134 ruri'LAR LECTURES AND ADDRESSES. 



" 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 

 " patronised by the most powerful Sovereigns of 

 " that part of Europe. The arrangements for the 

 " first meeting are in progress ; and it is contem- 

 " plated that it shall be held in York, as the most 

 " central city for the three kingdoms. My object 

 " in writing you at present is to beg that you 

 li would ascertain if York will furnish the accom- 

 " modation necessary for so large a meeting (which 

 " may perhaps consist of above one hundred 

 " individuals), if the Philosophical Society would 

 11 enter zealously into the plan, and if the Mayor 

 l> and influential persons in the town and in the 

 " vicinity would be likely to promote its objects. 

 " The principal object of the Society would be to 

 '' make the cultivators of science acquainted with 

 " each other, to stimulate one another to new 

 " exertions, and to bring the objects of science 

 " more before the public eye, and to take measures 



