CHAPTER II 



THE ASSOCIATION AND THE PEOGRESS 



OF SCIENCE 



The nineteenth century Physical sciences Geology and biology : the 

 conflict of science and religion The formation of the earth Charles 

 Darwin The progress of geology Zoology and botany Physiology 

 and anthropology The applications of science. 



THE NINETEENTH CENTURY 



BEFORE further discussing the organisation of the 

 Association, it seems essential to essay the difficult 

 task of supplying a framework for the picture : 

 to summarise very briefly the progress of British 

 science during the period of the Association's exist- 

 ence, and not only that, but to offer a view of the 

 national habit of mind (if the phrase be admissible) 

 which made that progress possible. This latter, the 

 broader aspect, may in point of fact be more properly 

 considered first. The foundation of our body was 

 associated, as we have seen, with the vast changes 

 in the national mentality which followed the Napo- 

 leonic wars, and blossomed into that brilliant period 

 of (generally) peaceful development which is con- 

 veniently known as the Victorian Age. 



During the early part of the nineteenth century 

 Britain escaped, as we have seen, from the toils of 

 war ; the nation gradually awoke to the necessity of 

 setting its house in order ; it acquired method, recon- 

 ciled in no small measure the warring elements in 



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