SG 
FIRST REPORT—1831. 
power to the Committee to add to its own number, and to ad¬ 
mit into the Association other Members at its discretion; and 
we propose that it shall sit during the time of the Meeting, or 
longer if necessary, to regulate the general affairs of the Asso¬ 
ciation, to manage the business of the sessioii, and to settle the 
principal scientific arrangements for the ensuing Meeting . 
“ We recommend, however, that these arrangements should 
be first digested, and the particular advancement of every 
science specially looked to by Sub-Committees, which the 
General Committee shall appoint, placing severally on each 
those Members who are most conversant with the several 
branches of science. We propose that the Sub-Committees 
should select the points in each science which most call for 
inquiry, and endeavour, under the authority of the General 
Committee, to engage competent persons to investigate them ; 
that where the subject admits of the cooperation of scientific 
bodies, the Sub-Committees should recommend application to 
be made for that assistance ; and that they should attend espe¬ 
cially to the important object of obtaining Reports in which 
confidence may be placed, on the recent progress, the actual 
state, and the deficiences of every department of science. 
“ On the last of these points I beg leave to quote the opinion 
of an able and zealous philosopher, the Professor of Mineralogy 
at Cambridge, who has been prevented by his public duties at 
the University from attending the Meeting, hut who neverthe¬ 
less takes the deepest interest in its objects. ‘ A collection of 
Reports,’ says Professor Whewell, ‘ concerning the present 
state of science, drawn up by competent persons, is on all ac¬ 
counts much wanted ; in order that scientific students may 
know where to begin their labours, and in order that those 
who pursue one branch of science may know how to communi¬ 
cate with the inquirer in another. For want of this knowledge 
we perpetually find speculations published which show the 
greatest ignorance of what has been done and written on the 
subjects to which they refer, and which must give a very un¬ 
favourable impression of our acquirements to well informed 
foreigners.’ 
“ I must add, however, to Mr. Whewell’s remarks, that this 
want of knowledge is not by any means confined to our own 
country. I do not remember anywhere a more remarkable 
instance of it than that which occurred in France, to one of 
the most distinguished improvers of optical science *. As late 
as the year 1815 M. Fresnel re-observed Dr. Young’s impor- 
* M. Fresnel, 
