Sept 14, 1876] 



NATURE 



425 



have expressed an opinion in favour of the existence of 

 two planets at nearly the same mean distance. With 

 respect to a period of twenty-eight days, we remark that 

 reckoning from 1876, April 4, it will agree with the 

 observations of Lescarbault and Lummis, but not with 

 that of Decuppis ; while it also agrees with the obser- 

 vation of Stark, 1819, October 9, a very definite one, 

 which is not brought in with a period of forty-two days. 

 The shorter period will be found to correspond with a 

 mean distance of o"i8.] 



SCIENCE IN SCHOOLS 



'T^HE accompanying letter, signed by several men of 

 -*■ Science and Head-masters, has been sent to the 

 General Committee of the British Association : — 



Dear Sir, — It is hoped that a Committee may be 

 formed at this year's meeting of the British Association 

 for the promotion of Science Teaching in Schools. Its 

 proposed functions would be — 



1. To communicate with head-masters and governing 

 bodies as to carrying out the recommendations contained 

 in Report VI. of the Science Commission, and to offer 

 advice, if required, on all necessary details of selection, 

 arrangement, and outlay. 



2. To press upon the Universities such steps in connec- 

 tion with the pending Bill in Parliament as may bene- 

 ficially influence school teaching of science. 



3. To watch the action of Government in any proposal 

 made by them either in pursuance of Lord Salisbury's 

 Bill or in giving effect to the Duke of Devonshire's Com- 

 mission, and to hold a brief for science-teaching at schools 

 in reference to all such legislation. 



We desire to bespeak your attention to and interest in 

 this proposal, which appears to us in all respects a timely 

 one. 



THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION 



Glasgow, Ttcesday 



THE Association finds a fitting home in Glasgow, 

 which has few rivals either in earlier or later scien- 

 tific reputation. The force of long-continued scientific 

 traditions, added to the present encouragement given to 

 science, and I must also say, to the nearness of the finest 

 holiday localities, makes this one of the most brilliant of 

 recent meetings. Not only is the total number of members 

 and associates attending very high, over 2,700, but the 

 true chiefs of science are present in great strength. It 

 cannot be said that the Association itself is this year 

 at all below its high aims. The majority of papers 

 are really scientific, and do not emasculate the truth in 

 the effort to popularise it. Discussions have been very 

 interesting, judging from the perseverance with which 

 they have been listened to. The reception given by the 

 people of Glasgow is worthy of the city, although it is 

 possible that in the details and refinements of arrange- 

 ment, Bristol excelled. This was especially manifested 

 in regard to some of the excursions. But it is evident 

 that the very best efforts of the north have been put forth 

 in every way, and the general result is undeniably suc- 

 cessful. The charming situation of the University Build- 

 ings, in which all the sections but one hold their meetings, 

 is a very great advantage. 



From the Report of the Council it will be seen that 



" grants in aid of scientific objects have been made during 



the year to the amount of 1,092/. The income of the 



year has reached 3,743/., and the cash balance, 764/., 



exceeded that of last yeai by 624/. 



The President's Address did not excite general en- 

 thusiasm among the audience, partly because the great 

 size of the building and the comparative weakness of 

 the speaker's voice prevented many from hearing well, 



partly, also, because it was such as to impress most those 

 \yho think most. The address manifested the combina- 

 tion in its author of qualities seldom marching together ; 

 deep regard for elder times and their achievements, wide 

 knowledge of the position of science at the present day, 

 perception of the true relationships, the real connexus of 

 pure and applied science, a realisation, founded on care- 

 ful study of the way in which the scientific cultus affects 

 human nature, and the rise and fall of nations. It would 

 be vain to seek for scientific arrogance and conceit in 

 Dr. Andrews's deliverance, and if one may forecast, it may 

 be expected to have as much influence on future thought 

 and public action as almost any recent utterance from the 

 presidential chair of the British Association, without any 

 tendency to provoke the hostility of the unscientific. 



Among the presidential addresses, that of Mr. Wallace 

 to the Biological Section seems to have attracted much 

 notice ; and there is no doubt of its great value, for, 

 scarcely occupying any ground covered by his recent 

 great work on " The Geographical Distribution of Animals," 

 he may be said to have laid the foundations of a new 

 science out of " waste materials " already existing. Thus 

 another group of scattered fragments is beginning to be 

 sought by right processes, in order that a coherent edifice 

 may be erected. Sir William Thomson returned again 

 to the charj^e against the exorbitant demands of geo- 

 logists for " time." If he is right, of course some 

 geological theories must be altered; but perhaps Sir 

 William will not have to wait long for an answer. It was 

 singular that Prof Young, in the Geological Section, 

 should have chosen a subject agreeing so largely with 

 Sir William Thomson's. His views, carried out into 

 more geological detail, imply that we are to look for a 

 general reconstruction of much that is held to be settled 

 in geological theory. He calls loudly for precision in 

 geological phraseology, believing that there is nothing 

 more urgently needed to secure progress in the science 

 than some of that accuracy of conception and expression 

 which distinguishes mathematical and physical science. 

 Capt. Evans's address on Geography will perhaps disap- 

 point some who think the questions of oceanic circulation 

 are practically settled, but an open confession of diffi- 

 culties and ignorance is better than any false security. 

 Such confessions have been very general among the best 

 men at this meeting — a favourable augury of coming 

 victories for science. 



On the whole the sections have done hard work, and 

 comparatively little sacrifice of scientific rigour and form 

 has been made for the sake of making subjects popular. 

 The Duke of Argyll's address on the Geology of the 

 Highlands was a bonne bouche for the untechnical, and 

 was much run after. The Duke has shared " lionship " 

 with Commander Cameron and Sir C. Wy ville Thomson ; 

 consequently the heart of Africa and the depths of the 

 sea are among the favourite subjects here. Sir William 

 Thomson has, of course, been at home on the great Tide 

 question, denouncing the British Hydrographic Depart- 

 ment for its supineness, by which very laborious and ex- 

 pensive efforts are left to private individuals. One of 

 the most lively encounters has concerned the junction of 

 the granites and Old Red Sandstone in Arran. It was 

 suggested that Mr. Wiinsch and Dr. Bryce should adjourn 

 to the locality to fight it out, but without hammers. The 

 chemists had a field-day on the disposal of the sewage of 

 towns. Irrigationists and precipitationists continued 

 'their controversies, giving excuse to great towns still to 

 postpone dealing with the subject While the doctors, or 

 rather chemists, differ, the sewage is emptied into the 

 river. 



Prof. Tait's discourse on Force was ^ ery characteristic. 

 One important advantage gained by th ;\udience would 

 probably be an impression of the necessity of accuracy in 

 the use of words. 



Sir C. Wyville Thomson's address on the Results of 



