The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-06 00:00:00

ATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE
PROMOTION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE.

This association inaugurated the sixth year of 1
its existence yesterday, conjointly with the Congres
International de Bienfaisanee, which now holds its
third session. The association still claims Lord
Brougham as its president, and under his auspices
it once more comes before the public with every
promise of successfully achieving its self-allotted
task.

In the morning a meeting of the counsel was
held, and in the afternoon there was a special ser-
vice in Westminster Abbey, when the Rev. J.
Lupton read the prayers and lessons, and the ser-
mon was preached by the Very Rev. the Dean of
Chichester, who took as the text the sth chapter of
2d Kings, Bth verse. The anthem was from Kent,
" Blessed be those."
In the evening the general meeting was held in
Exeter-hall, about two-thirds of which, with the
platform and galleries, was well filled. Shortly
after the appointed hour Lord Brougham, followed
by Sir J. Pakington and other distinguished mem-
bers of the association, entered the hall amidst loud
and long-continued applause, and took his seat as
President. Amongst those present we noticed Mr.
Justice Keating, Hon. R. Kinnaird, M.P., Mr. A.
Lefroy, M.P., Mr. R. Hankey, M.P., Mr. Freeland,
M.P., Mr. Gregson, M,P., Mr. Recorder Hill, Pro-
fessor Pillans, Sir Charles Hastings, Mr. T. Cham-
bers, Q.C., Mr. Wm. Fairbairn, F.R.S., Sir Fitzroy
Kelly, Q.C., M.P., Dr. Farr, Sir J. Jebb, K.C.8.,
Sir John Lawrence, K.CB., Sir David Brewster, Mr.
Samuel Morley, Sir Erskine Perry, Rear-Admira,
Sir Thos. Hastings, Mr. A. I. Stephens, Q.C., Mr,
J. F, Macqueen, Q.C., M. Gamier Pages, Dr.
Headlam Greenhow, Mr. Pollard-Urquhart, MY-,
Mr. Ackroyd, Mr. Berwick Baker, Mr. Sheriff
Twentyman , Mr. Robert Baxter, Mr. R. Rawlinson,
Professor Henessy, Mr. Lumley, Mr. C. H. Brace-
bridge, Mr. Briscoe, M.P., Mr. Puler, MX., Sir
H.Verney, Bart., and Hon. G. Denman, QC., M.P.
Mr. G. W. HASTINGS, the general secretary,
stated that the reception-rooms for the members of
the council would be to -morrow (this day) removed
from Old Bond-street to Guildhall, where all the
departments, except that connected with jurispru-
dence, would meet at 11 o'clock, when the president
of each department would deliver his opening ad-
dress. With regard to the soiree of the president
and council, to be held in Westminster Palaccon
Saturday, the words " full dress" on the cards were
not, as was understood by some, intended to express
uniform or court dress. All that was meant by the
council was that ladies and gentlemen attending the
soiree should appear in ordinary evening dress :
but in saying this he would remark that it was by
no means forbidden that any person, if ambitious
to do so, should appear in uniform—if he had a right
to wear it. (Laughter.) He would add that the
books for the excursions which would take place at
the close of the meeting, and for the dinner at the
Crystal Palace, would be opened to-morrow, and it
was requested that all who desired to attend would
enter their names as soon as convenient in those
books.
The noble PRESIDENT then rose, amidst loud and
long-continued applause, to deliver the inaugural
address, which was of considerable length. The
sixth congress of that association was, said his lord-
ship, opened in unhappy circumstances. They had
reason to hope that that chair would have been
filled by the Prince whose loss the whole world de-
plores; whose life was devoted to promote the
social sciences, who never had but one object, nor
felt but one desire—the strict discharge of all his
duties: his duty to his family, his adopted country,
and mankind. That the irreparable loss of such a
man should be universally deplored by all, without
distinction of rank, or party, or sect, was no mar-
vel, for all have suffered. But let all men of
exalted station and commanding influence set be-
fore their eyes his career, ever bearing in mind
the universal renown which he acquired, the
affection and veneration which he inspired-
and let them be well assured that, con
trary to what so generally happens, his imitators
will have no second or subordinate place ; for .
the glory gained and the happiness enjoyed by fol-
lowing his bright example will be equal to his own,
now the object of their envy and wonder. Having
referred to the interest shown in that institution by
the deceased Prince, his lordship said it was at his
(the Prince's) suggestion many inquiries connected
with the trade and the usages of other countries
were undertaken and an international department
afterwards founded. The attention of distinguished
foreigners, especially from France and Belgium,
had in consequence been considerable, both at the
Glasgow Congress and that of Dublin. But they
had the satisfaction of receiving this year a much
larger number, whose assistance would be invalu-
able in sharing their labours. An international as-
sociation, like their own, for promoting social science
had been formed at Brussels, and had sent its repre-
sentatives to the present gathering. On this occa-
sion there was conjoined with the meeting that of
the Congres de Bienfaisance—a body which had
already met at some years' interval at Brussels and
Frankfort, and had obtained the support of many
distinguished philanthropists, both on the Conti-
nent and in this country. This body, though it
does not range over so wide a sphere as the National
Association, being restricted to questions of benevo-
lence only, undoubtedly comprised many of the
subjects of its investigations, and might usefully
exchange information with it. It intended elect-
ing the Earl of Shaftesbury to preside over it on
this occasion. A committee had been formed in
Paris for promoting the establishment of interna-
tional colleges of education, and represented here
by M. Eugene Rendu, inspector-general under
the University of France. It was found with
satisfaction that since the last congress there
had been a continuance of the progress in which its
members then rejoiced, made by foreign countries
in the various branches of social science, and by
some countries in
untries its only true and secure founda-
tion—the
improvement of constitutional govern-
ment. The public opinion of Western Europe had
penetrated into its Eastern portions. The Czar
was strenuously occupied
a the enfranchisement of
the labouring classes; and is
might be expected to
lighten the pressure on his Polish subjects, and to
give them a separate
government and restore
nationality, though upon
absolutrinciples. Even
the Sultan had adopted in his policy, both commer-
cial and financial, suggestions the result of our ex-
perience. Austria was disposed to
improve her in-
stitutions ; and possessing, more than other coun-
tries, the element of a working aristocracy, ifshe
establishes a representative government on liberal
principles, the best security would be obtained for
the peace of the Continent. Her commercial de-
velopment, too, was of immense importance to
she having, except cotton, every one raw material
that we want, and requiring all that we manufac-
ture. The great defect of internal communication
being supplied by the railways in progress, not
only her trade with us will be incalculably ex-
tended, but she seems destined to be our high
road to India—Vienna and Constantinople being
the chief stations between London and Calcutta.
The egregious error of Prussia in abandoning her
liberal policy had served at once to cause the appli-
cation of a speedy corrective and to afford a new
and signal example of the inestimable advantages
possessed by constitutional government in main-
taining sound principles and preventing the excesses
of royal or popular supremacy. The lesser States
of Germany are on some matters divided among
themselves ; but their disputes are conducted with-
out endangering the general peace, because the
questions at issue are in the hands of the sovereigns,
together with the chief members of the communities.
The kingdom of Italy appeared at length to be
secure of the only thing wanting to its consolida-
tion—the capital ; and the termination of the worst
government in the world—the Papal temporal
power; for it was inconceivable that the tyrant who
had been dethroned and expelled from the South
should any longer be allowed, with the help of that
priestly power, to foment dissensions which consist
only in supper ting hordes of robbers and murderers,
whose in human outrages minister to his revenge by
events
oppress.i
tormenting the people he can no longer
The French had been great gainers by anee
the last Congress. The new license so wisely given
to parliamentary proceedings had been attended ,