466 REPORT— 1903. 



' The subject of Scientific Education in relation to the Corresponding 

 Societies has been under the consideration of a Committee of the Council 

 of this Asssociation, and that Committee have expressed the opinion that 

 immense benefit would accrue to the country if the Corresponding 

 Societies, in addition to their present workj were to take advantage of 

 the expert knowledge of many of their members to secure adequate 

 representation for scientific education on the Education Committees now 

 being appointed under the new Act. The Educational Section of the 

 Association having been but recently added, the Corresponding Societies 

 have not had much opportunity for taking part in this branch of the 

 Association's work, and in view of tlie reorganisation in education now 

 going on all o\'cr the country the Committee are of opinion that no more 

 opportune time is likely to occur for the influence of scientific organisa- 

 tions to make itself felt as a real factor in national education. They do 

 not at present think it desirable to formulate any definite scheme by 

 which the Corresponding Societies might be of service to the cause of 

 scientific education. Some Societies might prefer to form Educational 

 Consultative Committees, and to place their services at the disposal of the 

 Education Authority of their County or Borough. Others might prefer 

 that individual members of their Societies should be added to the Educa- 

 tion Committee ; and others again might prefer to act indirectly by 

 helping to foster public opinion in favour of that kind of education wiiich 

 it is the chief function of a scientific body such as the British Association 

 to promote. 



' We are directed by the Council of this Association to invite your 

 Society to express its opinion on this subject through its representative 

 at the next Conference of the Delegates of Corresponding Societies, 

 which will be held at Southport on September 10 and 15, during the 

 Meeting of the British Association, when the matter will form a specific 

 subject for discussion. 



' For your fuller information a copy of the Report of the Committee 

 of Council of the British Association is enclosed herewith. 

 ' We are, Sir, yours faithfully, 



' F. W. RuDLER, Sec. Corresponding Soc. Com. ; 

 J. G. Garson, Asst. General Secretary.' 



The Committee have to report that the returns received from the 

 Corresponding Societies show that in some instances good work is being 

 accomplished locally, though in most cases only to a very limited extent. 

 In reply to a Circular of Inquiry, eighteen Societies state that they 

 have done something during the past year in the way of original investi- 

 gation. The subjects which have received most attention relate to geo- 

 logical and botanical research. 



A Circular similar to that which was printed in last year's Report 

 (p. 863) was addressed to the Secretaries of the various Committees of 

 the Association and others desirous of obtaining the co-operation of the 

 Corresponding Societies, inquiring what assistance had been rendered 

 by the Local Societies. It is unfortunate, however, that the replies to 

 this inquiry have not been of a very encouraging character. 



The Elgin and Morayshire Literary and Scientific Association has been 

 added to the list of Corresponding Societies ; the Cardiff Naturalists' 

 Society and the Natural History Society of Glasgow have been replaced ; 

 and the West of Scotland Marine Biological Association has withdrawn. 



