280 The Field Naturalist's Quarterly November 



science in different parts of the British Empire with one 

 another and with foreign philosophers — to obtain a more 

 general attention to the objects of science, and a removal 

 of any disadvantages of a public kind which impede its 

 progress." 



It was to the last of these objects that Sir Norman 

 Lockyer devoted his attention, somewhat to the disappoint- 

 ment of many who had hoped to hear him on his own 

 special subject. But we cannot help thinking that he was 

 right in saying that unless by some means or other we do 

 obtain a more general attention to the objects of science, 

 and a removal of any disadvantages of a public kind which 

 impede its progress, we shall suffer in competition with 

 other communities in which science is more generally 

 utilised for the purposes of national life. Most observers 

 are of opinion that we have already suffered in this respect. 

 The struggle for existence in modern communities is a 

 struggle between organised species — nations, — a struggle 

 in which science and brains are taking the place of swords 

 and sinews, and the new battlefields of this warfare are the 

 school, the universities, the laboratory, and the workshop. 

 The great need is for a body dealing with the organisation 

 of science in this country, a body analogous to the Chamber 

 of Commerce in the commercial world, a body which will 

 formulate the demands of science in the nation's welfare, 

 and submit those demands to the proper quarters for 

 carrying them out. This function, the President contended, 

 was to be found already in existence in the British Associa- 

 tion, if it carried out its duty as mentioned in the last of 

 the above-quoted objects of its existence. It is evident 

 that this function was strongly in the minds of its founders, 

 and the organisation is framed admirably for influencing 

 public opinion, and so for bringing pressure upon govern- 

 ments. The following facts show this : — ( I ) The Associa- 

 tion is not limited to any branch or branches of science ; 

 (2) it has a wide and numerous fellowship, which renders 

 possible strong committees on any subject; (3) the annual 

 meeting is held at a time when people can pay attention to 

 the deliberations, and when the press can print reports ; 

 (4) recruits and committees can be obtained and estab- 



