132 The Scottish Naturalist. 



(2) People too frequently speak who have no qualifications for public exposi- 

 tion. It matters not, to such an audience, what may be their scientific acquire- 

 ments or literary reputation, if speakers cannot express themselves clearly, fluently, 

 intelligibly. The man or woman who has a weak or disagreeable voice — who 

 cannot command appropriate expressions extempore— ox whose knowledge of 

 English grammar and composition is deficient, should assuredly not venture to 

 speak before the " British Association." From this point of view, the oratory of 

 our University Professors was not distinguished. By far the best speeches we 

 heard were the impromptu utterances of two mere visitors — so-called "practical" 

 men— the one a London watchmaker— the other a Leeds engineer ! 



(3) There is a strong tendency to the dissipation of time by the making of pre- 

 pared speeches on the subject of a paper, instead of a mere criticism on the paper 

 itself. 



(4) There is a wonderful tendency on the part of people accustomed to dogma- 

 tise, either from the Pulpit, the Bar, or the Teacher's Rostrum, to criticise sub- 

 jects they do not understand ! 



(5) Many of the speakers have really nothing to say— to the point, or of tne 

 slightest real value : they ca?i throw no light on a given subject, and they do not. 



" Parturiunt Monies : nascitur ridiculut Mus ! " 



(6) The meetings are beset by bores : more usually, however, of the social 

 science, than of the pure science, type— though not the less troublesome on that 

 account. 



(7) Objectionable personalities are apt to be introduced into discussion here 

 as elsewhere. 



(8) The excessive length of the public addresses was a subject of universal and 

 deserved complaint. This remark applies to all the three public lectures : but 

 more especially, it was said, to Professor Abel's, which lasted more than two 

 hours. 



(9) The papers read at the sections are also, as a rule, much too long, even 

 were they of general interest, which usually they are not. They should not 

 occupy more than ten minutes or a quarter of an hour in delivery : and due time 

 should be allowed for discussion or remark on each. 



(10) The character of the papers, moreover, is not adapted for such an audi- 

 ence, which consists mainly of the general public, including a large proportion 

 of ladies. No less than 754 ladies' tickets were taken out at the Edinburgh 

 meeting. And this does not represent one-half of the ladies who attended the 

 meetings, or the gaieties connected with them : for ladies' tickets are transfer- 

 able, so that half-a-dozen ladies or more were admissible, on different occasions, 

 with the same ticket. The meetings .are, moreoyer, sedulously attended by 

 reporters for the Press, who are ready to make capital— pro bono publico through- 

 out the land— of everything that is said or done — that is seen or heard of— at so 

 pretentious an assembly. The papers selected should therefore possess, as far as 

 possible, a general interest. People go expecting and desiring to hear 



" The grand debate, 

 The popular harangue, the tart reply," 



rather than mere dry scientific facts, 

 (n) Much trash is presented in the form of papers read to sections : unsup- 



