The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-07 00:00:00

141. 15 9

£1,276 1 10

PAYMENTS.
By paid expenses of Glasgow meeting, sundry
printing, binding, advertising, and payments by general treasurer-and local
treasurers £3l9 6 7
Printing report of the 24th meeting, engrav-
ing, Sze . .
Paid for 2,2691. 10s. 3 per Cent. Consols at 83 2,000 0 0
Salaries for 12 months
Engraving, &c., for report of 25th meeting 26 0 0
Maintaining the establishment of Kew Obser-
vatory—
Balance of grant, 1854 £7s 0 0
Balance of grant, 1855

Ornithological synonyms
Chemical action of light
Periodical phenomena
Strength of iron plates
Dreciging and dredging forms
Propagation of salmon
Balance at tho bankers £192 5 5
Balance in the hands of the gene-
ral treasurer and local troeurors 15 16 11

575 0 0
10) 0 0
20 0 0
10 0 0
10 0 0
9 13 9
10 0 0

08 2 4

£4,276 1 10

The Rev. R. WALKER read the report of the Parlia
mentary Committee to the meeting of the British Asso
elation, which was as follows :

" We have the pleasure otannouncing that one very im-
portant subject to which our labours have been directed hail
been materially advanced since the date of our last report.
We allude to the juxtaposition of the scientific societies of
London in a convenient and central locality. The main
building at Burlington-house has been placed by the Go-
vernment at the disposal of the Royal Society, on the under-
standing that they accommodate the Linnean and Chemical
Societies with rooms therein ; and the west wing will bo
converted into a capacious hall, which is to be occupied by
the Royal Society at all times when it is not required for the
examinations and public meetings of the University of Lon-
don. We trust that the period is not far distant in which
permanent accommodation will be afforded to all the prin-
cipal scientific societies in buildings to be erected near the
same site, and in pursuance of some general plan. Your
committee, however, anticipate most important advantages
to science from the present partial adoption by the Go-
vernment of the principle of juxtaposition ; and our
chairman has, in his address to the Royal Society, on the
occasion of their last anniversary, alluded to the benefits
likely to accrue from this salutary measure. In the same
address also will be found a summary of our labours since
our complete organisation in 1851, a perusal of which will
show to what extent the proceedings of our committee
have justified the anticipations of those who promoted its
formation. During the past year two subjects have been
referred to us, viz.—first, the question of the expenses in-
curred by scientific institutions not incorporated in ap-
pointing new trustees of their property when vacancies
occur ; and, secondly, we were requested by your council,
in January last, to support an application to Parliament in
reference to lighting Kew Observatory with gas, when
made by the Chief Commissioner of Woods. The first sub-
ject above adverted to has been considered by us, and we
shall resame its discussion when as opportunity offers for
remedying the evil. With respect to the second, we must
refer to the report of the Kew Committee for an expla-
nation of the reasons which have made it impossible for
us to render that species of assistance which was contem-
ated at the time when the reference was made to us. The
most important subject of our last report—viz., the ques-
tion ' Whether any measures could he adopted by the Go-
vernment or Parliament that would improve the position
of science or its cultivators ? has since its discussion at
Glasgow been again considered by us, and during the last
session of Parliament it was brought before the House of
Commons by Mr. Heywood, as an individual member of
the house, and not as representing your committee. The
discussion of our report by the Committee of Recom-
ti
mendations at Glasgow in September last, the result of
the debate which took place in the House of Commons
on the occasion last referred to, and subsequent communi-
cations members o fmt
men
ne
of
legislature ge ie si e h
ahvaev ea c
yo
emt b
fine
re
md
et d
no o
convince
definite w
uit p
eh
—0
linetiO thatn
on the important question raised in
the report ; and, 2dly, that, until such a result be attained,
it is improbable that any important improvement will be
effected in the position of science or its cultivators either
through the agency of the Government or Parliament. It
is desirable, therefore, that some measures should be
adopted which may be instrumental in inducing scientific
men generally to apply their minds to the consideration of
these questions, and to agree upon some definite proposals.
We, therefore, recommend that the subject should be again
brought before the Committee of Recommendations. Mean •
while
that the General Committee will be gratified on learning
the importance of the question has been recognised by
the Council of the Royal Society, who have referred its
consideration to the Government Grant Committee. That
committeehave appointed a sub-committee consistingof the
President and officers of the Royal Society and seven other
members, who will meet on the 7th of October for thepur-
pose of discussing the subject prior to the re-assembling of
the society after the recess. Your committee recommend
for the consideration of the General Committee, whetherit
would be expedient to relax the rule by which vacancies in
our committee must be filled up exclusively from members
of the British Association, b 0 far as to admit members of
either House of Parliament who have advanced the inte-
rests of science. Your committee also recommend- that two
vacancies in our body, caused by the non-attendance of the
Earl Cathcart and Sir J. V. B. Johnstone, Bart., during
two consecutive years, be filled by the election of the Earl
of Burlington and Lord Stanley, Member of Parliament
for King's Lynn. " WBOTTESLET, Chairman,"
A vote of thanks having been given on the motion of
Sir R. J. MURCHISON to Lord Wrottesley and the mem-
bers of the Parliamentary Committee for their unceasing
attention to the interests of science in the Legislature,
Lord W
ROTTESLEY, in acknowledging the compliment,
stated that it was most desirable that the rule should be
altered by which vacancies in the Parliamentary Com-
mittee were only allowed to be filled up by members of
•
the association, and concluded by a formal motion to a
that effect.

Professor PHILLIPS seconded the motion, which Vfaii
adopted.
- 04 the motion of Lord liVitorrzehsx the Earl of Bur•,
- - -