512 REPORT—1 883. 
Section D.—BIOLOGY. 
PRESIDENT OF THE SEcTION—Professor EH. Ray Lanxester, M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S. 
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20. 
The PresipEnv delivered the following Address :— 
Tr has become the custom for the presidents of the various sections of this Associa- 
tion to open the proceedings of the departments with the chairmanship of which 
they are charged, by formal addresses. In reflecting on the topics which it might 
be desirable for me to bring under your notice, as your president, on the present 
occasion, it has occurred to me that I might use this opportunity most fitly by 
departing somewhat from the prevailing custom of reviewing the progress of science 
in some special direction during the past year; and that instead of placing before 
you a summary of the results recently obtained by the investigations of biologists 
in this or that line of inquiry, I might ask your attention and that of the external 
public (who are wont to give some kindly consideration to the opinions expressed 
on these occasions) to a matter which is even more directly connected with the 
avowed object of our Association, namely, ‘the Advancement of Science.’ I pro- 
pose to place before you a few observations upon the provision which exists in this 
country for the advancement of that branch of science to which Section D is dedi- 
cated—namely, Biology. 
I am aware that it is usual for those who speak of men of science and their 
pursuits to ignore altogether such sordid topics as the one which I have chosen to 
bring forward. A certain pride on the one hand, and a willing acquiescence on the 
other hand, usually prevents those who are professionally concerned with scientific 
_ pursuits from exposing to the public the pecuniary destitution and the consequent 
crippling and languor of scientific research in thiscountry. Those Englishmen who 
take an interest in the progress of science are apt to suppose that, in some way 
which they have never clearly understood, the pursuit of scientific truth is not 
only its own reward, but also a sufficient source of food and clothing. Whilst 
they are interested and amused by the remarkable discoveries of scientific men, 
they are astonished whenever a proposal is mentioned to assign salaries to a few 
such persons, sufficient to enable them to live decently whilst devoting their time 
and strength to investigation. The public are becoming more and more anxious to 
have the opinion or report of scientific men upon matters of commercial importance, 
or in relation to the public health ; and yet in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred 
they expect to have that opinion for the asking, although accustomed to pay cther 
professional men handsomely for similar service. There is, it appears, in the public 
mind a vague belief that men who occupy their time with the endeavour to add to 
knowledge in this or that branch of science are mysteriously supported by the State 
exchequer, and are thus fair game for attacking with all sorts of demands for gra- 
tuitous service ; or, on the other hand, the notion at work appears sometimes to be 
that the making of new knowledge—in fact, scientific disecovery—is an agreeable 
pastime, in which some ingenious gentlemen, whose business in other directions takes 
up their best hours, find relaxation after dinner or on the spare hours of Sunday. 
Such mistaken views ought to be dispelled with all possible celerity and determina- 
tion. It is in part owing to the fact that the real state of the case is not widely 
and persistently made known to the public, that no attempt is made in this country 
