XXXvi REPORT—1846. 
concentration, as originally suggested by Linnzeus. This has now for the 
first time been executed by the Belgian Astronomer, who following out a 
plan suggested by himself at our Plymouth Meeting, has brought together 
the contributions and suggestions of the naturalists of his own country. 
When M. Quetelet remarks, “that the phases of the smallest insect are 
bound up with the phases of the plant that nourishes it; that plant itself 
being in its gradual development the product, in some sort, of all anterior 
modifications of the soil and atmosphere,” he compels the admission, that 
the study which should embrace all periodical phenomena, both diurnal and 
annual, would of itself form a science as extended as instructive. 
Referring you to M. Quetelet’s report for an explanation of the dependence 
of the vegetable and animal kingdoms on the meteorology and physics of 
the globe, and hoping that the simultaneous observations he inculcates will 
be followed up in Britain, I am happy to announce, that the outline of a 
memoir on physical geography was some months ago put into my hands 
by Mr. Cooley, which in a great degree coinciding with the system of 
M. Quetelet, has ultimately a different object. M. Quetelet chiefly aims 
at investigating the dependence of organized bodies on inorganized matter, 
by observing the periodical phenomena of the former. Mr. Cooley seeks to 
obtain an acquaintance with the same phzenomena for the sake of learning 
and registering comparative climate as an element of scientific agriculture. 
Speaking to you in a county which is so mainly dependent on the produce 
of the soil, I cannot have a more favourable opportunity for inculeating the 
value of the suggestions of this British geographer. The complete esta- 
blishment of all the data of physical geography throughout the British 
Islands ; i.e. the registration of the mean and extremes of the temperature of 
the air and of the earth; the amount of conduction, radiation, moisture and 
magnetism ; the succession of various phases of vegetation, &e. (with their 
several local corrections for elevation and aspect), must certainly advance the 
cause of science, and promote the material interests of our country. 
A minute knowledge of all the circumstances of climate cannot but be of 
importance to those whose industry only succeeds through the co-operation of 
nature, and it may therefore be inferred, how a report like that with which 
I trust Mr. Cooley will favour us, if completed by the addition of tables, 
must prove to be a useful public document. Imbibing the ardour of that 
author, I might almost hope that such researches in physical geography may 
enable us to define, in the language of the poet, 
“Et quid quaque ferat regio, et quid queeque recuset.” 
At all events, they will tend to raise physical geography in Britain towards 
the level it has attained in Prussia under the egis of Humboldt and Ritter, 
and through the beautiful maps of Berghaus. 
Though our countryman, Mr. Keith Johnston, is reproducing, in attrac- 
tive forms, the comparative maps of the last-mentioned Prussian author, much 
indeed still remains to be done in Britain, to encourage the study of physical 
geography and to place it on a basis worthy of this great exploring and colo- 
nizing nation ; and as one of the elementary aids to the training of the youth- 
ful mind to acquire some perception of the science, 1 commend the spirited 
project of M. Guerin of Paris, to establish in London a georama of vast size, 
the objects and details of which he intends to explain during this week to the 
geographers present. 
Reverting to ceconomical views and the improvement of lands, I would 
remind our agricultural members, that as their great practical Society was 
founded on the model of the British Association, we hope they will always 
