506 REPORT — 1873. 



The Director of the Stonyhurst Observatory was thanked by the Com- 

 mittee for the facilities which he was willing to give. 



Subcommiitee C. — On the question of Scientific Organization as regards 

 Local Scientific Societies. 



Your Committee, believing that much valuable scientific effort is being lost 

 throughout the country for want of a system by which the labours of isolated 

 workers can be brought forward, appointed a Subcommittee, with Sir Walter 

 Elliot as Secretary, for the purpose of discussing and reporting whether some 

 means can be taken for establishing closer relations than at present exist 

 between Local Scientific Societies, which, as a rule, work independently each 

 in their own circle, with little knowledge of what others are doing. It is 

 thought that if such means can be adopted it may lead to something like 

 unity of action amongst them, and to investigations productive of general 

 results, as well as to the iuterchange of views and observations advantageous 

 to Societies individually and to the cause of Science at large. The Subcom- 

 mittee point out that this end may be accomplished in two ways : — 



1 . By the publication annually, in a collected form, of observations or dis- 

 coveries possessing general interest. 



2. By organizing a system of cooperation by personal or written com- 

 munication, or both. 



The Subcommittee also suggest that delegates from certain selected So- 

 cieties, varying from year to year, together with representatives from such 

 Societies as may find it convenient to depute them, should meet along with 

 the British Association, and that to them should be submitted any general 

 questions of combined action or inquiry ; and that the Councils of Local 

 Scientific Societies should place in their hands such contributions made to the 

 Societies during the year as they may think it desirable to publish in a com- 

 mon volume of Reports, the Court of Delegates being possibly assisted by the 

 officers of Sections of the British Association acting along with them as a 

 Committee of Selection. Your Committee think it right here to observe that 

 all cost of publication and expenses incidental to such suggested Meetings 

 must be defrayed by the Societies concerned. 



After some preliminary discussions, the Subcommittee determined to com- 

 municate with as many of the Provincial Scientific Societies and Field Clubs 

 as possible, explaining the objects for which the Subcommittee was appointed, 

 and inviting them to consider the means by which the results of their opera- 

 tions could be made available to each other and to the advancement of 

 science at large. 



Circulars expressing the above-mentioned views were in June forwarded 

 to ninety-four English, twenty-two Scotch, and eight Irish Local Scientific 

 Societies. Replies cordially concurring in the plan have been received from 

 the following Societies, several likewise engaging to send delegates to Brighton 

 to deliberate further on its details : — 



1. Bath Natural-History Society and Field Club. 



2. Bristol Natural-History Society. 



3. Eastbourne Natural-History Society. 



4. Folkestone Natural-History Society. 



5. Ludlow Natural- History Society. 



6. Ludlow Field Club. 



7. Lunesdale NaturaUsts' Field Club. 



8. Maidstone and Mid Kent Natural-History and Philosophical Society. 



