220 THE ASSOCIATION 



this year that ' the Koyal Society Council having 

 referred the question of the proposed juxtaposition 

 of scientific societies ' to it, several of its members 

 accompanied a deputation to the Chief Commissioner 

 of Works to discuss the possible allocation of accom- 

 modation for scientific societies in Burlington House. 1 

 1854-55. The Parliamentary Committee pre- 

 sented a report on a very large question which had 

 been referred to it whether any measures could be 

 adopted by the Government or Parliament that 

 would improve the position of science or its cultivators 

 in this country. This is a document of no little 

 interest. Most of its arguments continue to ring 

 familiarly down to the present time, or have only 

 lately ceased to do so. The suggestions which the 

 Committee commends to the attention of Govern- 

 ment and other authorities include the following. 

 First of all stand reforms at those universities ' which 

 do not at present exact a certain proficiency in 

 physical science as a condition preliminary to obtain- 

 ing a degree.' It is almost unnecessary to observe 

 that Oxford University undergoes severe strictures 

 in this connexion from many of the advisers whom 

 the committee consulted. ' It is melancholy,' says 

 one, ' to see the number of Oxford graduates who do 

 not know the elementary principles of a telescope, 

 a barometer, or a steam-engine. The contempt of 

 anything manual or mechanical . . . still prevails to 

 a large extent among the upper classes.' And again, 

 the report quotes that of the Oxford University 

 Commission of the time with reference to ' the incon- 

 veniences suffered by Oxford graduates when thrown 



1 See, further, Chap. VIII, p. 252. 



