xlviii . REPORT — 1872. 



Report of the Council for the Year 1871-72 p^'esented to the General 

 Committee at Brighton, on Wednesday, August 14th, 1872. 



At eaeli of their Meetings during the present year, the Council have 

 received a Report from the General Treasurer, and his Report for the year 

 will be laid before the General Committee this day. 



The Council have to announce that a vacancy has occurred in the number 

 of the Trustees in consequence of the death of Sir Roderick Murchison. 



The Council take this opportunity of expressing their regret at the great 

 loss which Science has sustained by his death. Ho worked long, eai-uestly, 

 and with eminent success in the Sciences of Geology and Geography, and was 

 at all times a steady patron of rising Scientific Men in all branches of Science. 

 He was a Member and strenuous supporter of this Association at its first 

 formation in 1831, and continued until the close of his life a very constant 

 attendant at its Meetings and a firm promoter of its interests. 



The Council recommend that Sir John Lubbock, Bart., be selected to fill 

 the vacancy. 



The list of Sectional Officers, which the Council will submit to the General 

 Committee, has been arranged in accordance with the resolution of the 

 General Committee at the Meeting at Edinburgh in 1871, viz. the Section 

 of Biology has been divided into the three Departments of Anatomy and 

 Physiology, Anthropology, and Zoology and Botany, and the Council have 

 designated the Chairmen and Secretaries to take charge of the several 

 Departments. 



In accordance with the following resolution of the General Committee at 

 Edinburgh, viz. : — 



That the President and General Ofticers, with power to add to their 

 number, be requested to take such steps as may seem to them desi- 

 rable in order to promote observations on the forthcoming Total Solar 

 Eclipse, 



a Committee was formed, consisting of the President, and General Officers of 

 the Association, Professor J. C. Adams, Sir G. B. Airy, Astronomer Royal, 

 Professor Clifton, Mr. De La Rue, Dr. Frankland, Mr. Hind, Mr. Lassell, 

 President R.A.S., Lord Lindsay, Mr. Lockyer, General Sabine, General Stra- 

 chey, Colonel Strange, and Professor Stokes ; and a Letter was addressed by 

 the President to the First Lord of the Treasury, requesting the Government 

 to contribute £2000 towards the expenses of the Expedition, to aflford to the 

 Expedition the assistance of a Government Steamer to convey the parties 

 composing it to the Stations for observation selected on the Coasts of Ceylon 

 and India, and to obtain for the Expedition the cooperation of the Governor- 

 General of India and of the Governor of Ceylon. 



Her Majesty's Government acceded to the request contained in this letter. 

 The Expedition was formed by the Committee, and proceeded to Ceylon and 

 India in the charge of Mr. Lockyer and Dr. Thomson. The Governor-General 

 of India and the Governor of Ceylon forwarded the objects of the Expedition 

 by all means in their power. 



