372 Scientific Gleanings. 



SCIENTIFIC GLEANINGS. 



Twenty-eighth meeting of the British Association for the 

 advancement of science at leeds, september 22nd, 1858. 



The Athenaeum informs us that the busy town and vicinity of 

 Leeds manifested their appreciation of the honor of this meeting, 

 and their estimation of Science and its most celebrated professors, 

 by assembling on the evening of the 22nd September in such 

 numbers in the magnificnt New Hall of the town, as had never 

 come together at any previous inaugural meeting of the Associ- 

 ation. The Rev. Dr. Lloyd took the chair proformcb, resigning it 

 to Professor Owen, the President chosen for the year, whose dis- 

 tinguished and world-wide reputation added greatly to the interest 

 of the meeting. In the forenoon the General Committee met and, 

 having elected the officers of Sections, received the usual reports 

 from its Council and Committees. From the Council Report it 

 appears that the next meeting is to be held in the City of Aber- 

 deen, and that Prince Albert has signified his willingness to accept 

 the Presidency. The most interesting feature of this Annual 

 Congress of the princes of Science is generally the opening address 

 of the Chairman, which, on this occasion, is characterised by the 

 sagacity, large-mindedness, and varied learning of its illustrious 

 author. We therefore offer no apology to our readers for the 

 space occupied by our large extracts from this most interesting 

 and valuable production. It gives an able resu me of the scientific 

 progress of the past year and the present tendencies of scientific 

 research, and is especially interesting in the departments of Natural 

 History, in which Prof. Owen is facile princeps. We commend 

 it to the careful perusal of our readers. 



professor owen's inaugural address. 



Gentlemen of the British Association, — We are here met, in this 

 our twenty-eighth annual assembly, having accepted, for the 

 present year, the invitation of the flourishing town and firm seat 

 of British manufacturing energy, Leeds, to continue the aim of the 

 Association, which is the promotion of Science, ov the knowledge 

 of the laws of Nature; whereby we acquire a dominion over 

 nature, and are thereby able so to apply her powers as to advance 

 the well-being of society and exalt the condition of mankind. It 



