278 EEPORT— 1886. 



required for the carrying out an exploration of such magnitude, interest, 

 and importance, that the requirements for its success and a plan of 

 operations should be most carefully considered, and the results embodied 

 in a written form for the approval of the Council of the Association and 

 for the information of the Government. 



Furthermore, in order to obtain the co-operation which the matter 

 requires from eminent men in science, your Committee feel it necessary 

 for their body to be enlarged by the addition of influential members of the 

 Association, and of other bodies representing the various branches of 

 science interested in the investigation of this comparatively unknown 

 region, and especially of the Royal Geographical Society. 



Tour Committee have to point out that our knowledge of the South 

 Polar region is chiefly confined to the grand discoveries efi'ected by that 

 celebrated expedition under the command of Captain Sir James C. Ross, 

 conducted between the years 1839 and 1843 with sailing ships. Since 

 that period the facilities for efiiecting a more complete research have been 

 greatly augmented by the application of steam propulsion to vessels 

 better adapted for ice navigation. This has been proved by continuous 

 experience in the Arctic seas during the late half-century. 



For the above reasons your Committee deem it desirable to defer 

 making their report, with a view to giving more definition to the objects 

 sought to be obtained and to the best means of obtaining them, as also to 

 expand this Committee, in order to elicit to the fullest extent the opinions 

 and to secure support from those conversant with the various branches 

 of science which are to be investigated during an exploration which, 

 from its very important and serious nature, eminently merits the favour- 

 able consideration of this great and enterprising maritime nation. 



Report of the Committee, consisting of Dr. J. H. Gladstone, 

 (Secretary), Professor Aemsteon«, Mr. William Shaen, Mr. 

 Stephen Bourne, Miss Ltdia Becker, Sir John Lubbock, Bart, 

 Dr. H. W. Crosskey, Sir Richard Temple, Bart., Sir Henry E. 

 EoscoE, Mr. James Heywood, and Professor N. Story Maskelyne, 

 appointed foi' the purpose of continuing the inquiries relating 

 to the teaching of Science in Elementally Schools. 



No steps in advance have been taken by any Government Department 

 towards the more adequate provision foi- science teaching in elementary 

 schools during the past year. There have been four diSerent Yice- 

 presidents of the Committee of Council on Education during the last 

 twelve months ; and Sir Lyon Playfair only came into ofiice after the 

 code for the year had been settled. 



The annual return of the Education Department for England and 

 Wales issued this year, which deals with the period from September 1, 

 1884, to August 31, 1885, shows that the present regulations tell un- 

 favourably on the prospects of science. 



The following statistics for the last three years show that, while the 

 Preferential class subject ' English ' is taken in an increasing number of 

 departments year by year, geography shows an actual falling-ofi", and 

 elementary science seems even to be losing the little footing it had . 



