XXX REPORT — 1841. 



an institution as we have spoken of. Considerable funds, raised by the con- 

 tributions of its members, and expended under its direction, have been em- 

 ployed in furthering and verifying discoveries. It is true that we have not 

 attempted to erect such edifices, and to make such preparations for the pui'- 

 poses of experiment, as Bacon introduces into his picture ; but we have at- 

 tained the same end more effectually, by procuring the use of many of the 

 great establishments of manufacture and commerce which this empire pos- 

 sesses. We have had experiments carried on at furnaces and iron-works, on 

 railroads and canals, in mines and harbours, with steam-engines and steam 

 vessels, upon a scale which no institution, however great, could hope to reach ; 

 but which has been placed in our power by the enlightened liberality and 

 scientific zeal of the proprietors and directors of such means of research. 

 We have not had various bodies of professors of the art of discovery em- 

 ployed in these inquiries — we have not attempted to form classes of mystery 

 men and dowry men — collectors of facts and interpreters of nature ; — but we 

 have found the most gifted and eminent cultivators of science in our own 

 country, and several of those of other countries, ready and willing to under- 

 take for us the office of exploring and interpreting nature — of extending and 

 applying art. No institution, however formed, could have hoped to collect, 

 as its active members, such a body of philosophers as have gladly come for- 

 ward to labour for us, and have freely given us the resources of their vast 

 powers and matured skill. Mathematicians, and astronomers, and geologists, 

 and chemists, and naturalists, illustrious through Europe, have superintended 

 the execution of our commissions with as much care as their own most favor- 

 ite researches ; and we have seen a co-operation of experimenters and cal- 

 culators, observers and generalizers, such as might satisfy the wishes of Ba- 

 con himself. 



That 1 may not dwell on mere generalities, I will mention a few of the 

 sums expended by the Association upon scientific researches ; which, when 

 it is understood that they have been spent under the direction and vigilant 

 control of such men as 1 have spoken of, will show the amount of service 

 which has been rendered to science by that body. In the first three years, 

 the sums thus expended were small, the Association having been mainly em- 

 ployed in collecting information which might direct its future proceedings. 

 In the fourth year 167/. was thus spent, and from this time the sum went on 

 rapidly increasing. In the fifth year it was nearly 500/. ; in the sixth and 

 seventh nearly 1000/. each year; in the eighth and ninth above 1500/. each 

 year ; and it appears that during the past year we have expended in this 

 manner the sum of 1 240/. And these sums, it is to be observed, are only a 

 part of what were voted ; at Liverpool, in 1 837, above 3000/. was voted, of 

 which 1000/. only was applied for; at Newcastle 3700/. was voted, and 

 1600/. of this only paid: at Birmingham 2800/. was voted, and 1500/. paid ; 

 the sum voted at Glasgow last year was 2600/., of which, as I have said, 

 your Treasurer has really paid 1240/. 



These differences of the sums voted and paid in each year are evidence of 

 the care with which the resources of the Association are husbanded ; for the 

 sums voted were to be had on application made by the persons to whom 

 their disposal was intrusted ; but they were not applied for, except in pro- 

 portion to the scientific work which was done ; and those who undertook 

 these labours for us carefully confined their expenditure within the narrowest 

 possible limits. It would occupy you too long if I were to mention in detail 

 the subjects to which these sums have been applied ; but I may state in gene- 

 ral, that above 900/. has been expended by us in the furtherance of astro- 

 nomy, mainly upon the object of reducing observations already made, into 



