May 4, 1883.] 



SCIENCE. 



351 



FFvIDAY, MAY 4, 1S83. 



THE PROPOSED MEETING OF THE BRIT- 

 ISH ASSOCIA TIONFOR THE AD VANCE- 

 MEN T OF SCIENCE IN CANADA. 



The British association lias not 5-et ventured 

 to hold its meetings in anj' part of the empire 

 beyond the limits of the British Islands. It 

 has, however, so far crossed the sea as several 

 times to hold meetings in Ireland ; and its sis- 

 ter-association of France has set it an example 

 b^- holding a meeting in Algeria. The idea 

 of such extension of its geographical range is 

 not altogether new. Projects of an interna- 

 tional meeting ha\'e at various times been dis- 

 cussed, both in Britain and the United States ; 

 and it is understood that the present governor- 

 general of Canada, who has shown much interest 

 in the scientific progress of the new dominion, 

 has had correspondence with leading men of 

 science in England, with the view of either 

 bringing the association to Canada, or securing 

 a representative delegation to meet with the 

 recently established Royal society of Canada. 



The project of a visit to Canada onlj' as- 

 sumed definite form at the meeting last sum- 

 mer in Southampton. A motion was proposed, 

 we believe \iy Capt. Bedford Pym, in the 

 general committee, that the association should 

 meet in Canada in 1883. This was lost on a 

 division ; but it was understood b}' the pro- 

 moters of the scheme that the unfavorable re- 

 sult was in part due to the fact that thex were 

 unable to produce a definite invitation from 

 any Canadian citx. After the decision to meet 

 in Southport in 1883, the}' therefore felt at 

 libertj' to propose that the meeting of 1884 

 should be held in the city of JMontreal ; and 

 this was carried. Unfortunatelj', however, 

 there was no official communication of this 

 resolution till after the close of the meeting of 

 the American association in Montreal : other- 

 wise some steps might have been taken toward 

 a combined gathering in 1884. 



As soon as the resolution of the association 

 was definitely known in Montreal, a move- 

 ment was made to respond in a fitting manner. 

 After a preliminarj' meeting called by the 



No. 13. — 1883. 



president of the board of trade, and at which 

 there were representatives of the McGill uni- 

 versity and of the Natural histoiy society of 

 Montreal, the mayor was requested to call a 

 public meeting, which was large, influential, 

 and enthusiastic, and which passed resolutions 

 pledging the city to do all in its power to make 

 the meeting successful ; appointing, at the same 

 time, a large committee of leading citizens to 

 cany these resolutions into effect. 



In so far as accommodations for the meet- 

 ing is concerned, and funds for its expenses, 

 there can be no doubt that Montreal can en- 

 tertain the association as well as any of the 

 British cities in which it ordinarily meets ; and 

 its geographical position and facilities for ac- 

 cess, and for communication with air parts of 

 Canada, the northern states, and the west, 

 present manj' attractions ; while there is reason _ 

 to hope that a meeting of the British associa- 

 tion in Montreal would be attended not only 

 by all interested in science in Canada, but b}- 

 large numbers of the scientific workers of the 

 United States. The experience acquired last 

 year in entertaining the American association 

 will also afford veiy valuable guidance. It 

 was felt, however, that the real difficiilty lay 

 in the transportation across the ocean of so 

 large a body as the British association, or even 

 of that scientific nucleus of it which constitutes 

 its essential part. The matter was therefore 

 brought under the notice of the dominion gov- 

 ernment with the view of securing aid toward 

 the passage across the Atlantic ; and it is un- 

 derstood that a grant will be made sufflcientlj- 

 large to insure free passages to the officers of 

 the societj', and some of its more important 

 members, who will also be the guests of the 

 cit}', and reduced rates in favor of all the mem- 

 bers who maj' be able to attend. Letters and 

 printed circulars, giving information as to these 

 points, have been sent to Sir Alexander Gait, 

 the high commissioner of the dominion in Lon- 

 don, and to Professor Bonney, the secretary of 

 the association. From one of these, signed 

 by the chairman of the local committee, and by 

 Dr. Hunt, as chairman of the committee of 

 invitation, the following extracts are taken : — 



