The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-18 00:00:00

GENERAL MEETING.

The last general meeting of the Association was held
at eight o'clock in the evening, at the Victoria Rooms;
Sir R. Murchison, the president, in the chair.
The PRESIDENT, on opening the meeting, observed
that the parliament of science bad now terminated, and
it only remained for them to lay some of the results
which had attended their proceedings before the British
public, in order that all might be able to judge of the
merits and value of their association. He would, in the
first place, call upon the treasurer to produce his report.
Mr. TAYLOR, the treasurer, then read the report, the
substance of which we have already published. The
total number of tickets issued at the meeting was 843,
and the entire amount recceived, including 1001. from
Prince Albert, was 8271. 4s. Bd.

Colonel SABINE, the general secretary, then read a list
of the grants of money voted by the general committee,
and which has been already published in our columns.
lie added, that among the reports which they required
for next year, and which would not involve any outlay
of money, would be two on the important subject of
earthquakes, and one from Mr. Scott Russell on the
science of naval construction, including steam naviga-
tion. They had also requested Dr. Ewing and Sir
James Ross to draw up a plan for a naval expedition
for the purpose of investigations to complete our know-
ledge of tides. The recommendations to the Govern-
ment were two : one for the publication of the important
meteorological (*serrations tsken.by the officers of the
trigonometrical survey of Ireland under Captain Lar-
combe, since 1834, and which were compiled with the
greatest care and accuracy of any investigations in the
world • the other was for a survey of the supposed
parallel roads at Glenroy and its vicinity, in the north of
Scotland.

The Marquis of NORTHAMPTON, after congratulating
the association that he could address them as " gentlemen
and ladies," for they had that day decided on admitting
ladies to the rank of membership, proposed the first re
solution, which was a vote of thanks to the mayor, cor-
poration, and inhabitants of Southampton, for the kind
manner in which they had received the association. He
was sure no stranger there would ever forget the kind-
ness which they had received from all the inhabitants of
the town, and more especially from the excellent chief
magistrate. He wished to take that opportunity of can-
gratulating the association on the meeting which had
just terminated, and on the results to science which were
likely to arise out of it. There was only one circum-
stance connected with the present meeting which he
could regret, and that was, that he had not seen any
philosophers from among their trans-Atlantic brethren
among them. This was the more to be regretted from
the fact, that at their last meeting they had listened to
the eloquence of that friend of civilisation, and of science.
and of peace, Mr. Everett. He was sure that great man
would give them his hearty good wishes, and would re
juice when he heard of the triumphant display made by
the association this year.—(Hear, hear.) It was true
they had not so large an assemblage as they would have
had at Liverpool, or Manchester, or Bristol, or Birming-
ham, or Glasgow ; but then Southampton, it should be
recollected, was a comparatively small town, and the at-
tendance was certainly greater in proportion to the popu-
lation than at any of the larger localities they had hi-
therto visited. He did not mean to cast any slur on those
greater towns, but he mentioned the fact as a proof that
the association was rising in public estimation, and he was
convinced, though when they held their meetings in the
smaller towns their disbursements were necessarily
larger than their receipts, that still, when they again
visited the great leading towns of the kingdom, their
previous losses would be more than made up to them.—
(Hear, hear.) Their president had, in his opening ad
dress, detailed to them some of the advantages which the
association had conferred on science and on the com-
munity, but he was satisfied that, in addition to all this,
they did more good than they could be at all aware of;
that they lit up the sparks of science in many minds that
would hereafter enlighten the world with their brilliancy
and splendour. After some further remarks, the Noble
Marquis concluded by moving that all the members of
the association present, not belonging to Southampton,
should join with him in expressing their thanks to the
mayor and inhabitants of the town for the kindness
which they had shown to them. The motion was re-
ceived with loud applause.
The Mayon returned thanks, and said he was sure his
fellow townspeople would unite with him in expressing
their gratitude to the great and distinguished men who
had honoured them- by coming among them. He con-
eluded by expressing a hope that the meeting of the
British Association in their town would lay the founda-
tion for the establishment of a local literary society
among them, which might hereafter aid in lighting up
the spark of science, to which the Noble President of
the Royal Society had referred, in the bosoms of some
of their fellow-citizens.

Professor PHILIPS moved a vote of thanks to the local
secretaries and members of the local committee, and
passed a high eulogium on their exertions to ensure the
comfort and convenience of the association.
Dr. CLARKE returned thanks.

Sir Join; lIERSCHEL said that however remarkable
Britain had made herself in the field of science, she was
but one of the nations that were distinguished before
mankind in the advancement of civilisation. He felt
that he was therefore placed in a situation to which his
rhetorical powers were extremely inadequate, in rising
to express the feelings not merely of the British Associa-
tion, but of British civilisation generally, in reference to
European science. England was undoubtedly an island,
but she refused to be regarded as one in matters of
science. A great bridge had been built across the
Channel, and there was no longer a separation
between her and the continent of Europe. In
science thre was but one direction which the
needle would take when pointed towards the
European continent, and that was towards his esteemed
friend Professor Oersted.—(Hear Rad cheers.) He knew
not how to speak of him in his presence, without vio-
lating some of that sanctity by which as an individual
he was surrounded. To look at his calm manner, who
could think that he wielded such an intense power, ca-
pable of altering the whole state of science, and almost
convulsing the knowledge of the world? He had at this
meeting developed to them some of those recondite and
remarkable powers which he had been himself the first
to discover, and which went almost to the extent of
obliging them to alter their views on the most ordinary
laws of force and of motion. He elaborated his ideas
with slowness and certainty, bringing them forward
only after a long lapse of time. How often did he (Sir
J. Herschel) wish to heaven that he could trample down
and strike for ever to the earth the hasty generalisation
which marked the present age, and bring up another
and a more safe system of investigation, such as that
which marked the inquiries of his friend. It was in the
deep recesses, as it were, of a cell, that in the midst of
his study a far idea first struck upon the mind of Oer-
sted. He waited calmly and long for the dawn which
at length opened upon him, altering the whole relations
of science, and he might say of life, until they knew not
where he would lead them to. The electric telegraph
and other wonders of modern science were but mere
effervescences—the mere scum from the surface of this
deep recondite discovery, which Oersted's had liberated,
and which was yet to burst with all its mighty force
upon the world.—(Cheers.) But with the long list which
he bad to get through he would not dilate longer
on the great discovery of his esteemed friend.
If he were to characterise by any figure the ad-
vantage of Oersted to science, he would regard him
as a fertilising shower descending from heaven, which
brought forth a new crop, delightful to the eye and
pleasing to the heart. But if he turned on the other
hand, he would have to describe a mighty Titan—one
who can convulse nature, tear up the rocks, and call the
lightning to his aid. When he mentioned the name of
Schonbein he surely recalled to them all these ideas.—
(Hear, hear.) After proceeding at some length to de-
scribe in eloquent language the celebrity of the other
eminent foreigners present at the meeting, he concluded,
amidst loud cheers, by moving the thanks of the meeting
to Professor Oersted and the other foreign philosophers
who had honoured them by their presence.
Mr. M. STIRLING said he thought the term applied
by Sir John Herschel to Professor Wheatstone's great
discovery—the electric telegraph—of being mere scum
and effervescence, was one requiring some explanation.
Sir JOHN HERSCHEL said nothing could be further
from his mind than to depreciate the important discovery
of his friend Professor Wheatstone; but in using what
was, perhaps, rather an infelicitous term, he merely
wished to compare what had already appeared on the
surface from Oersted's discovery, in comparison to the
depths which they were yet unable to fathom.—(Hear.)
The Rev. Dr. RoniNsort said, before the gentleman,
whoever he was, rose in so peremptory a manner, he
ought at least to have understood what he was speaking
about. No one had a higher esteem for Professor Wheat-
stone than he had, but yet he had no hesitation in say-
ing
that the discoveries of Professor Wheatstone were
but effervescences of that
fermentation which the dis-
coveries of Oersted were raising in the minds of men.

vv
Some interruption for a time of rather an angry kind
ensued, after which the resolution was carried amidst
loud cheers.

—Professor OERSTED said he was quite overpowered at
all the praise which that distinguished gentleman, Sir
John Herschel, had heaped upon him, and he regretted
that his command of the English language was not suffi-
cient to enable him to express his feelings as he would
wish. There was no country had more reason to love
science than England. Her great men were too nume-
rous to be enumerated, but the name of Newton was
perhaps sufficient to mention.—(Hear, hear.) Science
was power, and much of the vast power of England had
certainly been derived from the scientific pursuits of her
great men. He felt the liveliest gratification on coming
amongst them on this occasion, and he was sure all the
foreigners around him were actuated by the same
emotions.

The PRESIDENT begged to remind the meeting that,
at that association, which might be called the parlia-
ment of the science of England, there had been assem-
bled one time or tinother every rasa who w