BRITISH ASSOCIATION ADDRESS OF THE S EC RETARIES.
We have before us the Address of the General Secretaries of' the British Association, Mr. MumonsoN and Major Ssnixs, recapitus lating to the members, recently assembled at Glasgow, the past proceedings as well as the present condition and prospects of the body which bears that name. It professes to give a " brief review of that which time British Association has directly effected during the last year, as recorded in the last published volume of the Transactions." It dwells upon the value and efficiency of the Association, as estimated partly by the important contributions to Zoology, to Geology, to Natural Philosophy, to Optics, and to 'Meteorology, which its Transactions have been the means of calling forth and circulating—partly by its influence as an organ of eons- , munication with the Governtneut, " in making known the wants of science, and in demanditer for them that aid which it is beyond the power of any scientific body to bestow." It is to be remembered that this Address was actually read to the meting assembled at Glasgow, and that its direct and primary- , destination WRS to the ears of the members of the Association hot to the eyes of the public. To the general public it comes, on very proper and natural grounds, but by way of secondary delivery: and it is important to bear this in mind, when we are considering
• the tone and style of the Address, which presumes both a deeper interest in scientific pursuits, and a larger estimate of the working of the Association, than persons not members of it are likely fully to sympathize with.
That such should be the case, we expect as a matter of course: and while the superior love of science, which is one feeture that distinguishes the members of the As.;ociation from the public, is highly honourable to the former, the somewhat exaggerated estimate of the efficiency of the Association for the promotion of' science, which is observable throughout the Ai,ircss before us, appears to us, taking it at the worst, a very innocent miscalculation, attended with quite as much good as harm. It is enough for our purpose that the Association dues really and serioasly tend to difihse sincere love of science, to promote scientific objects, and to tnii- mate the perseverance of individual investigators through the difficulties of' many most useful physical researches. Whether it has this tendency in a degree Foniewhat greater or somewhat less; is a question upon which we arc not disposed to quarrel with the members.
We are induaed to make these remarks bee; use smile journals, and the 7'itime.5 in particular, adopt a tone of sneering and severity in their remarks upon the Asseciation, which eppears to us tho- roughly utoneasaired and on:a:coining. Upon the ground:: taken by the Tinll:s againq the Association, We e0olii engage to turn every combination of' men fin. scientific purpe.es into contempt and derision. From " The Clouds" of' AtusToen.SNES down to the present day, witty men have thought it very fine to satirize scle:,tifie pursuits by singling out certain petty fractional iv..mdm as samples of a mighty and maje,tie whole ; though they have not always displayed that coar,emme.,s and bitterne.o; of' antipathy which have distinguished the Thum To confess all, we are eote,cious of haviog owe:elves been betrayed into bantering expressions, by our dislike of time inflated and pedantic manner in v,hielm the proceed- ings of the Association have been heralded. But it' pedantry is time (bible of' learning and science, it is not very harmful ; nor is it of sufficient account to destroy the real ability of the humblest and mime meehmical among practical philosophers. The coarse inveetive of (Altars has made us aware, that even our own venomless joke may have been inieeomtrued. To all who sincerely desire either the enlaraement or the diffosion of' science, we are convinced that the habit of' minim:au association, among men brought together by a common love of promoting it, w li appear directly amid extensively miselid. As tech, the llrhish Association has our cordial sympathy, and our best wishes for its success. Among the host Of persona whose coiiperation I is required for the conquest and complete occupation of the regions of knowledge yet untrodden, none but a few distin- SPECTATOR'S LIBRARY.
guished leaders can hope to reap much reward in the shape of general renown and celebrity: the remainder must look for
encouragement principally to the cheering concurrence of a smaller nistory of Scotland. By Patrick Frmer Tyner, Esci. Vol. VII... Tait, Edinburgh* society around them, composed of persons taking more than ordi- THE ENOLISII STAGE,
nary interest in the same or in kindred pursuits. We know no means so effectual of distributing this encouragement to the best atesees,
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