PREFACE TO T1IE FIRST REPORT. 
11 
pose of advancing the sciences to which it is of such essential 
interest. 
“ None of our Societies has ever pretended to collect obser¬ 
vations of this kind on a regular system, nor to form a national 
catalogue of the scattered particulars of any one science, accu¬ 
rately detailed; and yet the great value which would attach to 
such collections of facts, when reduced and analysed, must 
often have occurred to the enlightened conductors of such in¬ 
stitutions ; but that which has prevented any single Society 
from venturing on the undertaking, has been the impractica¬ 
bility of carrying it on over so extensive a territory as an entire 
kingdom. There is a method, however, by which these im¬ 
portant objects might be achieved. Were there in every county 
one or more provincial Societies, having some members compe¬ 
tent to superintend, and others ready to execute, the observa¬ 
tions within definite limits, and were these Societies willing to 
work together on a common plan, the natural history of the 
country, and all the geographical data of philosophy included 
within it, might easily be collected in a manner far more perfect 
than has ever yet been attempted. 
“ With a just sense, therefore, of the consequence to science 
of combining the Philosophical Societies dispersed through the 
provinces of the empire in a general cooperative union, the 
British Association has not only invited them to join its Meet¬ 
ings, but has given to those whom they may specially depute 
to represent them, the privilege of becoming members of the 
Committee by which its affairs are conducted. 
“ It appears to the Council that in availing themselves of the 
bond of connexion thus offered, Societies will not only contri¬ 
bute most essentially to the success of this extensive plan, but 
will add greatly to their own efficiency. When individuals 
meet for scientific objects, the effect of the general effort, 
emulation, and example, is to produce a spirit of exertion which 
gives to such meetings their principal value. And if Societies 
shall concur in thus meeting each other, in proposing certain 
common objects, in communicating from year to year the means 
which they are employing and the progress which they are 
making,—-it seems impossible that this should be done in the 
