REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 
xlv 
sionally led to the insertion of names in the list which we scarcely might 
have expected to find there. 
“Nothing would afford me more pleasure than to have the power of dis¬ 
tributing a sum equal to the amount of all the Civil List Pensions, as an 
acknowledgment of scientific merit. There are three or four persons whoso 
names I should be most anxious to include in such a distribution ; but under 
present circumstances, I am prevented from doing so by want of means. 
“On the whole then, and without making any resolution which should 
preclude me from exercising a discretion on the subject according t<> the 
circumstances of the ease, I am still disposed to think that, as a general rub-, 
the practice I have follow ed must be considered as most extensively beneficial. 
“I have the honour to be, &c n 
“ The Lord Wrottcsley.” “ ABERDEEN.” 
As to the third subject above adverted to, the Chairman, with the sanction 
of the Committee, has addressed the following question to several distin¬ 
guished men of science—Whether any and what measures could he adopted 
by the Government or the Legislature to improve the position of science and 
ot its cultivators in this country? Several answers containing suggestions 
of great value and interest have been already received, and when the results 
ol the inquiry have been embodied in a report, it will be communicated to 
the General Committee. 
•Uli. The Royal Society Council having referred the question of the pro¬ 
posed juxtaposition of scientific societies to your Committee, the Chairman, 
together with several members of the Committee, accompanied a deputation 
to Sir William Molesworth, the Chief Commissioner of Works (to whom they 
had previously sent particulars of the amouut, of accommodation the principal 
scientific societies would require),mi the 8th of July last; Sir William Moles- 
wortli however stated, that he had no actual authority to make any offer to 
the deputation of any part, of the site of Burlington I louse. (1 
took place on the various questions Involved in this iiriiui". mi ni, .11 
William intimated his opinion, that the societies already occupying apart¬ 
ments in Somerset House had peculiar claims on the Government, ami would 
have a preference in the allocation of the site. 
The Chairman availed himself of the opportunity afforded by the discus¬ 
sion of the Oxford University Bill in the House of Lords, to make some 
observations on the neglect of the study of Physical Science at that Univer¬ 
sity, and it. is indeed much to be regretted that the rewards held out ns an 
inducement to the study of science in that University should be so ii*'ignifi- 
cam m amouut, and, secondly, that some knowledge at least of the laws and 
puBiiomena of nature is not required as a necessary preliminary to adtgree : 
these studies are in themselves so attractive to the generality of minds, that 
the mere admission within the vestibule of science often leads to a successful 
exploration of its inmost recesses ami could the Universities be induced 
to adopt Lius suggestion, our public schools would be compelled to teach it, 
its ranks would be immediately reinforced by a corps of zealous worshipers; 
an an increased demand would arise for professors, whose emoluments 
uoii (| furnish an additional stimulus to (he prosecution of these delightful 
aud soul-cxaltmg pursuits. 
The General Committee will hear with regret that Sir Robert If. Inglu*, 
ia\wg retired from Parliament, has ceased to be a Member of thi* Com¬ 
mittee. iour Committee recommend that Mr. John Hall, M.P. for the 
county of Carlow, who is both an old Member of the British Association and 
well known as a cultivator of natural science, be appointed to succeed him. 
