ADDRESS 



OF 



Sir WILLIAM THOMSON, Knt., LL.D., F.R.S., 



PRESIDENT. 



For the third time of its forty years' history the British Association is 

 assembled in the metropolis of Scotland. The origin of the Association is 

 connected with Edinburgh in undying memory through the honoured names 

 of Robisou, Brewster, Eorbes, and Johnston. 



In this place, from this Chair, twenty-one years ago, Sir David Brewster 

 said : — " On the return of the British Association to the metropolis of Scot- 

 " land I am naturally reminded of the smaU band of pilgrims who carried 

 " the seeds of this Institution into the more genial soil of our sister land." 



" Sir John Robison, Professor Johnston, and Professor J. D. 



" Forbes were the earliest friends and promoters of the British Association. 

 " They went to York to assist in its establishment, and they found there the 

 " very men who were qualified to foster and organize it. The Rev. Mr. 

 " Vernon Harcourt, whose name cannot be mentioned here without grati- 

 " tude, had provided laws for its government, and, along with Mr. Phillips, 

 " the oldest and most valuable of our office-bearers, had made aU those 

 " arrangements by which its success was ensured. Headed by Sii' Roderick 

 " Murchison, one of the very earliest and most active advocates of the 

 " Association, there assembled at York about 200 of tlie friends of science." 



The statement I have read contains no allusion to the real origin of the 

 British Association. This blank in my predecessor's historical sketch I am 

 able to fill in from words written by himself twenty years earlier. Through 

 the kindness of Professor PhiUips I am enabled to read to you part of a 

 letter to him at York, written by David Brewster from AUerly by Melrose, 

 on the 23rd of February, 1831 :— 



" Dear Sir, — I have taken the liberty of writing yon on a subject of con- 

 " siderable importance. It is proposed to establish a British Association of 

 " men of science similar to that which has existed for eight years in Gcr- 

 " many, and which is now patronized by the most powerful Sovereigns of that 

 " part of Europe. The arrangements for the first meeting are iu progress ; and 

 " it is contemplated that it shall be held in York, as the most central city for 

 " the three kingdoms. My object in writing yoir at present is to beg that you 

 •' would ascertain if York will furnish the accommodation necessary for so 



