528 



SCIUJS'CE. 



[Vol. IX., No. 226 



was a defence of the last decision of the supreme 

 court against the criticism of George Bancroft. 

 Dr. A. B. Hart of Harvard read an amusing 

 'Biography of a river and harbor bill,' in which 

 he traced the history of this bill for 1887 as an 

 illustration of congressional methods and finan- 

 cial legislation. The paper by Col. Carroll D. 

 Wright, on the ' Study of statistics in colleges,' 

 was by many considered the most valuable of the 

 meeting, and we are glad to learn that it will 

 shortly appear in pamphlet form. Colonel 

 Wright showed what Europe was doing in sta- 

 tistical studies, and paid a deserved compliment 

 to Prof. Richmond M. Smith of Columbia for his 

 work in this field. He pointed out the difficulty 

 of applying statistics properly, and insisted on the 

 necessity for trained statisticians. He would ar- 

 range the teaching of statistical science in three 

 grand divisions: 1. The basis of statistical sci- 

 ence, or, as it has been generally termed in col- 

 lege-work, the theory of statistics ; 2. The prac- 

 tice of statistics, which involves the preparation 

 of inquiries, the collection and examination of 

 the information sought, and the tabulation and 

 presentation of results ; 3. The analytical treat- 

 ment of the results secured. He remarked that 

 our census could be more scientifically taken, 

 could more of the subordinate workers be men 

 who had had a statistical training. 



The active work of both associations closed 

 Tuesday evening. The closing papers before the 

 Historical society were, ' The government of Lon- 

 don,' by Prof. Arthur M. Wheeler of Yale univer- 

 sity ; ' Religious liberty in Virginia, and Patrick 

 Henry,' by Charles J. Still6, LL.D., of Philadel- 

 phia ; ' The American church in history,' by Dr. 

 Philip Schaff of Union theological seminary, New 

 York ; ' Brief report on historical studies in Can- 

 ada,' by George Stewart, jun., president of the 

 Historical society, Quebec. The following com- 

 mittee was appointed to urge congress to establish 

 a national commission to collect and care for the 

 manuscripts and documents relating to U. S. his- 

 tory : Justin Winsor, George F. Hoar, John Jay, 

 Andrew D. White, Rutherford B. Hayes, Ains- 

 worth R. Spofford, and President D wight of Yale. 

 The officers elected for the ensuing year were as 

 follows : president, William F. Poole, Chicago 

 public library ; vice-presidents. President Charles 

 K. Adams of Cornell, John Jay of New York ; 

 secretary, Prof. H. B. Adams, Johns Hopkins 

 university ; treasurer, Clarence W. Bowen, New 

 York City ; executive committee, Rutherford B. 

 Hayes of Ohio, Prof. John W. Burgess of Colum- 

 bia, Prof. Arthur M. Wheeler of Yale, and Wil- 

 liam Wirt Henry of Richmond. 



The principal paper at the closing session of the 



Economic association was by Prof. Frank J. 

 Goodnow of Columbia, and was on the ' Adminis- 

 trative aspect of municipal franchises and finance 

 in Europe and America.' The paper was an able 

 study in comparative administrative law, and 

 commanded the closest attention. It was dis- 

 cussed by Professor Johnston of Princeton, Pro- 

 fessor James of Philadelphia, Mr. Giddings of 

 Springfield, Mass., and others. Professor Ely 

 read his report, which spoke most encouragingly 

 of the society's prospects. The total membership 

 is now over three hundred, and much interest is 

 shown in the work, even in England. 



Pres. Francis A. Walker of Boston, and Dr. 

 Nicholas Murray Butler of Columbia, were ap- 

 pointed a special committee to report on the eco- 

 nomic effects of industrial and technical educa- 

 tion in the United States. The officers elected 

 were as follows : president, Francis A. Walker ; 

 vice-presidents, Prof. Henry C. Adams, Prof. E. 

 J. James, Prof. J. B. Clark ; secretary, Prof. R. 

 T. Ely ; treasurer. Dr. E. R. A. Seligman. On 

 Wednesday, the 25th, both associations made an 

 excursion to Plymouth, and dined together at the 

 Samoset house. The meeting was a most success- 

 ful one, and the officers of the Institute of tech- 

 nology and of Harvard university did every thing 

 in their power to render it enjoyable. It is pro- 

 posed to hold the next meeting at Columbus, 

 O., in September, 1888. 



NEW ZEALAND LETTER. 



That portion of the year Avhich extends from 

 May to October inclusive, is the busiest in this 

 part of the world for politicians, university men, 

 and members of scientific and literary societies. 



In matters political, the question upon which 

 public opinion in the colony is being most exer- 

 cised, and around which parties are gradually 

 crystallizing, is that of free trade v. protection. 

 This also is the question which will probably 

 prove the one of chief interest outside our own 

 borders ; and those who have borne then- part in 

 the long-continued struggle still being fought out 

 in the states, will naturally feel more or less in- 

 terest as they see these small but growing Austra- 

 lasian communities entering upon the same strug- 

 gle. We have two noted examples before us in 

 Victoria and New South Wales : the latter — free 

 trade to the backbone — is apparently far out- 

 stripping its rivals in the race for wealth and 

 progress. One aspect of the question, on which, 

 however, it is pre-eminently difficult to frame an 

 opinion, is as to which of the two communities 

 enjoys the greatest amount of social peace and 

 harmony, and in which is there the least amount 



