IN pursuance of its function of obtaining ' the removal 

 of any disadvantages of a public kind' which im- 

 pede the progress of science, and, in general, of for- 

 warding scientific interests, the British Association 

 has from time to time approached the British and 

 other governments with specific proposals, requests, 

 or recommendations. Sometimes these have suc- 

 ceeded in their objects ; sometimes they have not. 

 In other sections of this book we refer to some of them 

 in particular, to the relations with various depart- 

 ments of the Government in connexion with Kew 

 Observatory (Chapter V), and to action upon resolu- 

 tions, involving approach to Government depart- 

 ments, which has arisen out of meetings overseas 

 (Chapter IV). 



The earliest instance of approaching the Govern- 

 ment appears to have occurred in 1834, and took the 

 form of soliciting a more expeditious publication of 

 the Ordnance Survey maps. A deputation from the 

 Association was received sympathetically by the 

 Chancellor of the Exchequer, and as the Council 

 subsequently congratulates itself on the result, it 

 appears that the desired effect was produced at the 

 time, though not permanently, for we shall find the 



subject recurring in later years. 



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