The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-04 00:00:00

Social Science Congress at Sheffield.

The ninth annual meeting of the Association for
the Promotion of Social Science, which opens this
afternoon at Sheffield, promises to be attended with
considerable success. In venturing to the great
headquarters of industry in steel the Association has
diverged a little from the ordinary well-worn circuit
of scientific associations, and no doubt some extra
trouble has been entailed thereby upon those who,
in the metropolis as well as on the spot itself, hold
themselves responsible for the success of the annual
expedition. Advantages, however, are always to be
gained from breaking fresh ground, and this year
special benefits are expected to connect themselves
with this visit to the heart of the manufacturing
district. Not merely are what may be called the
pet ideas of the Association and the stores of
knowledge winnowed from much surrounding
matter by the patient labour of previous sessions,
carried down to novel fields, and diffused among
classes that hitherto have betrayed, by name at
least, little interest in the aims of social science ;
but in return, lines of thought are indicated, and
practical suggestions thrown out, which the Asso-
ciation
be
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ur sli, a
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0 whna, vbi
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afterwards can usefully pursue at its leisure.
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Department. The question arises
shape, " Is it desirable to establish
a i
n uniform thinternationale following
law of freight ? and, if so,
on
wil has
never
principles ?" To entertain this view with
the
at Jurisprudence 1
becoming earnestness representatives, to the num-
ber in some cases of half a dozen from each locality,
will be present from the following bodies :—Liver-
pool Chamber of Commerce, Sunderland Ship-
owners, Hull Chamber of Commerce, Scotland
Trade Protection Society, and the Chamber of
Commerce of Bristol and Glocester. Two dele-
gates from Antwerp have also sent in their names,
taenrdtaainreed onthis question upon the Continent.
expect
Among other interesting discussions looked for
in the course of the meeting will naturally be
that upon the expediency of further regulation of
ed to give expression to opinions en-
the labour of children, with a view to pro-
mote their education. This is just one of those
controversies possessing an immediate local in-
terest, and certain to be keenly contested. The two
Employment Commissioners, whose names are so fa-
miliar in connexion with this subject, will maintain
what may be called the affirmative view and will meet
unhesitating opponents in the persons of two working
men, both speakers of no mean repute. In the Health
Department, papers affecting those questions of such
magnitude in the present day—the spread of con-
tagious disease and the contamination of air in
towns—are promised. To one essay, on the unne-
cessary exposure of workmen to dangers of life and
health in collieries, mines, and manufactories,
weighty as well as painful interest will attach from
the fact that the gentle Man who brings it forward
is called on, in the discharge of professional duties,
to attend no less than 28,000 persons annually, all

suffering from the grinders' disease. From this
hasty glance it will be perceived that the proceedings
of the coming week, though the scene of operations
be entirely new, will not be devoid of general as
well as local interest. The authorities here, by the
arrangements which they have made, and the Coun-
cil of the Association, by the comprehensive pro-
gramme which they have issued, have done much to
insure the comfort and satisfaction of visitors ; and
on the part of the resident nobility, as well as of
the magnates in the manufacturing world, there
appears to be a generous rivalry in affording to mem-
bers of the Association access to everything worth
seeing in the neighbourhood. The different rail-
nay companies whose lines traverse or abut upon
the district have also agreed to grant facilities for
visiting Sheffield during the Congress by issuing
first and second class return tickets at one fare to
any of the stations of their lines to members and
associates, on production of the requisite vouchers.
The proceedings will, as already announced, open
to-day by a preliminary service in the parish church
of St. Peter's, at 3 o'clock. A meeting of the Coun-
cil follows at half-past 4 o'clock, in' the Cutlers'-
hall, the headquarters and general reception-room
of the Association during their stay in Sheffield ;
and at 8 o'clock Lord Brougham, the President of
the Association, will add another to the long list of
his public services by delivering the opening address
in the Alexandra Music-hall.