Xxii REPORT—1850. 
sary, respecting the possibility of relieving the Association from the expense 
of maintaining the establishment at Kew. 
That Her Majesty’s Government be requested to institute a Statistical 
Survey relative to the Extent and Prevalence of Infantile Idiocy as a mea- 
sure greatly conducive to the public welfare. 
Involving Grants of Money. 
That the Establishment at Kew Observatory be continued (at the disposal 
of the Council for that purpose), with £300. 
That Professor J. D. Forbes be requested to institute a Series of Experi- 
ments, for the purpose of testing the results of the Mathematical Theory of 
Heat; that Professor Kelland be requested to co-operate with him; and that 
£50 be placed at the disposal of Prof. Forbes for the purpose, __ 
That the Committee for superintending the Publication of the Tabular 
Forms in reference to Periodical Pheenomena of Animals and Plants, be con- 
tinued, with £5 at their disposal. 
That Professor E. Forbes and Mr. Bell be requested to continue their as- 
sistance to Dr. Thomas Williams in his researches on the Annelida, with £10 
at their disposal. 
That the Committee on the Vitality of Seeds be requested to continue 
their attention to that subject, with £11 at their disposal. 
That a Committee, consisting of Mr. R. Hunt, Dr. G. Wilson, and Dr. 
Gladstone, be requested to investigate the influence of the solar radiations 
or chemical combinations, electrical phenomena, and the vital powers of 
plants growing under different atmospheric conditions, with £50 at their 
disposal. 
That Dr. Smith be requested to continue his investigation on the Air and 
Water of Towns, with £10 at his disposal. 
That, as the printed Queries formerly circulated for the purpose of ob- 
taining Ethnological data are now out of print, a new and revised Edition of 
them be issued by Sir Charles Malcolm and Dr. Hodgkin, with £12 at their 
disposal for the purpose. 
Rules. 
That the subject of Geography be separated from Geology, and combined 
with Ethnology, to constitute a separate Section, under the title of the Geo- 
graphical and Ethnological Section. 
That in future no Section shall omit to meet on account of Excursions, 
unless it be specially so determined in each case by the Sectional Committee. 
That for the future the names of officers and members of Committees not 
attending the Meetings of the Association be not published. 
Notice was given of an intention to propose at the next Meeting, that the 
sum now paid for Life Composition and Book Subscription (viz. £10) be 
divided into two sums of £5 and £5, the former sum being a necessary 
payment by all who compound for Annual Subscription; the latter an op- 
tional payment as a special Book Subscription. 
Reports requested. 
Professor Stokes.—On the General Theory of Vibratory Motions in Elastie 
Media. 
Professor Willis—On Acoustics. 
Mr. G. Buchanan.—On the Strength of Materials . 
