DEUTSCHER NATURFORSCHER 7 



time, was looking to the Continent for guidance in 

 the task of strengthening the relationship between 

 science and the public interests. And it has to be 

 admitted that the British Association was founded 

 upon a German model. It is therefore a matter 

 of historical concern to observe how closely that 

 model was followed, and to that end to examine 

 in some detail the objects and origin of the model 

 itself. This was the Deutscher Naturforscher Ver- 

 sammlung, upon which an article, written in 1831 

 by James F. W. Johnston, appears in the Edin- 

 burgh Journal of Science, N.S. vol. iv. As to the 

 objects of the German society, Johnston writes 

 in terms which almost exactly fit the case of the 

 British Association to this day : 



' The first object of these meetings is to promote 

 . . . acquaintance and friendly personal intercourse 

 among men of science ; but other great and perhaps 

 more important benefits grow spontaneously out 

 of them. They draw public attention to science 

 and scientific men, and make people inquire con- 

 cerning both them and their pursuits. They 

 exalt science in general estimation, and with it 

 those who devote themselves to its advancement ; 

 and, above all, they spur on the Governments of the 

 different States to examine into and ameliorate the 

 condition of their scientific institutions; and to 

 seek for men of true science to fill the chairs of public 

 instruction. Such and similar benefits have already 

 resulted from the meetings in Germany. Might not 

 similar results in our own country be looked for 

 from a similar institution ? ' 



The German society was originated by Lorenz 

 Oken (1779-1851), who became Professor of Natural 



