10 REPORT— 1903 



may be congratulated upon the magnificent way in which the other objects 

 of the Association have been carried out ; but as one familiar with the 

 Association for the last forty years I cannot but think that the object to 

 which I have specially referred has been too much overshadowed by the 

 work done in connection with the others. 



A careful study of the eai'ly history of the Association leads me to the 

 belief that the function I am now dwelling on was strongly in the minds 

 of the founders ; but be this as it may, let me point out how admirably 

 the organisation is framed to enable men of science to influence public 

 opinion and so to bring pressure to bear upon Governments which follow 

 public opinion. (1) Unlike all the other chief metropolitan societies, its 

 outlook is not limited to any branch or branches of science. (2) We have 

 a wide and numerous fellowship, including both the leaders and the lovers 

 of science, in which all branches of science are and always have been 

 included with the utmost catholicity — a condition which renders strong 

 committees possible on any subject. (3) An annual meeting at a time 

 when people can pay attention to the deliberations, and when the news- 

 papers can print reports. (4) The possibility of beating up recruits and 

 establishing local committees in different localities, even in the King's 

 dominions beyond the seas, since the place of meeting changes from year 

 to year, and is not limited to these islands. 



We not only, then, have a scientific Parliament competent to deal 

 with all matters, including those of national importance, relating to science, 

 but machinery for influencing all new councils and committees dealing 

 with local matters, the functions of which are daily becoming more 

 important. 



The machinery might consist of our corresponding societies. We 

 already have afEliated to us seventy societies with a membership of 25,000. 

 Were this number increased so as to include every scientific society in the 

 Empire, metropolitan and provincial, we might eventually hope for a 

 membership of half a million. 



I am glad to know that the Council is fully alive to the importance of 

 giving a greater impetus to the work of the corresponding societies. 

 During this year a committee was appointed to deal with the question ; 

 and later still, after this committee had reported, a conference was held 

 between this committee and the corresponding societies committee to 

 consider the suggestions made, some of which will be gathered from the 

 following extract : — 



' In view of the increasing importance of science to the nation at large, 

 your committee desire to call the attention of the Council to the fact that 

 in the corresponding societies the British Association has gathered in the 

 various centres represented by these societies practically all the scientific 

 activity of the provinces. The number of members and associates at 

 present on the list of the corresponding societies approaches 25,000, and 

 no organisation is in existence anywhere in the country better adapted 



