4o6 



NATURE 



{^August 15, 1878 



future, we must still admit that there are other and less pro- 

 mising possibilities, which under existing circumstances cannot 

 be altogether left out of our calculations. I am therefore, on 

 the whole, inclined to think that, while not losing sight of larger 

 schemes, the wisest policy, for the present at all events, and 

 pending the experiment of the Government Fund, will be to 

 confine our efforts to a careful selection of definite persons to 

 carry out definite pieces of wjrk ; leaving to them the honour 

 (or the onus if they so think it) of justifying from time to time a 

 continuation of the confidence which the government or other 

 supporting body may have once placed in them. 



Continuance of British Association. 



Passing from the proceedings to other features and functions 

 of our body, it should be remembered that the continued ex- 

 istence of the Association must depend largely upon the support 

 which it receives from its members and associates. Stinted in 

 the funds so arising, its scientific effectiveness would be materially 

 impaired ; and deprived of them, its existence would be pre- 

 carious. The amount at our disposal in each year will naturally 

 vary with the population, with the accessibility, and with other 

 circumstances of the place of meeting ; there will be financially, 

 as well as scientifically, good years and bad years. But we have 

 in our invested capital a sum sufficient to tide over all probable 

 fluctuations, and even to carry us efficiently through several 

 years of financial famine, if ever such should occur. This 

 seems to me sufficient ; and we have therefore, I think, no need 

 to increase our reserve, beyond perhaps the moderate addition 

 which a prudent treasurer will always try to secure, against ex- 

 penditure which often increases and rarely diminishes. 



But however important this material support may be to our 

 existence and well being, it is by no means all that is required. 

 There is another factor which enters into the product, namely, 

 the personal scientific support of our best men. It is, I think, 

 not too much to say, that without their presence our meetings 

 would fail in their chief and most important element, and had 

 best be discontinued altogether. We make, it must be admitted, 

 a demand of sensible magnitude in calling upon men who have 

 been actively engaged during a great portion of the year, at a 

 season when they may fairly look for relaxation, to attend a 

 busy meeting, and to contribute to its proceedings ; but unless a 

 fair quota at least of our veterans, and a good muster of our 

 younger men, put in their appearance, our gatherings will be to 

 little purpose. There was a period within my own recollection 

 when it was uncertain whether the then younger members of our 

 scientific growth would cast in their lot with us or not, and when 

 the fate of the Association depended very much upon their 

 decision. They decided in our favour ; they have since become 

 presidents, lecturers, and other functionaries of our body ; with 

 what result it is for you to judge. 



Of the advantages which may possibly accrue to the locality 

 in which our meetings are held, it is not for us to speak ; but it 

 is always a ground for sincere satisfaction to learn that our 

 presence has been of any use in stimulating an interest, or in 

 promoting local efforts, in the direction of science. 



The Council. 



The functions of the British Association do not, however, 

 terminate with the meeting itself. Beside the special com- 

 mittees already mentioned, there remains a very important body, 

 elected by the General Committee, viz., the Council, which 

 assembles at the office in London from time to time as occasion 

 requires. To this body belongs the duty of proposing a presi- 

 deiat, of preparing for the approval of the General Committee 

 the list of vice-presidents and sectional officers, the selection of 

 evening lecturers, and other arrangements for the coming 

 meeting. 



At the present time another class of questions occupies a good 



in themselves; whereas after the second dimension the third, which is con- 

 cerned with cubes and dimensions of depth, ought to have been followed. 



It is true, Socrates; but these subjects seem to be as yet hardly explored. 



Why, yes, I said, and for two reasons ; in the first place, no government 

 patronises them, which leads to a want of energy in the study of them, and 

 they are difficult ; in the ^second place, students cannot learn them unless 

 they have a teacher. But then a teacher is hardly to be found, and even if 

 one could be found, as matters now stand the students of these subjects, who 

 are very conceited, wotild not mind him; that, however, would be otherwise 

 if the whole state patronised and honoured them, then they would listen, 

 and there would be continuous and earnest search, and discoveries would be 

 made ; since even now, disregarded as they are by the world, and maimed of 

 their fair proportions, and although none of their votaries can tell the use of 

 them, still these studies force their way by their natural charm, and very 

 Itlcely they may emerge into light. 



deal of the attention of the Council. In the first generation of 

 the Association, and during the period of unwritten, but not yet 

 traditional, law, questions relating to our own organisation or 

 procedure either " settled themselves," or were wisely left to the 

 discretionary powers of those who had taken part in our pro- 

 ceedings during the early years of our existence. These and 

 other kindred subjects now require more careful formularisation 

 and more deliberate sanction. And it is on the shoulders of the 

 Council that the weight of these matters in general falls. These 

 facts deserve especial mention on the present occasion, because 

 one part of our business at the close of this meeting will be to 

 bid farewell officially to one who has served us as assistant 

 secretary so long and so assiduously that he has latterly become 

 our main repertory of information, and our Mentor upon ques- 

 tions of precedent and procedure. The post hitherto held by 

 Mr. Griffith (for it is to him that I allude) will doubtless be well 

 filled by the able and energetic member who has been nominated 

 in his place ; but I doubt not that even he will be glad for some 

 time to come to draw largely upon the knowledge and experience 

 of his predecessor. 



But, beside matters of internal arrangement and organisation, 

 the duties of the Council comprise a variety of scientific subjects 

 referred to them by the General Committee, at the instance of 

 the Committee of Recommendations, for deliberation and occa- 

 sionally for action. With the increasing activity of our body in 

 general, and more particularly with that of our various officers, 

 these duties have of late years become more varied and onerous 

 than formerly ; nor is it to be wished that they should diminish 

 in either variety or extent. 



Once more, questions beyond our own constitution, and even 

 beyond the scope of our own immediate action, such as educa- 

 tion, legislation affecting either [the promotion or the applica- 

 tions of science to industrial and social life, which have sug- 

 gested themselves at our meetings, and received the preliminary 

 sanction of our Committee of Recommendations, are frequently 

 referred to our Council. These, and others which it is unneces- 

 sary to particularise, whether discussed in full council or in 

 committees specially appointed by that body, render the duties 

 of our councillors as onerous as they are important. 



Its Relations with Government. 



While the government has at all times, but in a more marked 

 manner of late years, recognised the Royal Society of London, 

 with representatives from the sister societies of Dublin and of 

 Edinburgh, as the body to which it should look for counsel and 

 advice upon scientific questions, it has still never shown itself 

 indisposed to receive and entertain any well-considered recom- 

 mendation from the British Association. Two special causes 

 have in all probability contributed largely to this result. First, 

 the variety of elements comprised by the Association, on account 

 of which its recommendations imply a more general concurrence 

 of scientific opinion than those of any other scientific body. 

 Secondly, the peculiar fact that our period of maximum activity 

 coincides with that of minimum activity of other scientific bodies 

 is often of the highest importance. At the very time when the 

 other bodies are least able, we are most able, to give deliberate 

 consideration, and formal sanction, to recommendations whether 

 in the form of applications to government or otherwise which 

 may arise. In many of these time is an element so essential, 

 that it is not too much to say that without the intervention of 

 the British Association many opportunities for the advancement 

 of science, especially at the seasons in question, might have been 

 lost. The government has, moreover, formally recognised our 

 scientific existence by appointing our president for the time 

 being a member of the Govermnent Fund Committee ; and the 

 public has added its testimony to our importance and utility by 

 imposing upon our president and officers a variety of duties, 

 among which are conspicuous those which arise out of its very 

 liberal exercise of civic and other hospitality. 



Presidential Addresses 



Of the nature and functions of the presidential address this is 

 perhaps neither the time nor the place to speak ; but if I might 

 for a moment forget the purpose for which we are now assem- 

 bled, I would take the opportunity of reminding those who 

 have not attended many of our former meetings, that our annual 

 volumes contain a long series of addresses on the progress of 

 science, from a number of our most eminent men, to which 

 there is perhaps no parallel elsewhere. These addresses are 

 perhaps as remarkable for their variety in mode of treatment_as 



