ADDRESS. lxv 
the Association at Glasgow, they have analysed the replies obtained, and 
have recommended certain general measures founded thereon. The most 
important of these recommendations are the provision, at the cost of the nation, 
of a central building in London, in which the principal Scientific Societies of 
the metropolis may be located together; and the formation of a Scientific 
Board, to have the control and expenditure of the public funds allotted to the 
advancement of science. This Report was brought under the consideration 
of your Committee of Recommendations at the last two Meetings of the Asso- 
ciation; and the opinions of the members of the General Committee have been 
since invited in reference to its suggestions. The Council of the Royal 
Society have likewise deliberated on the same question, and have passed 
certain resolutions on the subject, which accord in substance with the con- 
clusions of the Parliamentary Committee. A copy of these resolutions 
was forwarded by Lord Wrottesley, as President of the Society, to Lord 
Palmerston ; and motions have been made in both Houses of Parliament for 
the production of the correspondence. 
The first of the objects above referred to—namely, the juxtaposition of 
the Scientific Societies of London in one locality—has been since accomplished 
by the grant of Burlington House for the use of the Royal, Linnzan, and 
Chemieal Societies; and the result affords a fresh instance of the readiness 
of Her Majesty’s Government to listen to, and comply with, the suggestions 
of men of science, when deliberately and carefully made. I cannot but 
think that this important step is fraught with consequences affecting the 
promotion of science, and extending far beyond the external and obvious 
advantages, which it ensures to the Scientific Societies more immediately 
benefited. 
_ Another mode in which this Association has materially aided in the 
advancement of science is through the instrumentality of its Observatory at 
Kew. The objects which are at present attained by that important establish- 
_ ment are, the trial and improvement of instrumental methods, and especially 
+ of those connected with the photographic registration of natural phenomena; 
| the verification of meteorological instruments, and the construction of stand- 
ard barometers and thermometers; the supervision of apparatus to be 
. employed by scientific travellers, and the instruction of the observers in their 
use; and lastly, the conduct of special experimental researches, undertaken by 
members of the Association at its request. In all these various ways, the 
_ labours of the Kew Observatory have tended, in no small degree, to the 
_ advancement of the sciences of Observation and Experiment in this country ; 
_and the result is due, not only to the sagacity of the Committee under whose 
_ Management it is placed, but also, and eminently, to the zeal and talents of 
_ Mr. Welsh, and the gentleman who has the immediate charge of the esta- 
blishment. 
_ There is but one other topic connected with the administration of -the 
| 1857. e 
