THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 327 
gaged in commercial or professional pursuits, it 
cannot be expected that gentlemen will be found, 
who can afford to dedicate their time to the details 
of abstract science. The institutions of Bristol, 
and, as we believe, of Manchester, have seen this, 
and have accordingly appointed curators to their 
museums and libraries; the duties of which, quite 
distinct from those of the secretary, can only be 
advantageously performed by a person well versed 
in taxidermy, or the preservation of animals; and 
who has a competent knowledge of practical natural 
history in general. Such individuals are always to 
be found, but their remuneration must be propor- 
tionably adequate, and sufficient to render the 
situation respectable. A zoological garden has re- 
cently been established at Liverpool; which, as an 
ornament to the town, and a recreation to its inha- 
bitants, will, doubtless, be much encouraged ; and 
may in time lead to some useful and scientific. 
purpose. 
(231.) There is yet another institution, or ra- 
ther society, of a higher and more comprehensive 
description than those just noticed, and which dif- 
fers most materially from all the local associations 
we have yet noticed. We allude to the British 
Association for the Advancement of Science, in- 
stituted very recently, in imitation of that scientific 
congress of learned men upon the Continent, whose 
proceedings have become so celebrated. Some 
misapprehensions respecting the objects embraced 
by our British Association arose in the first instance, 
which deterred several of our working savans from 
immediately joining it: doubts also were entertained 
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