PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 



TO THE 



BRITISH ASSOCIATION, 

 EDINBURGH, 1871. 



FOR the third time df its forty years' history the 

 British Association is assembled in the metropolis 

 of Scotland. The origin of the Association is 

 connected with Edinburgh in undying memory 

 through the honoured names of Robison, Brewstcr. 

 Forbes, and Johnston. 



In this place, from this Chair, twenty-one years 

 ago. Sir David Brewster said: "On the return of 

 the British Association to the metropolis of Scot- 

 " land I am naturally reminded of the small band 

 " of pilgrims who carried the seeds of this Institu- 

 tion into the more genial soil of our sister land. 



" Sir John Robison, Professor Johnston 



"and Professor J. I). Forbes were the earliest 



