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Sir David Brewster is credited with the first public 

 suggestion of the Association. He was warmly sup- 

 ported by philosophers, such as Davy, Herschel, Bab- 

 bage, Murchison, Buckland, and others equally devoted 

 to the interests of scientific research. The suggested 

 formation of the British Association was propounded 

 by Sir David to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society 

 through its secretary, the late Professor Philips. It 

 was cordially supported by the leading men of science 

 at the time ; the British Association held its first meet- 

 ing, at York, on the 27th September, 1831. Its object 

 was then stated to be " to give a stronger impulse and 

 a more systematic direction to scientific inquiry; to 

 promote the intercourse of those who cultivate science 

 in different parts of the Empire with one another and 

 with foreign philosophers ; and to obtain a more general 

 attention to the object of science, and the removal of any 

 disadvantages of a public kind which impede its progress." 



The Association was intended to be similar to that 

 which for eight years previous, viz in 1823, had existed 

 in Germany. In 1831, Earl Fitzwilliam was its first 

 President, whilst, on the occasion of its fiftieth anniver- 

 sary in September last, it was presided by a well known 

 British savant, Sir John Lubbock ; as the presidential 

 honors last for each incumbent but one year, Sir John 

 Lubbock, was replaced by a London Professor, Dr. 

 Siemens, with whom it was my good fortune to become 

 acquainted; next summer the Association is expected 

 to meet, under him, at Southampton. It has been 

 stated that steps will then be taken to induce the 

 Association to hold in Canada, in 1883, its annual 

 meeting ; assuredly the first advent on our shores of 

 a body numbering three or four thousand of the leading 

 scientists in the world will be in our annals a Eed- 

 letter day. (Loud applause). 



To my accidental presence in York, I owe the plea- 

 sure of having seen or listened to many of the leading 

 scientists of the age : Huxley, Owen, Lubbock, 



