lOo SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF YORK AND DISTRICT 



papers were read to the meeting, and generally appear, in the phrase of 

 a contemporary newspaper account, to have ' elicited much interesting 

 conversation.' Not unnaturally their subjects depended largely upon the 

 chance of individual men of science attending the meeting and coming 

 prepared with something to say ; but the classification of subjects is not 

 without interest. Six of the communications were on geology and 

 mineralogy, five on magnetism and electricity, four on optics, three on 

 light and lighting, three were physiological, two meteorological, two 

 chemical, one astronomical. Zoology and botany were notably unrepre- 

 sented, while the other fields of science which have since come within the 

 purview of sections of the Association were as yet explored by few, if 

 any, inquirers. 



On the Tuesday evening there was a dinner in the York Tavern, which 

 began at five o'clock, an hour mercifully out of fashion now. There was 

 a long list of toasts, mostly of distinguished members present and the 

 institutions represented by them ; and it is recorded that the toasts of 

 Lord Milton and Harcourt, and the Council of the Yorkshire Philosophical 

 Society were ' drunk with three times three.' It is a point of some 

 significance that there was a general toast of provincial scientific societies, 

 and also one of mechanics' institutes, for these exemplify the far-sighted 

 views of the founders of the Association. They were aiming at co- 

 operation with local scientific institutions, and that co-operation was in 

 future years to be achieved, through the establishment of the system of 

 corresponding societies, and that of public lectures given during the 

 annual meetings, which in accordance with the spirit of the Victorian era 

 were initiated in 1867 as ' lectures to the operative classes.' Later in the 

 week the members were entertained to a ' grand concert,' and also were 

 hospitably received by the Archbishop of York. 



It was, therefore, no matter for wonder that at the conclusion of the 

 meeting, Murchison, the President of the Geological Society and one of 

 those, outside York, most active in the establishment of the Association, 

 said that to the city of York, ' as the cradle of the Association, they should 

 ever look back with gratitude ; and whether they met thereafter on the 

 banks of the Isis, the Cam, or the Forth, to this spot, to this beautiful 

 building, they would still fondly revert, and hail with delight the period 

 at which in their gyration they should return to this, the point of their 

 first attraction.' He moved ' that the cultivators of science here assembled 

 do return their most grateful thanks to His Grace the Archbishop of York, 

 the Patron, and to the Officers and Members of the Yorkshire Philosophical 

 Society, for the very liberal manner in which, by the use of their Halls 

 and Museum, and by their obliging and unwearied efforts to provide every 

 accommodation and comfort to the visitors, they so essentially con- 

 tributed to the success and prosperity of this Association.' The motion 

 was seconded by Brewster and supported by Dalton, and may fitly be 

 echoed at the looth meeting of the Association.^ 



^ The Annual Meetings were intermitted during two years of the Great War. 



