Ixxxii REPORT — 1895. 



' Meanwhile tlie time has come for the leading scientific bodies of the 

 Empire to declare, as regards their various departments, that they concur 

 in the view already expressed by the Eoyal Society, the Royal Geo- 

 graphical Society, and the British Association, that a renewal of Antarctic 

 research is of great importance to science. 



' The Council of the British Association for the Advancement of 

 Science was the body through whose influential representations the 

 memorable expedition led by Sir James Ross was despatched to the 

 Antarctic regions. True to its excellent traditions, your Council has 

 invariably given its support to similar proposals, and I therefore feel 

 confident that the British Association will retain its place in the front 

 rank of those who seek to promote the advancement of science by 

 Antarctic research. 



' The President and the Council of the Royal Geographical Society 

 now request that you will once more bring the question of the results of 

 Antarctic discovery to the notice of your Council for serious consideration, 

 with a view to co-operation and to the undertaking being unanimously 

 advocated by the scientific societies of Great Britain and Ireland.' 



The Council resolved to express their sympathy with, and approval 

 of, the effort which is being made by the Royal Geographical Society to 

 organise an expedition for the exploration of the Antarctic Sea, but did 

 not consider that any further action could usefully be taken by them at 

 present. 



(2) That the Council be requested to call the attention of the Civil Service 

 Commissioners to the Report of a Committee of Section F on the Methods 

 of Economic Training, and especially to tlie recommendations (contained on 

 page 2) with regard to the position of Economics in the Civil Service 

 Examinations. 



The following are the passages referred to in the Resolution : — 



' In most Continental countries Economics occupies a place more 

 or less prominent in the courses of training and in the examinations 

 through which candidates for the legal profession or the Civil Service 

 have to pass. . . . 



' The two studies are cognate, and according to the view of your Com- 

 mittee not only would the institution of an examination in Economics at 

 some stage of legal degrees and qualifications be advantageous profession- 

 ally, but the work of those who had enjoyed a legal training would react 

 favourably on the advance of the science. In addition. Economics should 

 receive a much more important place in the Civil Service Examinations, 

 and should, if possible, be made compulsory on those entering the higher 

 branches.' 



The Council, after considering this question, referred it to a Com- 

 mittee, consisting of the President and Officers, with Professors H. Sidg- 

 wick, Foxwell, and Edgeworth. The report of the Committee was as 

 follows ; — 



' Legal studies and qualifications for the position of Barrister-at-Law 

 depend entirely on the Inns of Court, and they believe that the Civil 

 Service Commissioners have no influence over the legal examinations. 



' The recommendations proposed with regard to the Civil Service is 

 that Economics should, if possible, be made compulsory on those who 

 enter the higher branches of the Service. This proposal, if carried out, 

 would produce an entire revolution in the mode of appointing to the Civil 



