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OFFICERS AND COUNCIL, 1871-72.

TRUSTEES (PERMANENT).

General Sir EDWARD SABINE, K.C.B., R.A., D.C.L., Pres. R.S.
Sir PHILIP DE M. GREY EGERTON, Bart., M.P., F.R.S.

PRESIDENT.

SIR WILLIAM THOMSON, M.A., LL.D., D.C.L., F.R.SS.L. & E., Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Glasgow.

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The EARL OF CHICHESTER, Lord Lieutenant of the | The Right Hon. The DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE, K.G., County of Sussex.

The DUKE OF NORFOLK.

The Right Hon. The DUKE OF RICHMOND, K.G.,
P.C., D.C.L.

D.C.L., F.R.S.

Sir JOHN LUBBOCK,Bart.,M.P.,F.R.S.,F.L.S.,F.G.S.
Dr. SHARPEY, LL.D., Sec. R.S., F.L.S.

J. PRESTWICH, Esq., F.R.S., Pres. G.S.

LOCAL SECRETARIES FOR THE MEETING AT BRIGHTON.

CHARLES CARPENTER, Esq.

The Rev. Dr. GRIFFITH.
HENRY WILLETT, Esq.

LOCAL TREASURER FOR THE MEETING AT BRIGHTON.
WILLIAM HENRY HALLETT, Esq., F.L.S.

ORDINARY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

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MERRIFIELD, C. W., Esq., F.R.S.

NORTHCOTE, Rt. Hon. Sir STAFFORD H.,Bt.,M.P.

RAMSAY, Professor, LL.D., F.R.S.

RANKINE, Professor W. J. M., LL.D., F.R.S.

SIEMENS, C. W., Esq., D.C.L., F.R.S.

SIMON, Dr. JOHN, D.C.L., F.R.S.

ETRACHEY, Major-General, F.R.S.

STRANGE, Lieut.-Colonel A., F.R.S.

SYKES, Colonel, M.P., F.R.S.

TYNDALL, Professor, LL.D., F.R.S.
WALLACE, A. R., Esq., F.R.G.S.
WHEATSTONE, Professor Sir C., F.R.S.
WILLIAMSON, Professor A. W., F.R.S.

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

The President and President Elect, the Vice-Presidents and Vice-Presidents Elect, the General and Assistant General Secretaries, the General Treasurer, the Trustees, and the Presidents of former years, viz.:

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Dr. THOMAS THOMSON, F.R.S., F.L.S., The Athenæum Club, Pall Mall, London, S.W.
Capt. DOUGLAS GALTON, C.B., R.E., F.R.S., 12 Chester Street, Grosvenor Place, London, S.W.

ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY.

GEORGE GRIFFITH, Esq., M.A., Harrow.

GENERAL TREASURER.

WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE, E£q., M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., F.R.G.S., 50 Grosvenor Place, London, S.W.

AUDITORS.

G. Busk, Esq., F.R.S.

Warren De La Rue, Esq., D.C.L., F.R.S.

John Evans, Esq., F.R.S.

OFFICERS OF SECTIONAL COMMITTEES PRESENT AT THE EDINBURGH MEETING.

SECTION A.-MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS.

President.-Professor P. G. Tait, F.R.S.E.

Vice-Presidents.-Professor J. C. Adams, F.R.S.; Professor Cayley, F.R.S.; Rev. Professor Challis, F.R.S.; J. P. Gassiot, D.C.L., F.R.S.; Professor R. Grant, LL.D., F.R.S.; Dr. Joule, D.C.L., F.R.S.; Professor J. Clerk Maxwell, LL.D., F.R.S.; Professor W. J. M. Rankine, LL.D., F.R.S. L. and E.; Dr. Spottiswoode, F.R.S.; Rev. Professor Kelland, F.R.SS. L. and E.; Professor Stokes, D.C.L., F.R.S.; Professor Sylvester, LL.D., F.R.S.

Secretaries.-Professor W. G. Adams, F.G.S.; J. T. Bottomley, M.A., F.C.S.; Professor W. K. Clifford, M.A.; Professor J. D. Everett, F.R.S.E.; Rev. R. Harley, F.R.S.

SECTION B.-CHEMISTRY AND MINERALOGY, INCLUDING THEIR APPLICATIONS TO AGRICULTURE AND THE ARTS.

President.-Professor T. Andrews, M.D., F.R.SS. L. and E.

Vice-Presidents.-Professor Abel, F.R.S.; Professor Apjohn, F.R.S.; Professor Crum Brown, M.D., F.R.S.E.; Dr. Ronalds, F.R.S.E.; Professor H. E. Roscoe, F.R.S.; Dr. J. Stenhouse, F.R.S.; James Young, F.R.S.E.

Secretaries.-J. Y. Buchanan, F.R.S.E.; W. N. Hartley; T. E. Thorpe, F.R.S.E.

SECTION C.-GEOLOGY.

President.-Professor Archibald Geikie, F.R.S., F.G.S.

Vice-Presidents.-Dr. J. Bryce, F.R.S.E., F.G.S.; Thomas Davidson, F.R.S.; Sir Richard Griffith, Bart., F.R.S.; Professor Harkness, F.R.S.; D. Milue Home, F.R.S.E.; J. Carrick Moore, F.R.S.; William Pengelly, F.R.S.; J. Prestwich, F.R.S., Pres. G.S. Lond.; Professor J. Young, M.D.

Secretaries.-R. Etheridge, F.R.S., F.G.S.; J. Geikie, F.R.S.E.; T. M'Kenny Hughes, M.A., F.G.S.; L. C. Miall.

SECTION D.-BIOLOGY.

President.-Professor Allen Thomson, M.D., F.R.SS. L. and E.

Vice-Presidents.-Professor Wyville Thomson, F.R.S.; Professor W. Turner, M.B., F.R.S.E.; Professor Owen, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S.; Professor Huxley, LL.D., F.R.S.; Dr. Beddoe; Dr. Hughes Bennett; Dr. Carpenter, LL.D., F.R.S.; Dr. Sharpey, F.R.S.

Secretaries.-Dr. T. R. Fraser, F.R.S.E.; Dr. Arthur Gamgee, F.R.S.E.; E. Ray Lankester, B.A.; Professor Lawson, M.A.; H. T. Stainton, F.R.S.; C. Staniland Wake, Dir. A. I.; Dr. W. Rutherford, F.R.S.E.; Dr. Kelburne King.

SECTION E.-GEOGRAPHY AND ETHNOLOGY.

President.-Colonel H. Yule, C.B., F.R.G.S.

Vice-Presidents.-Sir Walter Elliot, K.C.S.I.; Sir Arthur Phayre, K.C.S.I.; Major-General Sir Andrew Waugh, F.R.S.; Dr. Rae, M.D.; Admiral Sir Edward Belcher, K.C.B.; Sir James Alexander, K.C.M.G.

Secretaries.-Clements R. Markham, C.B., Sec. R.G.S.; A. Buchan, F.R.S.E.; J. H. Thomas, F.R.G.S.; A. Keith Johnston, F.R.G.S.

SECTION F.-ECONOMIC SCIENCE AND STATISTICS.

President.-Lord Neaves.
Vice-Presidents.-The Lord Advocate, Sir John Bowring, K.C.B., D.C.L., F.R.S.;
Samuel Brown, Baron Eötvös, of Pesth; Edward S. Gordon, M.P.; Sir Alex-
ander Grant, Bart.; Sir Willoughby Jones, Bart.; James Heywood, M.A.,
F.R.S.; Duncan M'Laren, M.P.; Sir William Stirling Maxwell, Bart.; Lyon
Playfair, M.P., LL.D.; W. Neilson Hancock, LL.D.; General Sir Andrew Scott
Waugh, K.C.B., F.R.S.

Secretaries.-J. G. Fitch, M.A.; James Meikle, F.I.A., F.S.S.

SECTION G.-MECHANICAL SCIENCE.

President.-Professor Fleeming Jenkin, C.E., F.R.S.

Vice-Presidents.-J. F. Bateman, F.R.S.; Admiral Sir E. Belcher, K.C.B.; F. J. Bramwell, C.E.; Peter Le Neve Foster, M.A.; Professor W. J. Rankine, LL.D., F.R.S.; C. W. Siemens, D.C.L., F.R.S.; Thomos Stevenson, F.R.S.E.; Professor James Thomson, LL.D.

Secretaries.-H. Bauerman, F.G.S.; Alexander Leslie, C.E.; J. P. Smith, C.E.

Report of the Council for the Year 1870-71, presented to the General Committee at Edinburgh, on Wednesday, August 2nd, 1871.

At each of their meetings during the past year the Council have as usual received a report from the General Treasurer, as well as one from the Kew Committee. A résumé of these Reports will be laid before the General Committee this day.

The Council have had under their consideration the several resolutions, five in number, referred to them by the General Committee at Liverpool. They beg to report as follows upon the action they have taken in each case :

First Resolution-" That the discontinuance of the maintenance of Kew Observatory by the British Association having been determined on, the President and Council be authorized to communicate with the President and Council of the Royal Society, and with the Government, so that the future use of the buildings may in 1872 be placed at the disposal of the Royal Society, in case the Royal Society should desire it, under the same conditions as those buildings are at present held by the British Association."

A copy of this resolution was forwarded by direction of your Council to the President and Council of the Royal Society. The following is the reply which one of your General Secretaries has received from Dr. Sharpey, Secretary of the Royal Society:-

"The Royal Society, Burlington House, July 8, 1871.

"DEAR DR. HIRST,─In reply to your letter of the 10th December, 1870, enclosing a copy of a resolution of the General Committee of the British Association relative to the future occupation of the buildings at Kew now held by the British Association, I am directed to acquaint you that the President and Council of the Royal Society are ready to take possession of the Observatory at Kew on the terms it is at present held from Her Majesty's Government, as stated in a letter dated 26th March 1842, addressed to the President of the British Association from the Office of Woods, &c., viz. :'during the pleasure and upon the conditions usual on such occasions, that no walls shall be broken through, and no alterations made that can affect the stability of the building, and alter its external appearance, without the previous sanction of the Board of Works.' I have further to acquaint you that the President and Council have appointed a Standing Committee of Fellows of the Royal Society for the management of the Kew Observatory in accordance with the terms of the Gassiot Trust, consisting of the following gentlemen :-

Mr. Warren De La Rue.

Mr. Francis Galton.

Mr. Gassiot.

Admiral Richards.

Sir Edward Sabine.

Colonel Smythe.

Mr. Spottiswoode.

Sir Charles Wheatstone.

and that £600 from the income of the Gassiot Fund has been placed at the disposal of that Committee to meet the expenses of the establishment for the "I remain, yours very truly,

ensuing year.

(Signed)

"W. SHARPEY, M.D., Secretary R. S."

Through the munificence of Mr. Gassiot, therefore, the Association can, without detriment to science, give up possession of the Kew Observatory at once instead of in 1872, as was originally contemplated. Your Council accordingly recommend that Government should be informed without further delay of the desire of the Association to see the direction and maintenance of the Kew Observatory transferred to the Royal Society.

Second Resolution.-"That the Council be empowered to cooperate with the Royal and Royal Astronomical Societies, in the event of a new application being made to Government to aid in the observation of the Solar Eclipse of December 1870."

On the 4th November a Joint Committee of the Royal and Royal Astronomical Societies decided to make a second application; on the 5th of November your Council selected a few of their body to accompany the new deputation to Government which the above two Societies had resolved to send. The necessity for any such deputation was subsequently obviated through the intervention of private individuals, and, as is well known, aid was promptly and liberally granted by Government to the Eclipse Expedition.

Third Resolution. "That the Council be requested to take such steps as they deem wisest, in order to urge upon Government the importance of introducing scientific instruction into the elementary schools throughout the country."

A Committee of your Council having considered the subject, recommended the appointment of a deputation to wait upon the Lord President of the Council in order to urge upon him the desirability of including elementary natural science amongst the subjects for which payments are made by the authority of the Revised Code. The Council accordingly formed themselves into a deputation, and on the 13th of December 1870 had an interview with the Right Hon. W. E. Forster, M.P., Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education, who was pleased to express his concurrence with the objects of the deputation and his willingness to carry out those objects so far as circumstances would permit.

Fourth Resolution.-"That the Council of the British Association be authorized, if it should appear to be desirable, to urge upon Her Majesty's Government the expediency of proposing to the legislature a measure to insure the introduction of the metric system of weights and measures for international purposes."

The Council deemed it expedient to postpone the consideration of this resolution.

Fifth Resolution."That it is inexpedient that new institutions, such as the proposed Engineering College for India, should be established by Government, until the Royal Commission now holding an inquiry into the relation of the State to scientific instruction shall have issued their report. That the Council of the British Association be requested to consider this opinion, and, should they see fit, to urge it upon the attention of Her Majesty's Government."

The Committee appointed without loss of time to consider and report on this resolution were informed at their first meeting that the arrangements for the establishment of the College had been virtually completed. Your President, however, in accordance with the wishes of this Committee, entered into unofficial communication with the authorities at the India Office, relative to the proposed examination for entrance into the new Engineering College, and succeeded thereby in gaining for natural science, as compared with

REPORT OF THE COUNCIL.

xlix UNIVERSITI ALIFORNI

classics, a recognition, in the form of allotted marks, which it previously did not possess.

Your Council has given considerable attention to the important question (raised at the last meeting) of a revision of the regulations relating to the proceedings of the several Sections at the annual meetings of the Association. Hitherto, it has been justly urged, these proceedings, from not having been sufficiently pre-arranged, have frequently been of too desultory and mixed a character. It is hoped that by a proper observance of the Revised Regulations which are this day to be submitted to the General Committee for approval, and by increased vigilance on the part of the Sectional Committees, much of this may be obviated, and that greater prominence may be given to, and a fuller discussion secured for, the really important communications which are annually made to the several Sections.

The Council has pleasure in informing the General Committee that the Association at length possesses a central office in London. The Asiatic Society has, in consideration of a yearly rent of £100, granted to the Association entire possession of four of their rooms at 22 Albemarle Street, and the use of another room for meetings of the Council and Committees. Your Council, moreover, acting under the power given to them by the General Committee at Liverpool, have engaged Mr. Askham as clerk at a salary of £120 a year. He is in attendance daily, and there transacts much of the business which was formerly done at the office of Messrs. Taylor and Francis, the printers to the Association. With the exception of certain works of reference, the whole of the books and MSS. formerly deposited at Kew have been transferred to 22 Albemarle Street, and are being catalogued and rendered available for reference by Members of the Association. One of the four rooms not at present in use has been sub-let to the London Mathematical Society.

The Council having been informed by Dr. Hirst of his desire at the close of the present Meeting to resign his office as Joint General Secretary of the Association, appointed a Committee, consisting of the General Officers and former General Secretaries, to select a successor. This Committee unanimously recommended the appointment of Captain Douglas Galton, C.B., F.R.S. The Council, entirely agreeing with the Committee as to the high qualifications of Captain Galton for the office, cordially recommend his election by the General Committee at their meeting on Monday next.

The Council cannot allow this occasion to pass without expressing their sense of the great services rendered to the Association by Dr. Hirst; but they abstain from saying more, as they are unwilling to anticipate a more mature expression on the part of the General Committee.

The Council have added the following names of gentlemen present at the last Meeting of the Association to the list of Corresponding Members:

Professor Van Beneden.

Dr. Crafts.

Governor Gilpin, Colorado.

Dr. Anton Dohrn.

H. H. the Rajah of Kolapore.
M. Plateau.
Professor Tchebichef.

The General Committee will remember that Brighton has already been selected as the place of meeting next year. Invitations for subsequent meetings have been received by your Council from Bradford, Belfast, and Glasgow.

The Council, lastly, recommend that the name of Professor Balfour be added to the list of Vice-Presidents of the present Meeting.

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