570 



NA TURE 



[Apkil 17. 1902 



branches of enfjineering ; we have invented nearly all 

 the important things, but tlie great development of these 

 things has gone out of the liands of the amateurs of our 

 nation. It is because our statesmen are dallios who 

 "care for none of these thintjs," because they know 

 nothing of science. Ihi.xley failed to move them. The 

 German Emperor's fosterage of engineering only amuses 

 them, and hence our manufacturers blame everything 

 except their own ignorance for their loss of trade. Prof. 

 Exner wants to put the technically educated man in 

 charge of all departments of (lovernment which have to 

 do with manufacture and distribution ; with the use of 

 all tools, including, we presume, guns and other weapons 

 of destruction. He does not seem to know what is so 

 obvious to us in England, that the Ministers in charge of 

 departments must have had such a training of another 

 kind that it is impossible for them also to be engineers. 

 All we ask is that they shall know just a little about 

 science, so that they may be able to take scientific advice. 

 But alas ! even this condition of things is remote. How- 

 ever important it would be to have men of the quality of 

 engineers as their advisers or in charge of the various 

 parts of a great department, there are qualifications more 

 important — power to coax the Treasury for necessary 

 money ; social qualities such as come from good birth 

 and enable one to keep one's superiors favourably dis- 

 posed ; qualities created by official life which enable one 

 to work obediently as part of the official machine and 

 never get into a rage ; the knowledge that if ever there 

 is a conflict between official law and a law of nature, it is 

 the official law which must be obeyed. For our reform 

 what is wanted is a cataclysm, rather destructive, but not 

 too much so. J. P. 



NO TES. 



We see with deep regret the announcement of the death of 

 Prof. A. Cornu, whose numerous researches in physics are 

 known throughout the scientific world. An account of the life 

 and woik of this distinguished investigator will appear in 

 another issue of Nature. 



By the death of Lord Kimberley, the ofiice of Chancellor of 

 the University of London becomes vacant. Of the names of 

 those who have been mentioned as likely to fill it with advan- 

 tage that of Lord Rayleigh is obviously the most appropriate. 

 The new teaching University of London must achieve a high 

 reputation on scientific lines or it will fail of its mission ; a mere 

 politician as a figure-head would be an anachronism. 



Prof. Ray Lankester, in a letter to the Times of April 15, 

 raises a new point in relation to the Rhodes scholars at Oxford. 

 He states that the University of Oxford keeps its college resi- 

 dences, lecture rooms and laboratories open for only twenty-one 

 weeks out of the fifty-lwo which make up a year ; so ihat " it 

 will not he worth while for a young Geinian of ability to sacri- 

 fice three or four of the best years of his life to dawdle through 

 the Oxford half-time system, even when paid 300/. a year for 

 doing so." If it be true that the laboratories are shut for 

 thirly-cne weeks in the year, then ceitainly the sooner William 

 Morris's idea of dispersing the inhabitants and consecrating 

 Oxford to Death and Beauly, ihe bttler for others as well as 

 the Germans to whom Prof. Lankester refers. 



The high esteem in which the late Sir John Donnelly was 

 held was shown by the large body of mourners that attended his 

 funeral at Brompton Cemetery on Friday last besides the mem- 

 bers of ihe family. The Lord President of the Committee of 

 Council on Education was represented ; and among other 

 mouineis were the Clerk to the Council, the vice-president and 

 officers of the Board of Education, representatives of the 



Victoria and Albert Must um. Geological Survey and MuseuiT> 

 of Practical Geology, Royal College of Science, and Solar Phy- 

 sics Observatory. The Royal Society, Royal .\cademy, and the 

 London Technical Education Board were also represented. 

 Among the wreaths was one hearing a card on which was 

 printed: "A tribute of affectionate regard from the vice- 

 president of the committee of council, officers and staff of the 

 (late) Department of Science and Art, including the ^■ictoria 

 and -Mbert Museum, the Royal Colleges of Science and Art, 

 and the Geological Survey and Museum, 11 April, 1902." 

 Another wreath was from the Dublin Science and Art Insti- 

 tution : "In token of affectionate remembrance and sincere 

 regret from those who served under Sir John Donnelly." 

 Other wreaths were sent by Sir Trevor and Lady Lawrence, 

 Sir Lawrence and Lady Alma-Tadema, and many others. The 

 Victoria and Albert Museum was closed on the morning of the 

 funeral. 



Dr. J. Larmor, Sec. R.S.,and Dr. Oliver Lodge, F.R.S., 

 have been elected members of the Aiherrcum Club under the 

 rule which empowers Ihe annual election by the committee of 

 nine persons "of distinguished eminence in science, literature, 

 the arts, or for public services." 



At the meeting of the American Philosophical Society held 

 on April 4, the following were elected to membership : — 

 Residents of ihe United States — Dr. J. A. Brashear, Dr. 

 Andrew Carnegie, Prof. W. B. Clark, Prof. Hermpnn 

 Collitz, Mr. G. K. Gilbert, President A. T. Hadley, Prof. G. E. 

 Hale, Prof. P. Haupt, Prof. A. A. Michelson, Mr. C. Hart 

 Merriam, Prof. T. W. Richards, Prof. F. E. Schelling, Piof. 

 R. H. Thurston, Mr. B. C. Tilghman, Prof. R. S. Woodward. 

 Foreign Residents — Prof. A. H. Becquerel, Prof. J. G. Darboux, 

 Sir Michael Foster, K.C.B., F.R.S., Prof. i\. Johnstone Stoney, 

 F.R.S., Prof. S. P. Thompson, F.R.S. 



As already announced, the German Association of Natural 

 Philosophers and Phjsicians will hold its seventy- fourth annual 

 congress at Carlsbad on September 21-2S. As on former 

 occasions, the rule that lectures and debates may be carried on 

 in any language of the world will be followed, and foreign 

 visitors will be accorded the same privileges as the ordinary 

 members of the association enjoy. It is estimated that between 

 6000 and Sooo representatives of natural philosophy and medicine 

 will gather at Carlsbad, and great preparations have already 

 been made there to receive the members and friends of 

 this famous association. Nearly all the principal professc*rs of 

 the Berlin, Vienna, Prague and most of the other continental uni- 

 ' versilies and important colleges will be present, and twenty-eight 

 different branches of ancient and modern science will form Ihe 

 programme for the lectures and debates. At the exhibition of 

 scientific objects, which will be held in connection with the 

 congress, no charge will be made to exhibitors for the space 

 required, nor will any entrance fee be asked from visitors. 

 Inquiries or letters should be addressed to " The 74lh Congress 

 of Natural Philosophers at Carlsbad." 



In reply to a question relating to the North Sea Fisheries, 

 Mr. Gerald Balfour slated in the House of Commons on 

 Monday that the Government has agreed to take part in the 

 international scheme of investigations connected with fisher 

 problems in the North Sea and adjacent waters as proposed by 

 the conferences held at Stockholm and Chrisliania, and Parlia- 

 ment will be asked to make a grant to defray the cost of the 

 British share cf these investigations. These funds w ill be ad- 

 ministered by a departmental committee with ihe advice of 

 scientific experts. The details of the investigations will no 

 doubt be finally settled at the forthccmirg meeting of the inter- 



NO. 1694, VOL. 65] 



