IXX Vi REPOBT — 1893. 



It is believed by the Council that the facilities at the command of these Depart- 

 ments would enable a more correct judgment to be formed, both of the real value to 

 the nation of improved means of identification and of the efficiency and costs of the 

 methods above referred to, than could be obtained through the exertions, however 

 zealous, of private persons. 



I therefore venture to hope that you may be willing that inquiries be instituted 

 in the Department over which you preside. The Council will be ready to furnish 

 any information at their disposal which may be desired. 



I have the honour to be, your obedient servant, 



ARCH. GEIKIE, Presidmt. 



The following replies have been received : — • 



War Office, Pall Mall, S.W., Jutie 28, 1893. 

 Sir, — I am directed by Mr. Secretary Campbell-Bannerman to acknowledge the 

 receipt of your letter of the 19th instant, forwarding a copy of a Eeport from the 

 British Association for the Advancement of Science relative to the anthropometric 

 method of identifying persons charged with crime. 



In reply, I am to acquaint you that the working of this system in France was not 

 long since the subject of careful consideration on the part of the Secretary of State 

 for War, who came to the conclusion that, although the sj'stem appeared to be ad- 

 mirably adapted for the identification of criminals, it was not desirable it should be 

 introduced into the British Army. 



I am, Sir, vour obedient servant, 



RALPH THOMPSON. 

 The President, 

 British Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 Burlington House, W. 



India Office, Whitehall, S.W., July 11, 1893. 

 Sir, — I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge 

 the receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo, and, in reply, to state that anthropometry 

 according to the system invented by M. Bertillon has been introduced into India by 

 the Government, and is now being tried there as an experiment. 



I am. Sir, j'our obedient servant, 



GEORGE W. E. RUSSELL. 

 Sir Archibald Geikie, LL.D., F.R.S., President, 



British Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 Burlington House. 



Admiealtt, August 5, 1893. 

 Sir, — My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having had under consideration 

 your letter of the 19th June last, on the subject of an improved mode of registration 

 of physical measurements, kc, of persons entered into the Government services with 

 a view to the identification of criminals, I am commanded by their Lordships to 

 acquaint you that they are not prepared to introduce the Continental system of 

 anthropological examination into the Naval Recruiting Department, as the present 

 mode of noting the physical measurements of all persons who may be entered, together 

 with any particular marks or scars, is deemed sufhcient for official purposes, so far 

 as the identification of men is concerned, and that, as a rule, no difficulty arises in 

 identifying deserters. 



I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 



EVAN MACGREGOR. 

 Sir Archibald Geikie, LL.D., President, 



British Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 Burlington House, W. 



(c) That the letter of Professor E. Wiedemann and the communications from 

 the Committees of Sections B and C on the subject of the headings of 

 Reports be referred to the Council. 



The Council resolved that the subject of a Report should be mentioned 

 first, then the names of the Committee, and finally the titles of any 

 Appendices. 



