xviii REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1928-29. 



VII. Suggested Meeting in India. — A suggestion was received as to 

 the possibility of a meeting of the Association in India, but the Council 

 felt that on the score of season and climate any proposal to hold an ordinary 

 meeting there could not be encouraged. The Council however suggested, 

 on its part, that the Indian Science Congress or other suitable authority 

 might invite the British Association to send a scientific deputation to 

 a joint meeting. 



VIII. Down House. — Thanks to the generosity of Mr. G. Buckston 

 Browne, the Association now possesses, in custody for the nation, Down 

 House, where Darwin thought and worked for forty years, and died in 

 1882. Mr. Buckston Browne, besides vesting in the Association the sum 

 of £20,000 for the maintenance of the property, has fully restored the house 

 (an extensive and urgent work), and has placed the ground floor in a con- 

 dition appropriate to exhibition to the public ; in particular, the Old 

 Study, where the Origin of Species was written, has been brought as nearly 

 as possible to an exact replica of its condition in Darwin's time, with much 

 of the original furnishing and copies of, or close approximations to, the 

 rest. Under Mr. Buckston Browne's inspiration, members of Darwin's 

 family, and others, have liberally given original furniture and other objects 

 of interest for preservation in the house. The restoration of the gardens 

 and the Sand Walk is also in progress. Thanks again to Mr. Buckston 

 Browne, the house is adequately staffed. The Council desired the Secre- 

 tary, Mr. Howarth, to occupy the residential portion of the house as 

 resident officer, for a period of not less than five years, and he will do so. 

 Full consideration will be given to the possibility of applying the estate to 

 some direct scientific purpose. 



The personnel of the Down House Committee appointed by the General 

 Committee on September 5, 1928, was completed by the nomination of 

 Sir Arthur Keith as representative of the Royal College of Surgeons. 



The Council learned with pleasure that the American Association for 

 the Advancement of Science, at the instance of Prof. H. Fairfield Osborn, 

 has appointed a Committee to co-operate with the Association for the 

 benefit of the estate : an important collection of letters from Darwin to 

 Fritz Muller has already been secured from South America through this 

 generous agency. 



With a view to the exemption from rates of premises held for 

 ' charitable ' purposes, the Association has been registered by the Registrar 

 of Friendly Societies as entitled to the benefit of the Scientific Societies 

 Act, 1843. 



Down House was formally dedicated to the public access on June 7 

 at a meeting attended by many members of the General Committee, 

 representatives of Darwin's family, scientific societies with which Darwin 

 was connected, and other invited guests. Dr. Joseph Leidy represented 

 the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the 

 Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, and has generously presented 

 to Down House the bust of Darwin exhibited by Mr. C. L. Hartwell in 

 this year's Royal Academy. Prof. E. B. Poulton represented Prof. H. F. 

 Osborn and the American Museum of Natural History, Prof. R. Anthony 

 represented French science, and Prof. Abe the Japanese Darwin Society. 

 The American Ambassador also was represented. 



