ADDRESS BY MR. MURCHISON. XXXV 



possesses a naval officer* in whom these qualifications unite in a 

 remarkable degree with all others that are requisite ; and if fitting in- 

 struments make fitting times, none surely can be better than the pre- 

 sent. Viewed in itself and in its various relations, the magnetism of 

 the earth cannot be counted less than one of the most important 

 branches of the physical history of the planet we inhabit; and we may 

 feel quite assured, that the completion of our knowledge of its distri- 

 bution on the surface of the earth would be regarded by our contem- 

 poraries and by posterity as a fitting enterprise of a maritime people, 

 and a worthy achievement of a nation which has ever sought to rank 

 foremost in every arduous and honourable undertaking. 



The course pursued by the Association in reference to this object is 

 well calculated to show the system of its operations, and the active but 

 yet unintrusive and guarded spirit in which it prosecutes its aims. It 

 was proposed at one of our meetings by the Committee of the Physical 

 Section, that a repi-esentation should be made to government of the 

 advantage which would accrue to science from an expedition to the 

 Southern Ocean, devoted to the purpose chiefly of instituting mag- 

 netical observations. This proposal first underwent the revision of the 

 Committee of Recommendations, and then obtained the sanction of 

 the General Committee of scientific members; subsequent circum- 

 stances, however, being considered by the Council as unfavourable to 

 the success of the application, it was not urged at that time upon the 

 government, yet the object was not lost sight of. The Association 

 next procured reports to be drawn up, (from one of which we have 

 quoted the foregoing paragraph,) presenting a luminous exposition, 

 both from published and unpublished sources, of the present state of 

 our knowledge of the magnetism of the earth, and of the reasons which 

 there are for wishing to extend to the Southern hemisphere those re- 

 searches which in the Northern have led to such important conclu- 

 sions ; and thus has the way been prepared through information thus 

 communicated to the public for pursuing the intended course with 

 advantage, and making a more efiectual application to the government. 

 There may be, once in an age, or in many ages, an individual ani- 

 mated by so lofty an ardour for the advancement of a favourite branch 

 of knowledge, as to engage, at his own cost, in an enterprise (like a 

 recent survey of the southern skies) which it might have become a 

 nation to take upon itself; and there may be au individual whose dis- 

 interested munificence may extend to the point of rendering labours of 

 this magnitude as available to the public as if the state itself had con- 

 tributed its aid ; but such sacrifices to science are not only uncommon, 

 they are in general impracticable ; and there are numerous most im- 

 portant data and elements for philosophical reasoning, with all its 



* Capt. James Ross, R. N. 

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