 

 The reviewers might formerly have had the power to repress merit, 

 but they could not do so any longer. If any man were too modest 

 to give an account of his scientific proceedings to the section, another 

 member would be prepared to act as a deputy, in order to get that 

 praise awarded to him which he might happen to deserve. There 

 were nupierous other points in which the merits of the Association 

 could be considered,, but time did not allow him to dilate upon them. 

 Mr. Harcourt then read the names of the officers appointed for the 

 year . — Treasurer, Mr. John Taylor ; General Secretaries, Mr. V. 

 Harcourt, and Mr. Baillie ; Assistant General Secretary, Professor 

 Phillips ; Secretaries, Dr. Turner, and Mr. Yates. The funds of 

 the Society were then stated by Mr. Taylor, the Treasurer : — on 

 the 30th of July last, there was cash in the Treasurer's hands to the 

 amount of £509, in the stocks £2,361, unsold copies of works about 

 £560. In Dublin, the Treasurer had received 1,228 subscribers^ 



