1875.] President 3 s Address, 87 



have known what it is to read at our breakfast-tables telegrams from all 

 parts of the world of the prices of stocks and of political incidents of the 

 previous day; why should we not, then, obtain daily statistics of the cli- 

 matic conditions of these and other remote regions, and inaugurate in 

 England a system of meteorological registration which, if its elements were 

 obtained from but a few well-selected spots, would instruct and interest 

 every intelligent person in the climate of the globe, and in the end lead 

 to scientific results of great value? "We must remember that it is 

 not the policy of the Government of this country in its view of the pre- 

 sent state of public feeling, and as expressed in the Minute appointing 

 the Committee; to give direct assistance to the study of any science 

 except with a view to the more immediate application of scientific 

 theories to practical purposes, in which the public rather than indi- 

 viduals have a direct interest. "Whatever may be thought of the wisdom 

 or soundness of this policy (and in the opinion of some eminent scientific 

 men it is wise and sound), we must shape our course accordingly, doing 

 our endeavour never to allow scientific investigation to be subordinated 

 to practical results ; but keeping it ever in advance, remembering too that 

 the Government estimation of the value of scientific investigation is 

 measured more by the amount of interest which it excites than by any 

 standard of its own; whence it follows that the Government is not slow 

 in encouraging researches that interest and instruct the public, whether 

 or not they may be seen to lead to direct practical results. Keeping these 

 facts in view, I cannot but think that the Committee of the Treasury 

 will have the opportunity of recommending to Her Majesty's Govern- 

 ment the adoption of measures that would greatly increase the scientific 

 efficiency and public interest of the Meteorological Office. 



The Gilchrist Trust.— In my last year's Address I announced that 

 arrangements had been made by the Council for the administration, under 

 the authority of the Trustees of the Gilchrist bequest, of a grant of 

 .£1000 per annum in promoting original research, thus aiding in the ful- 

 filment of the wishes of the Testator, that the proceeds of his large 

 fortune should be devoted " to the benefit, advancement, and propagation 

 of education and learning." The scheme for the administration of this 

 grant was approved by the Trustees and laid before you in detail ; but 

 since then its operation has been frustrated by a most unexpected judicial 

 decision formally given in the House of Lords as to the meaning to be 

 assigned to the terms of the Gilchrist bequest — namely, that " the pro- 

 motion of original research " could not be held to be " benefiting the 

 advancement and propagation of education and learning," for that it was 

 expressly laid down by the Law Lords that " learning is to be construed 

 as synonymous with education," and that the whole fund is to be devoted 

 to the propagation of knowledge. 



This is not the time or place to comment upon what must appear to us 



