XXXVi EIGHTH REPORT — 1838. 



train of practical utilities, wiiicli individuals cannot be expected to 

 undertake, unless provided with pecuniary assistance. We have al- 

 ready said, that one of the principles on which the Association pro- 

 ceeds, is not to look to government for anything which can be other- 

 wise attained; but when this Institution was established, the founders 

 of it foresaw that it might itself be made applicable, in a great degree, 

 to the object of supplying funds for such undertakings. The resources- 

 of other societies are emjiloyed on their publications or collections ; 

 and it is one of the rules of the German scientific " Reunions," that 

 they shall possess no propertj^ Our objects were more extensive than 

 theirs, and, therefore, our plan was different. We have accumulated 

 property and expended it, to give wings to investigation, partly by 

 providing instruments and materials for carrying on certain determi- 

 nate inquiries, and partly in defraying the expense of labour, especially 

 labour of that kind, which, whilst it is of the highest value in its re- 

 sults, possesses no attractions in its execution, and would meet with no 

 adequate remuneration. 



The present volume of our Transactions contains many proofs of 

 the service which the Association has rendered by such applications of 

 its pecuniary means. In the account there rendered of the discussion 

 of observations of the Tides, Mr. Lubbock (the Reporter) thus ex- 

 plains the manner in which the last grant of money placed at his dis- 

 posal has been employed. He reports that two gentlemen had been 

 engaged by him to discuss the observations which had been accumu- 

 lated at Liverpool and the London Docks, — the one series continued 

 during nineteen years, and consisting of 13,391 observations, the 

 other carried on for thirty-five years, and including 24-,592 obser- 

 vations, — and also to examine carefully the esiahlishment and average 

 height of high loater in order to ascertain the fluctuation to which these 

 quantities are subject ; and after bearing testimony to the pains and 

 accuracy with which the work has been executed, and stating the 

 conclusions which result from these laborious calculations, adds, that 

 " they never could have been undertaken but for the interest winch 

 lias been felt on the subject by some of the most distinguished mem- 

 bers of the Association, and but for the pecuniary grants which have 

 at different times been devoted to this object," expressing, at the same 

 time, a well-grounded hope " that when these results (which have since 

 been published in the Philosophical Transactions) are carefully ex- 

 amined, they will not be found disproportionate in value to the great 

 labour and expense m hich liave been required for their attainment." 

 A service of a similar description has been rendered to astronomy in 

 the determination, by Dr. Robinson, of the disputed Constant of Nu' 

 tation from the Gi'eenwich Observations. Of this work, which in- 

 volves much labour of reduction, and which, to use the words of the 



