40 National Institutions for [Jan., 



British Association has been purposely and carefully limited to 

 the altogether unexceptionable object of inquiring -whether suffi- 

 cient facihties for the prosecution of scientific research, properly so 

 called, do exist in the kingdom of Great Britain ; and of suggest- 

 ing in what dhection it seems most advisable to seek increased 

 facihties, if such are deemed to be required. Whatever scientific 

 men may think of other branches and bearings of this subject, there 

 can be no doubt that there will be at any rate an unanimous con- 

 sent to enter fairly and fully upon the underlying question of need, 

 and to face, in the most open and unreserved way, the first count of 

 Colonel Strange's indictment. It will be apparent, from the mere 

 title of the paper which was read at the Meeting of the Association 

 by Colonel Strange, namely, " On the necessity for State Interven- 

 tion to secure the Progress of Physical Science," that he has quite 

 made up his own mind that it will be abundantly apparent there is 

 the need, and that there is but one way in which that need can be 

 promptly and efiiciently supplied. But fi-om the discussion w'hich 

 followed upon the reading of the paper, it was obvious there are 

 men of high purpose and clear thought in the ranks of British 

 Philosophy who are conscious of the need, but who do not now feel 

 that there is but one way in which the defect can be remedied, and 

 the deficiency supplied. It is therefore imperative that in the first 

 instance the investigation shall be entered upon in the broadest and 

 most cosmopolitan spirit, and that the evidence sought shall be of 

 the freest and most exhaustive character. 



In the face of the course that has been determined upon by the 

 Committee of the Mathematical and Physical Section, and by 

 the Council of the British Association for the Advancement of 

 Science, it would be both presumptuous and premature to venture 

 any decided opinion as to either of the questions that are to be 

 made the subject of consideration. But there are certain views of 

 the matter that rise to the surface, out of the arguments that have 

 been already advanced in the preliminary handling of the question, 

 which it will be found advantageous at once to fix as clearly and 

 definitely as possible in the public mind, in order that there may 

 be no unnecessary confusion and misapprehension in regard to the 

 main issue. 



In the first instance it must be distinctly understood that even 

 in the extremest fonn and scope of Colonel Strange's plea there 

 is really nothing that is "revolutionary," or even fundamentally 

 new. In practice, mankind has been ah'cady constrained to admit 

 that there is absolute need for "state intervention" in carrying 

 forward the work of scientific investigation. It is out of this ab- 

 solute need, and of mankind's all but universal recognition of it, 

 that have arisen state observatories for astronomical research. All 

 such astronomical investigations as require sustained and continuous 



