VISIT TO THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 
119 
its downfall. That this anticipation was common amongst the scientific members, 
the writer is convinced, and Mr. Babbage, in expressing himself dissatisfied at 
the prodigal reception they had met with at Newcastle, spoke but the language 
of the most zealous members of the Association. Neither was Mr. Babbage 
alone when he maintained that the offices in the Association, especially the 
highest, ought not to be conferred on rank alone. Would it not be better for a 
scientific body to confer its honours on those who have peculiar claims to the 
esteem and respect of such Institutions ? Scientific men have little or no consi¬ 
deration from the state in this country ; they are not appreciated by the great 
bulk of their fellow-men; and where then can they expect to receive the honour 
that is due to them so appropriately as from their colleagues and fellow-labourers ? 
Why pass over a Dalton, a Brewster, a Herschel, a Faraday, or a Bindley, 
to honour a man who never contributed an atom to the elucidation of the principles 
of science that these have established, or added to the stores of our knowledge by 
the discovery of an animalcule ? Hire, then, are the Scylla and Charybdis of 
the Association, and it behoves the members of the General Committee, who have 
the management of affairs, to guard against the imprudence of local Committees 
on the one hand, and the aristocratic tendencies of the Professors and admirers of 
our old Universities on the other. If this be done, the symptoms of weakness 
that have already presented themselves may yet be removed. 
. The town of Newcastle has been lately much improved by the building of some 
new streets and public edifices, the latter of which afforded accommodation for 
the meeting of several of the Sections ; and perhaps at no previous meeting have 
they been better located. With the exception of the Medical and Zoological 
Sections, all were opened to the ladies; the Geological, however, was by far the 
most patronised by the fair sex. The proceedings of this latter section were very 
satisfactory, and some good papers were read. The accumulation of facts is 
evidently producing a good effect on the minds of geologists ; for having now so 
many of these “ stubborn things” to deal with, they are less inclined and have less 
time to speculate and dogmatise than formerly. 
The Natural History section was better attended this year than last, probably 
owing to the influence of the Natural History Society of Newcastle, which has 
done much, not only for diffusing a knowledge of Natural History in its otvn 
town, but throughout the country. This section includes Zoology and Botany. 
Why these two branches of science should be put together may be a question 
with some; at any rate one fact is certain, both do not prosper. There were only 
three papers on botanical subjects, and the only botanists of eminence present 
were Drs. Graham and Greville. Are not the botanists of this country 
sufficiently numerous to support a section of their own ? As it is at present, it 
