REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. xix - 
intellect. I feel confident that the public itself is not with them, and that it 
would resent as an insult the imputation of valuing at a mere market price the 
only true elements of personal dignity or national glory. If the spirit of the - 
age be such that the most despotic sovereigns of Europe feel that they: cannot 
avoid the necessity of encouraging physical science, much more does it belong 
to the rulers of the freest and most enlightened nation of the world; and it 
is due to your Lordship and your colleagues to say that we have always found 
you to carry out in the fullest extent the requirements of science. ᾿ 
‘In hopes that in this instance also our appeal may not be in vain, 
“1 have the honour to be 
“ Your Lordship’s obedient Servant, 
«T. R. Ropinson, 
““ President of the British Association for the 
Advancement of Science.” 
The Right Hon. The Lord John Russell.” 
2. In consequence of the Resolution passed by the General Committee 
relative to the correction of the levels of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland, 
the President communicated with the Rev. Dr. Lloyd, President of the 
Royal Irish Academy. The President and Council of the Royal Irish 
Academy have addressed the Master-General of the Ordnance, recom- 
mending that the correction should be made, and have received a favour- 
able reply. 
3, In respect to the proposed application to the Master-General of the 
Ordnance to have the British Are of the Meridian published in its full 
extent, the Council have had the satisfaction of learning that the President 
and Council of the Royal Society entirely agreed with the British Asso- 
ciation in their estimate of the importance of the proposed publication, and 
that with the concurrence of the Marquis of Anglesey, Master-General of 
the Ordnance, an application has been made by the President of the Royal 
ociety to Lord John Russell, to place the necessary funds at the disposal 
_ of the Ordnance Department, and that the application has been favourably 
received by Lord John Russell on the part of Her Majesty’s Government. 
᾿ 4. The Sub-Committee who were appointed to organise a Committee of 
_.. Members of the Association, who are also Members of the Legislature, for 
_ the purpose of watching over the.interests of Science, request permission 
to submit their plan of proceeding to the Committee of Recommendations, 
i in order that it may come before the General Committee. 
_... 8. In pursuance of the authority granted by the General Committee to 
τ. the Council to make arrangements for the proper distribution of the un- 
ο΄ sold Copies of the Volumes of Reports of the British Association, the 
_. Council appointed a Select Committee to consider and report on the sub- 
ject. A first report of the Committee has been received and will be taken 
_ into early consideration. 
6. For the more effectual discharge of the trust reposed in them of 
general superintendence of the Observatory at Kew, the Council named a 
. Committee, consisting of Members of their own body, who at their request 
undertook the duty of frequent visitation, and of special superintendence 
. over the experiments and observations to be made there, The Council 
have great satisfaction in stating that the gentlemen who undertook the 
_ duties of this Committee have discharged them with remarkable assiduity, 
τς and that they have been assisted at their Meetings by the attendance of 
_ other Members of the Council who participate in the desire of rendering 
. Kew an effective and important establishment. The Council have received 
C2 
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