NA TURE 



485 



THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, i! 



A' 



THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 



Newcastle-on-Tyne, Tuesday Evejting. 



MID much that has been stale and dull, the present 

 meeting has not been without excitement. The 

 discussions on heredity and Darwinism in D, Mr. Du 

 Chaillu's attempt to make the Vikinajs responsible for the 

 English-speaking peoples, and Dr. Nansen's appearance 

 in several Sections, have all helped to keep the Sectional 

 work alive, not to speak of the considerable number of 

 papers of special scientific interest. Of the Sectional 

 addresses, those of Prof. Geikie, Mr. Anderson, and Mr. 

 Edgeworth are most spoken of for novelty and interest, 

 the latter, curiously, for the touches of fun, if not humour, 

 that the author succeeded in imparting into what seems 

 at first sight a dry subject. 



As to Newcastle itself, everybody is satisfied with the 

 treatment this young city has accorded to the Association, 

 and everybody is pleased to see the footing which science 

 is getting in the place in the splendid new Science and 

 Medical Schools. It is, moreover, gratifying that, in a 

 district where the practical applications of science are 

 everything, distinct acknowledgment should have been 

 made of the value and indispensability of pure scientific 

 research. This was done on two occasions : first, in the 

 admirable speech of the Mayor (of whom all speak well) 

 at the magnificent banquet given by Lord Armstrong ; 

 and again before an audience of over 3000 working men 

 in the Drill Hall, when the various trades associations 

 presented an address to Prof. Flower, before Mr. Baker 

 gave his lecture on the Forth Bridge, and thus recognized 

 that only as the result of long series of complicated 

 researches, undertaken solely for themselves, has the 

 accomplishment of such a stupendous undertaking been 

 possible. It goes without saying, that Mr. Baker's lecture 

 was a marked success ; it is difficult to describe the 

 enthusiasm evoked from an enormous audience keenly 

 capable of appreciating the points. It was stated that 

 over 8000 applications had been made for tickets, when 

 only 3500 could be allotted. 



The social arrangements have been all that could be 

 wished. It would be difficult to convey any idea of the 

 thoughtful arrangements that have been made in many 

 cases to secure the comfort and enjoyment of the visitors, 

 and especially for the hard-worked officials of the Associa- 

 tion. The banquets, receptions, conversaziones, and 

 other similar features, have been many and excellent ; 

 while no fault could be found with the excursions : that to 

 Durham on Saturday gave pleasure to all who joined it, 

 especially to those who were privileged to sit down to the 

 substantial luncheon in the grand old Castle. At the 

 Cathedral service afterwards, it was interesting to see the 

 Sectional Secretaries sitting humbly in the chancel, and 

 a few eminent Presidents of Sections exalted to the stalls 

 •of Canons and Prebends. 



At the General Committee Meeting yesterday there 

 was unusual excitement. These meetings are generally 

 scantily attended ; but, from the crowd which filled the 

 room and hovered around the doors, it was evident that 

 mischief was brewing. After other business was trans- 

 acted, it was announced, to the evident regret and pain 

 of everyone, that Mr. Atchison could no longer, owing to 

 ill-health, continue to discharge his duties as Secretary, 

 and that a successor would have to be appointed. Mr. 

 Atchison's popularity with the Association was evident 

 from the enthusiasm exhibited in the proposed votes of 

 thanks accorded him. The name of the candidate selected 

 by the Council for the approval of the meeting was then 

 Vol. XL.— No. 1038. 



announced, and supported by Prof. Garnett and others. 

 But opposition to the selection was immediately an- 

 nounced. It is unnecessary to report in detail what will 

 probably be found in the daily papers ; but it was evident 

 that there was widespread dissatisfaction with the con- 

 duct of the Council. No one had any especial objection 

 to this candidate, although he had never had any con- 

 nection with the Association ; but it was felt that the 

 Council had acted unwisely in passing over certain other 

 candidates who were of eminence in science and had had 

 long experience of the workings of the Association. After 

 many proposals had been made, and much excitement 

 manifested, it was at last, almost unanimously, decided 

 to reappoint Mr. Atchison, and authorize the Council to 

 provide whatever assistance should be necessary. Hap- 

 pily, Mr. Atchison said he was willing to agree to this 

 proposal, and so the incident ends at present. But it 

 was expected that the matter might have gone further, 

 and the whole subject of the constitution of the Associa- 

 tion discussed, and the advisability of conforming it to 

 existing conditions. Happily, such a discussion has 

 been postponed : it would have been unwise to continue 

 it in connection with so personal a matter. 



At the same meeting, the invitation from Cardiff was 

 accepted for 1891, while that from Edinburgh will no 

 doubt be accepted for 1892. The meeting at Leeds, 

 beginning on September 3 next year, will be presided over 

 by Sir Frederick Abel. 



It is impossible not to state, what all feel, that the 

 success of the present meeting has been largely due to 

 Prof. Merivale, who has been ably supported by Dr. 

 Bedson, Dr. Dunn, and other members of the Local Com- 

 mittee. That the attendance (2431) is something like a 

 thousand below the last Newcastle meeting, and still less 

 than the Manchester meeting two years ago, is not sur- 

 prising. Not only are the Paris Exhibition and the many 

 Conferences being held in connection therewith a powerful 

 counter-attraction, but there were in 1863 special local 

 reasons for raising the attendance to so high a figure. 



The following is the list of grants to be submitted to the 

 meeting of the General Committee to-morrow : — 



A, — Mathematics and Physics, 



Differential Gravity Meter ... 

 Electro-optics .. 



Calculating Mathematical Tables 



Seismological Phenomena of Japan ... 



Pellian Equation Tables 



Electrical Standards ... 

 Electrolysis 



B. — Chemistry. 



Properties of Solutions 



Analysis of Iron and Steel ... 



Isomeric Naphthalene Derivatives 



Silent Discharge of Electricity 



Methods of Teaching Chemistry 



Absorption Spectra 



Recording the Re.-ults of Water Analysis ... 

 Oxidation of Hydracids in Sunlight 



C. — Geology. 



Erratic Blocks 



Volcanic Phenomena of Vesuvius ... 



Fossil Phyllopoda 



Geological Record 



Underground Waters 



Excavations at Oldbury Hill 



Cretaceous Polyzoa ... 



Geological Photographs 



Lias Beds of Northamptonshire 



10 



25 



75 



15 



50 



5 



10 

 10 

 15 

 5 

 10 



30 

 10 



15 



10 



20 



20 



100 



5 



15 

 10 

 10 

 2; 



