PHYSICAL SCIENCES 47 



whose life-work is centred upon some minutia of 

 study. The beginnings of evolution are visible, not 

 only in those departments of science with which 

 the word became identified through Charles Darwin, 

 but in all. 



PHYSICAL SCIENCES 



Thus in the physical sciences we trace this 

 tendency, in the first place, from the isolated work 

 of Newton (1642-1727), who through his demonstra- 

 tion of the force of gravity could apply recognised 

 principles of dynamics to the movement and ordering 

 of the solar system, and enabled later workers, right 

 on into the period of the Association, to discuss its 

 evolution. At the moment of the foundation of the 

 Association astronomy might have appeared almost 

 a complete science, subject only to the collection 

 of additional observations. In this direction, as in 

 other departments of cosmical physics, meteorology, 

 tidal phenomena, etc., the Association rendered 

 powerful service where it was most urgently needed. 

 ' How little has been done for science/ Whewell 

 exclaimed in his presidential address in 1841, 'by 

 the exact and long-continued series of observations, 

 such as he must have before him who is to interpret 

 nature/ Indeed, the collection of observed facts 

 upon which theories might be based and developed, 

 in whatever department of science, has always been 

 a branch of scientific labour for which the Association 

 offers peculiar facilities : it gathers together workers 

 who in course of discussion find subjects in which 

 they require additional data and form themselves 

 into committees for obtaining them. Of this process 

 later chapters will furnish examples. 



