TEANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 



SECTION A.— MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE. 

 President of the Section — Professor A. R. Forsyth, M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S. 



THURSDAY, AUGUST 19. 

 The President delivered the following Address : — 



One of tlie most important events of the past year, connected with the affairs of 

 this Section, has been the reception by the Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, of jt 

 deputation to represent the need for the establishment of a National Physical 

 Laboratory to carry out investigations of certain definite types. Such institutions 

 exist in France and Germany, and have proved of the highest usefulness in a field 

 of work that includes the wide range from pure research to the most direct appli- 

 cations of science to industry. Tlie desire for such an institution in England has 

 long been felt, and as far back as ] 891 Professor Oliver Lodge, when presiding 

 over our Section at the Cardiff meeting, argued in its favour. It has frequently 

 been discussed since that date, particularly in 1895, when Sir Douglas Galton 

 dealt with it so ably in his presidential address at Ipswich, and also in a commuui- 

 cation to our Section. The subject was then formally referred to a committee of 

 physicists, who, at last year's meeting in Liverpool, presented a report containing 

 a working scheme for developing the Kew Observatory into an institution of the 

 desired character. The recommendations of the report were approved by a unani- 

 mous vote of this Section; and were subsequently adopted by the Association. 

 Thereupon a joint committee, representing the various scientific bodies throughout 

 the United Kingdom interested in the matter, was constituted to further the plan : 

 in particular, to urge upon the Government the establishment of such a Laboratory, 

 and, if possible, to obtain from them the funds which are a preliminary necessity 

 for that purpose. It was a deputation from this joint committee which, headed 

 by Lord Lister, waited upon the Prime Minister on February 16 last. His reply 

 to the deputation was manifestly sympathetic with the request ; and it is a satis- 

 faction to be able now to say that the Government have appointed a Committee of 

 inquiry, which will also consider whether standardizing and other work, alreadj^ 

 undertaken partially or wholly at the public cost, can fitly be associated with the 

 new institution. 



After having said, by way of preface, thus much upon the chief event of the 

 past year arising partly from our direct action, I wish to turn to the main line of 

 my address, and to ask, for a brief time, your attention and your consideration for 

 the subject of pure mathematics. If, remembering the brilliant address made 

 at the Monti'eal meeting, you regret that Lord Kelvin is not again now 

 occupying this position : or if, remembering the interest aroused by Professor 

 J. J. Thomson's address last year, you regret that the fascinating tale then opened 

 is not being resumed by some one with imagination enough and knowledge enough 

 to continue it : I can, not unselfishly, share your regret. 



