The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-06 00:00:00

SECTION OF GEOLOGY.

Mr. A. Omln, F.A.S., F. 0.8. in introducing this
section, referred to that combination of features which
renders the British Islands so remarkable an epitome of
the geology of the globe. Having referred to the fact
that a study of the igneous rocks of Britain fur-
nishes no proof that volcanic action had been slowly
diminishing in intensity during past geological time,
Mr. Geikie proceeded to sey that recently little tied
been done in the investigation of our volcanic rocks:—
"As a result of this neglect, the nomenclature of
this portion of British geology has been virtually at a stand
for about half • century. Geologists must be content to
be-s their share of the blame, yet it is not from their bands
that the needed reform is mainly to be looked for. They
can do but little till chemistry oomee to their aid with in-
formation regarding the composition of the rock' which
they investigate, and the extent to which the nomencla-
ture adopted in other countries can be applied in their own.
Distant or near, the day will doubtless arrive when we
shall be able to connect into one story, as far at least as
our fragmentary records will permit, the narrative of the
varied volcanic eruptions which from early geological
times have taken place in the British Islands, and to link
that chronicle with she long history of volcanic action
over the globe."

ECONOMIC SCIENCE SECTION.
In introducing the business of this section,

The PRzmurrrr (Mr. Grant Duff, M.P.), in speaking as
president of this department of the association, said—
The laws which we enunciate are no more and
no lea herd and imperative than any of the
laws with which the other sections have to do.
" What," asked Mr. Mill in the House of Commons last
year, " is more unfeeling than the attraction of gravita-
tion ? If we claim for economic science a very high place
among the studies of the statesman, we do not exaggerate
its importance. No wise economist ever pretended to ex-
plain more than • limited number of the complicated
problems of human society. No wise economist ever laid
himself open to the denunciations levelled by M. Quinet
in his recent brilliant work on the French Rev,lution
against those who fondly fancy that they can account on
economical principles alone for that great moral and
political earthquake. There surely never was a time
when it was more necessary to popularise this science.
We are told by alarmists that one of the results of re-
form will be that many matters which were considered
settled will be reopened, that protection will again raise her
head, and that the ghosts of old fallacies will come back to
gibber in the House of Commons. I am one of those who
think such fears wildly exaggerated ; but surely the mere
possibility of our people- lapsing into heresies such as
those which have seduced men of our race in America
and Australia, should warn us to diffuse far and
wide the broad results of economic science. Having
touched upon the subject of educational and vital statis-
tics, and pointed out the advantages that had arisen from
their study, Mr. Grant Duff concluded by saying that
those who overrated statistics were almost as mischievous
as those whose reckless abuse gave point to the sneer that
nothing was so false as figures except facts—ltigbys of
political life, who manipulate their figures for controver-
sial success. A man who deals with statistics in the spirit
of the sayiog " So much the worse for facts" can make
them prove anything, but no saying can be further from
the temper of the statistician. A spirit resigned to collect
one by one the stones of • temple which his successor may
build up, is the mark of the true student of his science.
The committee reported in favour of a uniform system

of weights and measures. It was agreed that the mone-
tary convention of France, Austria, Belgium, and Bwitser-
land was a great step in the right direction.

GEOGRAPHY AND ETHNOLOGY.

The Geographical and Ethnological section met in the
Albert Institute, which was crowded, there being, as at
Nottingham last year, great interest excited to hear Sir
Samuel Baker, of African celebrity.
Sir SAMUEL BAKES, after dwelling on the importance
of geography es necessary to almost every other science,
and tracing the history of discovery, showed its in-
timate connection with the extension of civilisation
and Christianity. It was now known that the high
civilisation attainable in temperate climates might
augur a great future for the Anglo-Saxon race in
America and Australia. We must prepare for their in-
dependence. Geography was the foundation of diplo-
macy. Having pointed out that there had been
in the past year to great English discoveries, the president
remarked that we were bound to watch the progress of the
Russians in Central Asia, and if possible to obtain the in-
dependent route to India via the Euphrates. America
had advanced to 81 deg. 35 min., the nearest approach to
the Polo. Referring to Livingstone, of whom for twelve
months no tidings bad been received, Sir Samuel Baker
declared his belief that he was dead. The natives in the
interior of Africa, unlike Europeans, were scientific
liars • they would never tell such absurd lies as
to declare their master dead to excuse their leaving.
They would have feigned game= or some other excuse,
for they would know he might become a witness against
them. It would require an extremity of moral courage
they did not possess to say he was dead it he were not. He
was ofillied..likwDs...Yieleip.beekieee
been murdered, and as his rauow travellitiYeonul only
exclaim " Peace to his memory." He could not but
praise the government for sending an expedition to &seer-
' lain the truth. Livingstone's great qualifications were his
patience and endurance.
In the discussion which ensued,.

Sir itotinalcs Mr Rot teoN said.be believed Livingstone
was possibly, if not probably, alive, and he would never
go into mourning for him upon the estiniony of such con.
victed liars. _ _

Lieutenant °MIR, speaking of the route through
Nicaragua, believed the one recommended by Captain
Pim for • railway would moon be adopted. The line
between Panama and Aspinwall bad been worked since
1865. The international railway across Nicaragua would
compete witk