ORGANISATION 



however, somewhat reassured when reminded that in the 

 regular rotation by which the equal representation in the 

 presidential office of the different branches of science included 

 in the Association is secured, the turn had come round for 

 . / *^some one connected with biological subjects to occupy the 

 chair which, during the past seven years, has been filled 

 with such distinction by engineers, chemists, physicists, 

 mathematicians, and geologists. I was also reminded that 

 the Association, though of necessity holding its meeting in 

 some definite locality, was by no means local in its character, 

 but that its sphere was co-extensive, not with the United 

 Kingdom only, but with the whole of the British Dominions, 

 and that our proceedings are followed with interest wherever 

 our language is understood I may say, throughout the 

 civilised world. Furthermore, although its great manufacturing 

 industries, the eminence of its citizens for their skill and in- 

 telligence in the practical application of mechanical sciences, and 

 the interesting and important geological features of its vicinity, 

 have conferred such fame on Newcastle as almost to have 

 over-shadowed its other claims to distinction in connection with 

 science, this neighbourhood is also associated with Bewick, 

 with Johnson, with Alder, Embleton, Hutton, Atthey, Norman, 

 the two Hancocks, the two Bradys, and other names honoured 

 in the annals of biology ; it has long maintained a school of 

 medicine of great repute ; and there has lately been established 

 here a natural history museum, which in some of its features 

 is a model for institutions of the kind, and which, I trust, will 

 be a means of encouraging in this town some of the objects 

 the Association was designed to promote. 



There can be no doubt that among the various methods by 



which the aims of the British Association (as expressed in its 



V full title, the advancement of science) may be brought about, 



the collection and preservation of objects available for 



examination, study, and reference in fact, the formation of 



^s what are now called " museums " is one of very great 



practical importance ; so much so, indeed, that it seems to me 



one to the consideration of which it is desirable to devote 



some time upon such an occasion as this. It is a subject 



still little understood, though, fortunately, beginning to attract 



