TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 3l 
gical changes. He said that this theory is not commonly admitted by English 
observers, because, perhaps, there is not in this country so powerful a display of 
electricity as on the continent, and perhaps it has not been sufficiently investigated 
how far this relation goes. Whatever may be the cause of this difference (if it is 
true), it is certainly necessary that it should be thoroughly studied, to which pur- 
ose a magnetical observatory with photographic records would be very useful, if 
it could be established also in Rome. The author, however, did not attribute all 
magnetical variations to meteorological changes. He stated that, from the obser- 
vations made in Rome both on the sun’s spots and magnetical instruments, a splen- 
did confirmation was obtained of the minimum of solar spots, combined with the 
minimum of variation in magnetical elements, both in respect to regular and irre- 
gular oscillations. The author concluded by insisting on the great advantage 
which accrued to the art of navigation in the Italian ports from telegraphic indica- 
tions of English meteorological states; and he noticed that a regular service is 
already in activity between Rome and the port of Civita Vecchia for this purpose, 
to the great satisfaction of the sailors. 
CHEMISTRY. 
Address by Professor E. Franxianp, F.R.S., President of the Section. 
At these annual reunions of those interested in Chemical science, it is usual for the 
President of this Section to take a rapid survey of the progress of Chemistry dur- 
ing the past year, and in conformity with that custom, it now devolves upon me to 
bring under your notice some matters which may, perhaps, with advantage arrest 
our attention for a few moments before we proceed to the actual business of the 
Section. 
It may be safely asserted that at no previous Meeting of the British Association 
has there been evinced such an amount of interest in experimental science, and espe- 
cially in Chemistry, as that which pervades the length and breadth of this country. 
The international display of manufactures last year in Paris produced upon British 
visitors an impression which, if not quite unanimous in its kind, was almost 
entirely so, as regards the resulting conviction, viz. that in the education of the 
youth of this country scientific instruction is neglected, or systematically excluded, 
to an extent which finds no approach to a parallel in any other great Huropean 
nation. There are many, and TF eautiea to being one of them, who consider that 
even now our trade and manufactures are suffering to a very marked extent from 
this grave defect in our national education. It is thought by some that igno- 
rance, on the part of managers and workmen, of the scientific truths upon which 
most manufacturing processes depend, has not yet begun palpably to tell upon our 
manufacturing prosperity; but, whatever difference of opinion there may be as to 
our present industrial position amongst nations, all agree in this, that without the 
extensive introduction of thorough scientific training into the education of those 
destined for industrial pursuits, we can no longer continue to maintain that pre- 
eminence in manufactures which we have now so long enjoyed. 
The great science schools of the continent have no parallels in this country. 
The discouraging way in which scientific studies are being introduced into our 
older universities, the lack of the necessary funds for the proper endowment of 
professorships, and for the provision of suitable buildings and apparatus in our 
modern institutions, and the insignificance of the rewards offered to successful 
students in science, have naturally operated most injuriously upon the extension of 
chemical culture. Whilst in Heidelberg, Ziirich, Bonn, Berlin, Leipzig, and Carls- 
ruhe magnificent edifices have been raised, replete with all the newest contrivances 
for facilitating the prosecution of chemical studies, we are here still compelled to 
give instruction and conduct research in small and inconvenient buildings utterly 
inadequate to the requirements of modern chemistry. The large sums spent b 
the governments of Germany and Switzerland upon these establishments suf- 
