XXX SEVENTH REPORT—1837. 
several governments of Europe, and of our Trans-Atlantic brethren, 
be extended over a large portion of the civilized world. The second 
suggestion was the importance of an Antarctic Expedition, for prose- 
cuting discoveries and observations in Geography, Hydrography, Na- 
tural History, and, above all, Magnetism, with a view to determine the 
positive southern magnetic pole or poles, and the direction and intensity 
of the magnetic force in antarctic regions. The East India Company 
was likewise to be requested to favour the same objects, especially at 
their establishment at Madras. 
The General Committee some time ago made application to the au- 
thorities, both in France and this country, respecting some mode of in- 
stituting a reciprocal protection to literary property. Might I venture 
here to allude to a recommendation which I hope the Association will 
not fail to leave in Liverpool, for the promotion of a scientific object of 
immense consequence to this port—the establishment of an Observatory 
in or near Liverpool? The adoption of such suggestions, while con- 
ferring an incalculable benefit on science, would rear a proud, impe- 
rishable, and bloodless monument to national greatness. 
These statements might be a sufficient answer to a question, some- 
times put in tones of captious sarcasm,— What has the Association di- 
rectly contributed to the progress of useful knowledge? Without 
again appealing to the very admirable reports on the progress of science 
published in our Transactions ; without again claiming merit for the 
suggestions and efforts already noticed,—I should fearlessly answer 
such cavillers, by an appeal to the value and number of the communi- 
cations, which have occupied the different Sections, at each annual 
meeting, and which contain the application of pure science to important 
questions in Physics, or of experimental investigation to numerous 
branches of knowledge. I would point to the valuable researches 
which have been undertaken and completed at the request of the 
Association, among which it may be permitted to indicate the fol- 
lowing memoirs :—-The comparison of the standards of Linear Measure, 
made by the late Mr. Troughton, for the town of Aberdeen, and the 
Astronomical Society of London, which were confided to Mr. Baily— 
a comparison of much consequence, as the standard yard, by the same 
artist, was lost in the fire which consumed both Houses of Parliament ; 
On the Investigation of the Impact upon Beams, when struck by bodies 
of different weight, hardness, and elasticity, by Mr. Hodgkinson; On 
the Direction and Intensity of the Magnetic Force in England, Ireland, 
and Scotland, by Professor Lloyd, Major Sabine, and Captain James 
Ross; On the influence of Height above the Sea on Magnetic Intensity, 
SF an pl RBS ily i tee i 
