38 National Institutions for [Jan., 



epoch was more advanced than in Bohemia ; * and they become of 

 great value by indicating local inequalift/ of progress in the act 

 of deposition during this ejxDch — suggesting, moreover, that any of 

 the Silurian stages may he in p'ocess of formation about the same 

 time ivith another in different ixirts of the world." t 



Now there can be no doubt that our quotations No. 1 and 

 No. 5 show that the author's mind is fairly imbued with the 

 theory of homotaxis in a legitimate and moderate degree ; but the 

 only word in the remaining quotations which can possibly receive a 

 *' homotixeous " construction is proximate or proximately ; and it is 

 extremely remarkable that this qualification of otherwise rigorous 

 statements occurs in each of the three remaining sentences (Nos. 2, 

 3, and 4). In a postscript Dr. Bigsby gives a hst of "additional 

 subjects," and amongst them we find the following : " The greater 

 or less synchronism of strata far apart ; measured, where possible. 

 Was America inhabited before Europe, &c. ? — as seems probable. 

 On the whole, therefore, we must regard our author, veteran though 

 he be, as a geologist of the advanced modem school, and possessing 

 an elasticity of mind not at all common amongst scientific men of 

 his generation. 



V. ON NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR PEACTICAL 

 SCIENTIFIC EE8EAECH. 



By Lieutenant-Colonel Strange, F.E.S., Government Inspector of 

 Scientific Instruments, India Department, and Dr. Mann, 

 F.E.A.S., F.E.G-.S., &c., Superintendent of Education, and 

 Special Commissioner of the Government of Natal. J 



At the recent Meeting of the British Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science, held in the city of Norwich in the month of 

 August last (18G8), the Inspector of Scientific Instruments for the 

 India Department brought a subject before the Mathematical and 

 Physical Section of the Congress which had obviously been engaging 

 his attention and thoughts very seriously for some considerable time. 

 In a somewhat lengthened experience in one special department of 

 hard scientific work, Colonel Strange has been led to the important 

 conclusion that unquestionable and vast as has been the service pure 

 and practical science has received from the hands of British contri- 

 butors, this service has not been commensurate with the proud and 



* These and the following italics arc ours. 



t P. xlvii. 



X The authors arc the Chairman and Secretary of a C'onnnittec appointed hy 

 the Urilish Associiition for tiie Advancement of Science, at its Sesbiou in Norwich, 

 Augnst, 18G8, for the investigation of this suhject. 



