PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING. 
17 
doubt, that, if they shall be extended to different parts of the 
country, and held in well-selected places, this result will be 
obtained: the men of science, now scattered over the empire, 
will be enabled to meet each other, and mutually communicate 
their ideas ; they will state the advances which have been made 
in their own respective spheres of action, and also what the 
deficiencies may be. Thus not only will an extraordinary im¬ 
pulse be given, but the individuals and the Societies taking 
part in the Meetings will learn what parts of science they can 
cultivate with the greatest utility, and will give their researches 
the most advantageous direction. Such, Gentlemen, are a few 
of the benefits which, it appears to me, will be derived from 
Meetings of this description; and if they shall be extensively 
held, and shall be found thus pregnant with important conse¬ 
quences, sure I am that it will redound to the honour of this 
Society to have been the first to set the example.” 
Lord Milton concluded by expressing the sense which he 
entertained of the services, which his friend and predecessor 
in the office of President, Mr. W. V. Harcourt, had rendered 
to the Institution, within whose walls they were assembled. 
The Rev. William Vernon Harcourt, Vice-President of the 
Yorkshire Philosophical Society, and Chairman of the Com¬ 
mittee of Management, then addressed the Meeting : 
“ Gentlemen, 
“ I am desired by the Council of the Yorkshire Philoso¬ 
phical Society to submit to your consideration a plan, which 
they beg leave to propose for the conduct of this Meeting, and 
for the establishment of a system, on which similar Meetings 
may continue to be conducted hereafter. 
“ The Meeting, Gentlemen, owes its origin to some distin¬ 
guished cultivators of science* here present, who were of 
opinion that great advantage might be expected from an Associ¬ 
ation for scientific intercourse in these kingdoms, formed upon 
the model of that which has subsisted in Germany for several 
years,—an Association which appears to have answered the 
hopes of its founders, as well in approximating men of science 
to each other, and promoting among them friendly feelings and 
an instructive interchange of ideas, as in giving to their union 
a collective efficacy, and bringing their aims and views more 
prominently into public notice. 
* The Meeting was proposed by Dr. Brewster to the Yorkshire Philosophical 
Society in a letter to one of the Secretaries (Mr. Phillips). The proposal was 
approved and encouraged by the Society, and it received the most zealous and 
effective support from Mr. Robison, Mr. Forbes and Mr. Johnston in Edinburgh, 
and from Mr. Murchison in London. 
B 
