AND THE STATE 225 



appears in this connexion, when it is reported that 

 Professor Tyndall expressed ' his entire satisfaction 

 in the result of the intervention of the British 

 Association.' 



1859-60. ' The importance of telegraphic com- 

 munication between seaports of the British Isles 

 has been the subject of much attention since it was 

 urged on the General Committee by the Aberdeen 

 meeting [1859]. . . . Admiral Fitzroy has been 

 authorised to proceed in bringing to a practical issue 

 the recommendations offered on this subject to the 

 scientific department of the Board of Trade, and [the 

 Council] congratulate the Association on the share 

 they have taken in a cause so dear to humanity/ 1 



The Association collaborated with the Royal 

 Geographical Society in procuring the dispatch of 

 another African expedition, and one of the most 

 noteworthy of all that under Speke and Grant, when 

 Speke was enabled to verify his previously conceived 

 idea as to the connexion of Victoria Nyanza with the 

 River Nile, and an exploration of the then unknown 

 territory of Uganda was carried out. 



1860-61. Endeavours were renewed to procure 

 the publication of details of steam trials by the 

 Admiralty, but that body did not respond enthusias- 

 tically, and pointed out ' that the ships of the Royal 

 Navy only employed steam occasionally, and only 

 as an auxiliary power.' 



1862-64. A committee of the Mechanical and 

 Chemical Sections investigated the application of 

 gun-cotton to purposes of warfare, and following its 

 report, a resolution asked for the appointment of a 



1 Report of the Council. 



