174 REPORT — 1872. 



elected council only in so far as would be uecessary to prevent tlieir clasliiug witli 

 each otlier, and for the control of auy nieasui'es which it might be necessary for 

 the several sections to undertake in concert; under the auspices of the general 

 council might also be held the anthropological meetings devoted to such general 

 subjects as either embraced the whole or were not included in the sections. By 

 this means the standard of anthropological science as a comprehensive study of the 

 science of man in all its branches would be secured, and the possibility of its 

 becoming narrowed under the influence of any dominant party would be obviated. 

 It is hardly necessary to say that the chief ad^'antage of such an arraugemeut as I 

 suggest would consist in the employment of a single theatre and library for these 

 cognate societies ; the)' would employ a single printer, and the arrangements might 

 include one or more artists, lithographers, and map-drawers, by which a great 

 increase, and at the same time economy, would be etl'ected in the illustrations. 

 The saving effected by the union of these societies in a single establishment might 

 be applied to conducting explorations, either at home or abroad, in connexion with 

 the Geographical Society. The question of the utilization of apartments is one 

 which commends itself especially to the notice of Government in regard to tliose 

 societies for which apartments are provided at the public cost. It should be made 

 a sine qua. non that the societies so favoured should fairly represent all the branches 

 of their subject. 



As regards the local societies, it has been proposed to republish a selection of 

 their papers under the auspices of this Association. It is to be hoped that some 

 arrangement, such as that proposed by the committee of which Hir Walter Elliot 

 is secretary, may be carried out. I have only one suggestion to make on this 

 point: republication is simply a repetition of cost and labour, if the desired object 

 of bringing the papers together can be accomplished by other means. As to selec- 

 tioji, I have no faith in it. If local and metropolitan societies could be induced to 

 adopt a uniform size for their publications, not necessarilj' a uniform type, the 

 papers relating to the same subjects might be brought together without the cost of 

 reprinting. It would only be uecessary to establish a classiiication of papers under 

 various headings, such as, for example, those which constitute the sections of this 

 Association. The societies might then print additional copies of their papers under 

 each heading, in the same manner that additional copies are now struck off for the 

 use of autliors. A single metropolitan society might be recognized as the repre- 

 sentative of each branch, and under its auspices the Avhole of the papers of the local 

 and metropolitan societies relating to its branch might be brouglit together and 

 printed in a single volume. Time does not allow ine to enter into the details of 

 the arrnngements which would be uecessary to carry out sucli a measure. I believe 

 the difficulties would not be so great as might at first sight appear, especially as 

 the evils of the existing arrangements are mucli complained of ; but it should be a 

 primary object of any arrangement that may hereafter be made that the independ- 

 ence of the several branches should not be sacrificed unnecessarily ; it should be 

 endeavoured to stimulate them and train them into useful channels rather thau to 

 bring them too much imder central control. 



My object in making these remarks has been not so much to bring forward any 

 special recommendation of my own as to ventilate the matter amongst those of the 

 public who take an interest in these studies, but who are not so intimately con- 

 nected with the present working of the societies as to have any personal interest in 

 them; and I trust that the importance of the subject will be thought to justify me 

 in having brought it to the notice of the meeting. 



It is to be hoped that whenever, as anthropologists, we parade for Dr. Living- 

 stone's inspection (without, I trust, adhering too closely to the costume which he 

 has suggested for that occasion), it may be found that if we cannot compete with 

 his friends the anthropophagi in point of bone and muscle, in all that relates to 

 organized division of labour and mutual cooperation we may not be foxmd v.-anting 

 in that superiority to our betters which might naturally be expected from the 

 .advanced ci\ilization which we enjoy. 



