XXviii THIRD REPORT — 1833. 



Committee, he stated that another had come into operation, the 

 object of which was to promote statistical inquiries. It had 

 originated with some distinguished philosophers, but could not 

 be regarded as a legitimate branch of the Association till it had 

 received the recognition of the governing body ; there could be 

 little doubt, however, that the new Section would obtain the 

 sanction of the General Committee, with some limitation per- 

 haps of the specific objects of inquiry. On this subject he 

 made the following observations :— 



" Some remarks may be expected from me in reference to the 

 objects of this Section, as several Members may perhaps think 

 them ill fitted to a Society formed only for the promotion of 

 natural science. To set, as far as I am able, these doubts at 

 rest, I will explain what I understand by science, and what I 

 think the proper objects of the Association. By science, then, 

 I understand the consideration of all subjects, whether of a pure 

 or mixed nature, capable of being reduced to measurement and 

 calculation. All things comprehended under the categories of 

 space, time and number properly belong to our investigations ; 

 and all phaenomena capable of being brought under the sem- 

 blance of a law ai*e legitimate objects of our inquiries. But there 

 are many important subjects of human contemplation which come 

 under none of these heads, being separated from them by new- 

 elements ; for they bear upon the passions, affections and feel- 

 ings of our moral nature. Most important parts of our nature 

 such elements indeed are ; and God forbid that I should call 

 upon any man to extinguish them ; but they enter not among 

 the objects of the Association. The sciences of morals and 

 politics are elevated far above the speculations of our philosophy. 

 Can, then, statistical inquiries be made compatible with our 

 objects, and taken into the bosom of our Society ? I think 

 they unquestionably may, so far as they have to do with matters 

 of fact, with mere abstractions, and with numerical results. 

 Considered in that light they give what may be called the raw 

 material to political economy and political philosophy ; and by 

 their help the lasting foundations of those sciences may be per- 

 haps ultimately laid. These inquiries are, however, it is import- 

 ant to observe, most intimately connected with moral phaeno- 

 mena and economical speculations, — they touch the mainsprings 

 of passion and feeling, — they blend themselves with the generali- 

 zations of political science ; but when we enter on these higher 

 generalizations, that moment they are dissevered from the ob- 

 jects of the Association, and must be abandoned by it, if it 

 means not to desert the secure ground which it has now taken. 



" Should any one afiirm (what, indeed, no one is prepared 



