41 



Saturday, 19tli, 7^ a. m. Arran Excursion. 



10 a. m. Committees of Sections. 

 , 11 a. m. Sectional Meetings. 



2 p. m. Botanic Garden. 

 Monday, 21st, 10 a. ni. Committees of Sections. 



11 a. m. Sectional Meetings. 



8 p. m. Promenade in Exchange. 

 Tuesday, 22(], 10 a.m. Committees of Sections. 



11 a. m. Sectional Meetings. 

 5| p. m. Dinner in Theatre. 

 Wednesday, 23d, 10 a. in. Committees of Sections. » 



1 p. m. General Committee. 



3 p. m. Concluding General Meeting. 



Breakfast, daily, from 8 to 10 a. m. ? Tx^&c^' Hall, Glassford street. 



Ordinary, do. except Tuesday, 5 p. m. > 



Model Rooms open daily from 8 a. m. to 10 p_. m., Buchanan street and Argyl! 



Arcade. 



The first idea of holding these scientific meotings originated with the Germans, 

 but the British Association diflers from those of the Continent, in its relations to 

 the Government — in appropriating money for scientific purposes, and in receiving 

 representatives from all parts of the Empire. In some respects it is quite Repub- 

 lican ; and anv person who has read two papers before any recognised scientific 

 society may, on purchasing a ticket, become a member of the General or Govern- 

 ing Committee, and have a voice in all its proceedings. The property of the As- 

 sociation is vested in three permanent trustees; and the annual elective officers are, 

 a President, a General Secretary, a General Treasurer, a Local Secretary, a Local 

 Treasurer, Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Secretaries of Sections, and a Chair- 

 man of the Committee of Recommendations. The Marquis of Breadalbane was 

 the President for 1840, the Marquis of Northampton, President of the Royal So- 

 ciety, Chairman of the Committee of Recommendations, and the Duke of Argylc, 

 Vice President of the Mechanical Section. I had the pleasure of listening to a 

 paper read by this latter nobleman before the Geological Section, on the existence 

 of copper-mines in Scotland. It was an interesting spectacle to behold one of the 

 highest noblemen in the realm lecturing in a crowded room before a scientific 

 meeting, and even filling a subordinate post in the Mechanical Section. What 

 impressed on me more deeply than any thing else the importance of these meet- 

 ings, was the severe and rigorous scrutirjy to which all were subjected who ap- 

 peared before the Sections. There seemed to be no respect paid to rank, nor to 

 the high reputation of the lecturer, in the department with which his discourse 

 was connected. Agassiz, Buckland, Lyell, Sir John Robinson, Sir David Brews- 

 ter, De la Beche, &c., were all sure to be submitted to the same searching opera- 

 tion. The discussions which ensued were always interesting, and calculated to 

 elicit truth, and were characterized throughout by great candor and courtesy of 

 manner; but tiie man who ventures to address these meetings must take care to 



