Proceedings of the British Association. 277 



tural sciences, in their public establishments for charity or educa- 

 tion, in the moral or physical condition of their inhabitants, or what- 

 ever other objects their neighbourhood presents, which may interest 

 the antiquary, the geologist, or the lover of picturesque scenery ; — 

 we may venture to add, likewise, that they were designed for pur- 

 poses of social as well as of philosophical recreation, a consideration 

 of no small importance with men whose occupations are frequently 

 monotonous and laborious, and such as require the occasional 

 stimulus of change and variety. 



In accordance with these views, we have visited in their turn the 

 most remarkable localities of the three kingdoms, including the uni- 

 versities of England, Scotland, and Ireland, the great seats of our 

 manufacturing industry, the great marts of our commerce. It is not 

 necessary for me to speak of the success which has marked our progress. 

 The numbers who have attended our meetings have been always large, 

 and sometimes so great as to embarrass our proceedings, from the 

 difficulty of finding adequate rooms to receive them. The communi- 

 cations which have come under the notice of our several Sections, have 

 continued to increase in importance and interest, more particularly 

 since the great co-operative inquiries of our body have come into full 

 operation. We have been enabled, by the application of our funds, 

 to complete some, and to forward many, scientific enterprises, of the 

 highest importance and value ; and I see no reason to apprehend 

 that the future meetings of the British Association will not continue 

 to advance in scientific interest, or will cease to exercise a most 

 powerful influence in originating and promoting scientific labours 

 which will equally tend to promote the interests of knowledge and 

 the honour of the empire. 



The founders of the British Association justly conceived, that 

 men of different shades of political opinion or religious belief would 

 rejoice in the opportunities which such meetings would afford them 

 of coming together, as it were, upon neutral ground, where their 

 natural warfare would, for a season at least, be suspended, and no 

 sounds be heard but those of peace. They felt persuaded that the 

 softening influence of mutual intercourse would tend to soothe the 

 bitterness of party strife, and would expose to view points of contact 

 and union, even between those whom circumstances had most vio- 



