ON SCIENCii-LECTUKES AND ORGANIZATION. 497 



The sixth object is of immediate concern to the State. At the present day, 

 when war has been raised from an art to a science, it would be the height of 

 folly not to secure the best theoretical talent that the country can afford. 

 Under the head (6) it may be remarked that the commonest feelings of 

 humanity call for authoritative and intelligent interference with arrange- 

 ments and processes by which the lives and happiness of so many are so 

 frequently imperilled. 



The verification and issue of scientific instruments is a most important 

 duty, and ought to be undertaken by a body armed with authority sufficient 

 to secure the use not only of instruments which are correct, but whose 

 indications are on a uniform system of units. The duty of verification has 

 been undertaken by the Kew Observatory with such good results as to 

 encourage further efforts over a wider field. 



The objects proposed are extensive, and would involve some difficulty in 

 carrying them into effect. But the benefits to be attained are so immense 

 that these considerations should not be allowed to weigh. Moreover, existing 

 Societies, several of which possess a very complete organization, would supply 

 a great deal of the necessary machinery, so that the chief business of the 

 Government would be to supervise, give authority, and furnish the necessary 

 funds *. 



Your Committee, believing that the only mode of making progress in so 

 wide a field as that described by Dr. Joule was to select some few points upon 

 which to commence action, determined to appoint three Subcommittees for the 

 purpose of taking up the discussion of three of the above-named objects. 



Subcommittee A. — To discuss and report on the first of the resolutions 

 under which the Committee was appointed, viz. the best means of advancing 

 Science by Lectures. 



Subcommittee B. — To discuss and report on the question of Scientific 

 Organization as regards Meteorology. 



Subcommittee C. — To discuss and report on the question of Scientific 

 Organization as regards Local Scientific Societies. 



Reports from the above Subcommittees have been received; their substance 

 is as follows: — 



Subcommittee A. — On the best means of advancing Science by Lectures. 



In accordance with the first original resolution, the Council of the Asso- 

 ciation, on February 28th, 1872, gave permission to the proposed action of 

 your Committee as regards Science-Lectures. The Subcommittee A was 

 charged with the preparation for one year of a list of lectures for the con- 

 sideration of your Committee, and with the task of communicating with the 

 various towns with the view of establishing a system of Science-Lectures 

 throughout the country. The necessity of establishing some regulation under 

 which the names of proposed Lecturers should be selected became at once 

 apparent. The following regulations were ultimately adopted: — (1) The 

 names of the Lecturers to be selected (with their consent) from Members of 

 the General Committee of the Association, or from amongst the Graduates of 

 any University of the United Kingdom. (2) The subjects of the Lectures 

 shall be such as are included in one or other of the Sections of the Associa- 

 tion. Circulars were then sent to a certain number of gentlemen asking for 

 their cooperation in the delivery of Science-Lectures in various parts of the 



* See Lord Wrottesley's Address to tlie Koyal Society, Nov. 30, 1865 ; also Keport of 

 the Parliamentary Committee to the British Association at Glasgow, 1855. 



1873. ■ 2 K 



