468 British Association for the ^Advancement of Science. 



knowledged genius of the first order ; and we think this duty 

 will be a reflection upon every succeeding congress, as it is upon 

 the present one, until the " Birds of America" are permitted to 

 come in without duty, and free as the animated beings of which 

 they are the beauteous resemblances. We think, also, that 

 every department of the government ought to subscribe for a 

 copy of this truly national work ; and we hope, ere long, to learn 

 that every legislature in the union will follow the examples set 

 by Louisiana and S. Carolina. 



BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 



In our December number, for 1831, we gave an account of 

 the meeting at Hamburgh, in Germany, of the Cultivators of 

 JVatural Science and Medicine, and expressed our intention to lay 

 before our readers an account of a proposed scientific meeting 

 of a similar character, to be held at York, in England, in Sep- 

 tember 1831. 



This we should have done before the present time, but for 

 the temporary suspension of our journal, and the confusion at- 

 tendant upon so unexpected a circumstance. 



We are indebted to one of our best friends, who was a con- 

 spicuous member of that great scientific meeting, as it has been 

 properly called, for a very interesting account of it, together 

 with numerous papers relating to its proceedings. Added to 

 these, we have Mr. Johnston's excellent paper in the January 

 number of Brewster, and the notice of its proceedings in the 

 Philosophical Magazine. From all these sources we propose to 

 condense an account, that we are sure will be acceptable to our 

 readers. 



This first attempt to establish what is, in fact, a scientific 

 parliament, with locomotive powers, free to range where it may 

 please, and authorized to convene annually in one of the cities 

 of Great Britain, has eminently succeeded, although some pains 

 had been taken to create doubts as to its usefulness. Many 

 things, however, conspired in its favour. It had originally been 

 proposed by Dr. Brewster, and many of the best names in Eng- 

 land had cordially assented to the project. The place of meet- 

 ing too, was well calculated to induce the members of the as- 



