xlvili REPORT—1874. 
Report of the Council for the Year 1873-74 presented to the General Com- 
mittee at Belfast, on Wednesday, August 19th, 1874. 
The Council have received Reports during the past year from the General 
Treasurer; and his Account for the year will be laid before the General 
Committee this day. 
The General Committee at Bradford referred the following four Resolutions 
to the Council for their consideration, and they beg to report their proceed- 
ings upon each case :— 
' First Resolution.—* That the Council be requested to take steps to bring 
the importance of the meteorological researches at Mauritius before 
the Government, in order that, when they become convinced of the 
value of these researches by the action of the Association, they may 
be induced to increase the assistance.” 
The Council found that it was unnecessary to take action in this case, 
the application made by the Association last year having resulted in an 
increase to the Staff of the Observatory by the Government. 
Second Resolution.— That the Council be requested to take such steps 
as they may consider desirable for the purpose of representing to Her 
Majesty’s Government the importance of the scientific results to be 
obtained from Arctic Exploration.” 
In November last, Sir Bartle Frere, President of the Royal Geographical 
Society, requested Mr. Gladstone to receive ajoint deputation from the Royal 
Society, the Royal Geographical Society, the British Association, and the 
Dundee Chamber of Commerce, on the subject of an Arctic Expedition. 
Mr. Gladstone declined to receive a deputation, but requested an application, 
stating reasons, in a written form. This was furnished, but a change of 
Government occurred. Mr. Disraeli, since his accession to office, has re- 
ceived a deputation on the subject, consisting of Sir H. Rawlinson, Dr. 
Hooker, and Admiral Sherard Osborne, but no answer has yet been returned 
to their application. 
Third Resolution.—* That the Council be requested to consider the pos- 
sibility and expediency of making arrangements for the constitution 
of an Annual Museum for the exhibition of specimens and apparatus 
on a similar footing to that of the Sections, and similarly provided 
with officers to superintend the arrangements.” 
The Council, in accordance with the desire of the General Committee, have 
provided a room, and appointed a Committee, consisting of the General and 
Assistant General Secretaries, Professor Redfern, Mr. Ewart (one of the 
Local Secretaries), and Mr. Ray Lankester, to make the necessary arrange- 
ments for the reception and due exhibition of specimens and apparatus illus- 
trative of Papers to be read at the Meeting. 
Fourth Resolution.—“ That the Council of. the British Association be 
requested to communicate with the authorities in charge of the St. 
Gothard’s Tunnel, with the view of obtaining permission for the 
Committee on Underground Temperature to take observations on 
temperature during the progress of the works.” 
