8 REPORT — 1878. 



Once more, questions beyond our own constitution, and even beyond 

 the scope of our own immediate action, such as education, legislation 

 affecting either the promotion or the applications of science to industrial 

 and social life, which have suggested themselves at our meetings, and 

 received the preliminary sanction of our Committee of Recommendations, 

 are frequently referred to our Council. These, and others which it is 

 unnecessary to particularise, whether discussed in full Council or in com- 

 mittees specially appointed by that body, render the duties of our coun- 

 cillors as onerous as they are impoi'tant. 



While the Government has at all times, but in a more marked manner 

 of late years, recognised the Royal Society of London, with representa- 

 tives from the sister societies of Dublin and of Edinburgh, as the body 

 to which it should look for counsel and advice upon scientific questions, 

 it has still never shown itself indisposed to receive and entertain any 

 well-considered recommendation from the British Association. Two 

 special causes have in all probability contributed largely to this result. 

 First, the variety of elements comprised by the Association, on account 

 of which its recommendations imply a more general concurrence of scien- 

 tific opinion than those of any other scientific body. Secondly, the pecu- 

 liar fact, that our period of maximum activity coincides with that of 

 minimum activity of other scientific bodies, is often of the highest import- 

 ance. At the very time when the other bodies are least able, we are 

 most able, to give deliberate consideration, and formal sanction, to recom- 

 mendations whether in the form of applications to Government or other- 

 wise which may arise. In many of these, time is an element so essential, 

 that it is not too much to say, that without the intervention of the British 

 Association many opportunities for the advancement of Science, especially 

 at the seasons in question, might have been lost. The Government has 

 moreover formally recognised our scientific existence by appointing our 

 President for the time being a member of the Government Fund Com- 

 mittee ; and the public has added its testimony to our importance and 

 utility by imposing upon our President and officers a variety of duties, 

 among which are conspicuous those which arise out of its very liberal 

 exercise of civic and other hospitality. 



Of the nature and functions of the Presidential address this is perhaps 

 neither the time nor the place to speak ; but if I might for a moment for- 

 get the purpose for which we are now assembled, I would take the oppor- 

 tunity of reminding those who have not attended many of our former 

 meetings that our annual volumes contain a long series of addresses on 

 the progress of Science, from a number of our most eminent men, to 

 which there is perhaps no parallel elsewhere. These addresses are per- 

 haps as remarkable for their variety in mode of treatment as for the value 

 of their subject-matter. Some of our Presidents, and especially those 

 who officiated in the earlier days of our existence, have passed in review 

 the various branches of Science, and have noted the progress made in 



