ADDRESS. 7 



our gatherings will be to little purpose. There was a period within my 

 own recollection when it was uncertain whether the then younger members 

 of our scientific growth would cast in their lot with us or not, and when 

 the fate of the Association depended very much upon their decision. They 

 decided in our favour ; they have since become Presidents, Lecturers, and 

 other functionaries of our body ; with what result it is for you to judge. 



Of the advantages which may possibly accrue to the locality in which 

 our meetings are held, it is not for us to speak ; but it is always a ground 

 for sincere satisfaction to learn that our presence has been of any use in 

 stimulatiug an interest, or in promoting local efforts, in the direction of 

 Science. 



The functions of the British Association do not, however, terminate 

 with the meeting itself. Beside the special committees already mentioned, 

 there remains a very important body, elected by the General Committee, 

 viz., the Council, which assembles at the office in London from time to 

 time as occasion requires. To this body belongs the duty of proposing a 

 President, of preparing for the approval of the General Committee the list 

 of Vice-Presidents and sectional officers, the selection of evening lecturers, 

 and other arrangements for the coming meeting. 



At the present time another class of questions occupies a good deal of 

 the attention of the Council. In the first generation of the Association, 

 and during the period of unwritten, but not yet traditional, law, questions 

 relating to our own organisation or procedure either " settled themselves," 

 or were wisely left to the discretionary powers of those who had taken 

 part in our proceedings during the early years of our existence. These 

 and other kindred subjects now require more careful formularisation and 

 more deliberate sanction. And it is on the shoulders of the Council that the 

 weight of these matters in general falls. These facts deserve especial men- 

 tion on the present occasion, because one part of our business at the close of 

 this meeting will be to bid farewell officially to one who has served us as 

 Assistant Secretary so long and so assiduously that he has latterly become 

 our main repertory of information, and our mentor upon questions of prece- 

 dent and procedure. The post hitherto held by Mr. Griffith (for it is to 

 him that I allude) will doubtless be well filled by the able and energetic 

 member who has been nominated in his place ; but I doubt not that even 

 he will be glad for some time to come to draw largely upon the knowledge 

 and experience of his predecessor. 



But, beside matters of internal arrangement and organisation, the 

 duties of the Council comprise a variety of scientific subjects referred to 

 them by the General Committee, at the instance of the Committee of Re- 

 commendations, for deliberation and occasionally for action. With the 

 increasing activity of our body in general, and more particularly with that 

 of our various officers, these duties have of late years become more varied 

 and onerous than formerly ; nor is it to be wished that they should 

 diminish in either variety or extent. 



