xlvii 
alive to the advantages which flow from the social intercourse of these 
meetings, by bringing together, into friendly communion, from distant 
parts, those who are struggling on in advancing experimental science. 
This principle of union.(which we are proud to have borrowed from 
our German brethren) has indeed been hitherto found to work so well 
amongst our own countrymen, that we cannot but doubly recognize its 
value when we see assembled so many distinguished persons from 
foreign countries. In the presence of these eminent men*, we forbear 
to allude to individual distinctions, conscious that any brief attempt of 
our own would fall far short of a true estimate of merits, the high 
order of which is known to every cultivator of science. Well, how- 
ever, may we rejoice in having drawn such spirits to our Isle ; valuable, 
we trust, may be the comparisons we shall make between the steps 
which the sciences are making in their countries and in our own. 
That advantages, indeed, of no mean order arise from such social 
intercourse, is a feeling now so prevalent, that foreign national associa- 
tions for the promotion of natural knowledge, have rapidiy increased. 
Germany, France, and Italy have their annual Assemblies, and our 
allies of the Northern States hold their sittings beyond the Baltic. 
In all this there is doubtless much good, but an occasional more exten- 
sive intercourse of a similar nature, to be repeated at certain intervals, 
is greatly to be desired. 
It has therefore appeared to us (and we say it after consultation with 
many of our continental friends, who equally feel the disadvantage), 
that the formation of a general congress of science might be promoted 
at this meeting, which, not interfering with any assemblies yet fixed 
upon, or even contemplated, may be so arranged as to permit the at- 
tendance of the officers and active members of each national scientific 
institution. 
Should the British Association take the first step in proposing a 
measure of this kind by soliciting the illustrious Humboldt to act 
as President, we are sure that scientific men of all nations would 
gladly unite in offering this homage to a man whose life and fortune 
have been spent in their cause, whose voice has been so instrumental 
in awakening Europe to the inquiry into the laws of terrestrial mag- 
netism, and whose ardent search after nature’s truths has triumphed 
over the Andes and the Altai. 
If such be your suggestion, then will a fresh laurel be added to the 
wreath to this city. She who, through the power bequeathed toher by 
* Encke, Link, Jacobi, &c, 
