864. | ( 733 ) 
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT 
OF SCIENCE. 
MEETING AT BATH, Srprempzr, 1864. 
Tue British Association established itself at Bath under circum- 
stances which at once announced to the observer of signs that it was to 
prove a success. The great influx of members and subscribers, even 
before the proceedings fairly commenced, enabled the Assistant- 
Secretary to state to the first general meeting that the numbers were 
rapidly approaching a maximum, inasmuch as no less than 2,309 had 
enrolled themselves, thus adding to the exchequer a sum of 2,458]. 
According to the official return, however, the attendance eventually 
proved less numerous than in 1868 at Newcastle, which may be ac- 
counted for by the comparatively lower population of Bath and the 
neighbourhood. Among the visitors were not a few distinguished in 
the various walks of science, and although some habitués of the 
Association might have been missed from their places, it would be 
more easy to say who was not there than to enumerate the savans who 
might be seen assisting at the various Sections. Such a numerous 
meeting fully proves how popular the Association continues to be, and 
how eager are the residents of our large towns to avail themselves of 
the opportunities afforded by the gathering of representative scientific 
men amongst them, and is a circumstance which may be regarded with 
satisfaction, as exhibiting a growing appreciation of scientific pursuits. 
But then great numbers have at the same time their disadvantages, 
Such a city as Bath, although well provided with edifices adapted for 
moderate numbers, seldom possesses under one roof space for such a 
monster assemblage as necessarily assembles at the general meetings of 
the Association, and the resources of its two most capacious build- 
ings have been severely tried on these occasions. The address of the 
President, at which all who have arrived endeavour to be present, was 
delivered in the handsome theatre, which presented a brilliant spec- 
tacle, every available spot beimg crowded from pit to gallery, while 
upon the stage was assembled around the distinguished speaker the 
élite of the intellectual society of the British Isles. Sir Charles Lyell’s 
enunciation, though low at first, soon gained a distinctness which 
caused him to be heard in every part of the edifice; his address, 
to which we devote a separate article, was listened to with marked 
attention, and when he arrived at that portion of it in which he 
declared how “fettered we have been by old traditional beliefs,” 
the pent-up interest of the great assembly asserted itself by continued 
applause. : 
On the occasions of the soirées, the Assembly-reoms have been 
brought into requisition—apartments well adapted for such a purpose, 
VOL. I. 3D 
