PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING. Xi 



iron-furnaces of Yorkshire. He concluded by recommending to 

 the meeting a strict adherence to the principle of excluding 

 from their discussions every subject of a nature not strictly 

 scientific, and expressed the satisfaction with which he resigned 

 his office into the hands of one who had ali'eady been placed at 

 the head of science in Scotland, and who had added to laurels 

 gained in fighting the battles of his country the glory of having 

 kindled up the light of philosophj^ even at the antipodes. 



The President (Sir Thomas Brisbane) assured the meeting of 

 the strong desire which animated individuals of every rank in 

 the city of Edinburgh and its neighbourhood to give the warm- 

 est welcome to the Association, and to uphold, by its reception, 

 the national character for hospitality. He announced that the 

 Principal and Professors of the University had given the 

 free use of their class-rooms and of other apartments in the 

 College, which would be found admirably adapted for the Sec- 

 tional meetings of the Association ; and he added that other 

 public bodies had not been backward in making similar oflfers, 

 and in contributing whatever lay in their power towards its ac- 

 commodation. 



The senior Secretary (Mr. Robison) stated the course of pro- 

 ceeding which it was intended to adopt in conducting the busi- 

 ness of the present meeting. The principal variation to be 

 made fi-om the course pursued in former yeai-s consisted in de- 

 voting the entire moi'ning to the meetings of the Sections and 

 their Committees ; and transacting the detail of scientific business 

 solely at the morning meetings. In tlie evening the Chair would 

 be taken at eight o'clock ; the officers of each Committee would 

 give a short summary of the proceedings which had taken place 

 in their respective Sections, and these statements would be fol- 

 lowed by any communications of a more popular character that 

 might be selected for the evening meetings. In addition to 

 what had been already said of the liberal conduct of public 

 bodies in Edinburgh, he was bound to mention the peculiar ob- 

 ligation under which the Association lay to the proprietors of 

 the building in which they were then assembled, who had not 

 only granted the gratuitous use of their apartments, but had ex- 

 pended a large sum of money in preparing and decorating them 

 for the meeting. 



The junior Secretary (Professor Forbes) then delivered the 

 following address : 



" It having been suggested that the general view of the pro- 

 gress of the affairs of the Association, so ably executed last year 

 by Mr. Whewell, should annually be continued by the Secretary 

 for the time being, I have undertaken this portion of the duties 



b2 



