15 



Once more, questions beyond our own constitution, and 

 even beyond the scope of our own immediate action, such 

 as education, legislation affecting either the promotion or 

 the applications of science to industrial and social life, 

 which have suggested 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 unnecessary to particu- 

 larise, 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. 



While the Government has at all times, but in a more Its relations 

 marked manner of late years, recognised the Royal j^^j^^ overn- 

 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 Avell consi- 

 dered recommendation 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 oppor- 



