YORKSHIRE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 13 



as the prime mover among the founders of the 

 British Association. For though, as we shall pre- 

 sently see, he had collaborators, no less active than 

 himself, he claims priority in an article in the 

 Edinburgh Journal of Science* N.S. vol. v, 1831, 

 beginning : ' Some months ago it occurred to the 

 editor of this work [himself] that the general 

 interests of science might be greatly promoted by 

 the establishment of a Society of British Cultivators 

 of Science, which should meet annually in some 

 central town in England. He accordingly corre- 

 sponded with several influential individuals . . .' 

 Among these was John Phillips, the secretary of 

 the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, to whom 

 Brewster had proposed the first practical step 

 towards the foundation of the Association in the 

 following letter : 



' Allerby by Melrose, Feb. 23rd, 1831. 



' DEAR SIR, I have taken the liberty of writing 

 you on a subject of considerable importance. It is 

 proposed to establish a British Association of Men 

 of Science similar to that which has existed for 

 eight years in Germany, and which is now patron- 

 ised by the most powerful Sovereigns in that part 

 of Europe. The arrangements for the first meeting 

 are now in progress, and it is contemplated that it 

 shall be held at York as the most central city in the 

 three kingdoms. 



' My object in writing to you at present is to 

 beg that you would ascertain if York will furnish 

 the accommodations necessary for so large a meeting, 



1 Not, it may be remarked, the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, 

 as Murchison has it in his Recollections. 



