564 Go-operation of Naturalists' Clubs. By Sir W. Elliot. 



who were present at Swansea, where the Cluh was represented by Professor Le- 

 bour, in conformity with a suggestion made in the preceding year at Sheffield* 

 that "at future meetings of the B.A., the d elegates from the various Scienti- 

 fic Societies should meet, with the view of promoting the best interests of the 

 Association aud of the several Societies represented "; to give effect to which 

 Mr H. George Fordsham and Mr John Hopkinson were appointed a com- 

 mittee. 



In pursuance of this resolution, they issued a report of the conference at 

 Swansea to all the Scientific Societies in the United Kingdom entitled to 

 send delegates, inviting them to appoint one or more of their members to re- 

 present them at the York meeting. Forty-four Societies complied, the 

 delegates from which, on the 6th Sept , after a full discussion, decided on 

 making an application to the General Committee of the Association for a grant 

 in support of their object, and appointing a committee of their own body as 

 per margin, to arrange for a conference of 

 Sir Walter Elliot F.R.S. delegates to be held at future annual meet- 



Mr fl. George Fordsham ings of the Association, and further to 



Mr John Hopkinson prepare and issue a body of instructions to 



Mr G. J. Symons, F.R.S. , and ensure uniformity in the work of thesever- 

 Mr W. Whitaker. al Societies for the promotion of the general 



ends in view. 



The first of these proposals was not carried out. There was not time before 

 the close of the Association, to bring the plan in a complete and definite shape 

 before the General Committee, but it was subsequently arranged that Messrs 

 Fordsham and Hopkinson, on behalf of the Committee of delegates, should 

 meet a deputation of the General Committee of the British Association, on 

 the Slst March following, with a view of arranging a permanent mode of 

 procedure. 



As regards the 2nd resolution the Committee have under preparation a cir- 

 cular referring to subjects recommended for investigation by Local Scientific 

 Societies, on which Messrs Fordsham and Hopkinson have expended much 

 care and thought, and which it is hoped will shortly be submitted to all pro- 

 perly qualified Local Societies and Clubs, for their consideration and adoption 

 as far as they may see fit during the ensuing year. 



We hope the Club will look upon this movement with a favourable eye. 

 It is by no means a new idea. " Fifty years ago," said Professor Ramsay 

 who presided over the Geological Section at York, " fifty years ago, in this 

 city, Viscount M ilton the first President of the Association, explained that it 

 had for its chief object ' to give a stronger impulse and more systematic direc- 

 tion to scientific inquiry.' In his address, he pointed out the number of Phil- 

 osophical Societies which had by degrees sprung up in all parts of the King- 

 dom ; and the practicability through the means of the Association, including 

 all the scientific strength of Great Britain, * to point out the lines in which 

 the direction of science should move.' And in the same year, 1831, Profes- 



* Rule 1. class B. of the British Association for the General Committee of the 

 Apsociation was amended at Sheffield as follows: " The President for the time 

 being of any Scientific Societv publishing Transactions, or in his absence a dele- 

 gate representing him. as well as the Secretary of such society " [being members 

 of the Association shall be members of the General Committee]. 



