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

TIIE BRITISH ASSOCII7IOII7.

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Science
ND E, Thursday Night.
The different sections
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the mechanical section since 1850. A discussion en-
sued upon the address.
In the Section of Geology, the president, Mr. A.
F.R.S., F. G.S., in his opening address,
having referred to that combination of features
which renders the British islands so remarkable an
epitome of the geology of the globe, proceededed to
speak of the development of igneous rocks.
Mr. GIANT DUFF, M.P., took the chair in the
Economic Section. In his address he said that there
never was a time when it was so necessary to popu_
larise the science of political economy as now.
Alarmists were saying that one of the results of re-
form vrill be that many matters which were consi-
dered settled will be re-opened, that Protection will
again raise her head, and that the ghosts of old fal-
lacies will come back to gibber in the House of
Commons. He (Mr. G. Duff) was one of those who
think such fears wildly exaggerated ; but 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 statistics, and pointed out the advantages that
had arisen from the study, Mr. G. 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 frlse as
figures except facts—Rigbys of political life, who
manipulate their figures for controversial suc-
cess. A man who deals with statistics in the
spirit of the saying " 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 a
temple which his successor may build up is the
mark of the true student of science. The committee
reported in favour of a uniform system of weights
and measures. It was agreed that the monetary •
convention of France, Austria, Belgium, and
Switzerland was a great step in the right direction
The greatest interest was manifested in the section
of Geography and Ethnology, in which Sir Samuel
Baker, the African traveller, presided. In opening
the proceedings of the section, Sir Samuel, after
dwelling on the importance of geography as neces-
sary to almost every other science, and tracing the
history of discovery, showed its intimate connection
with the extension of civilisation and Christianity.
Referring to Livingstone, of whom for twelve months
no tidings had been received, Sir Samuel Baker de-
clared his belief that he was dead. The natives in
the interior of Africa, unlike Europeans, were
scientific liars; they will never tell such absurd lies
as to declare their masters dead to excuse their leav-
ing. They would have feigned sickness 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 if he was not. He was obliged, like Dr. Kirk,
to believe Livingstone had been murdered, and as
his fellow-traveller be could only exclaim, " Peace
to his memory." He could not but praise the Go-
vernment for sending an expedition to ascertain the
truth. Livingstone's great qualifications were his
patience and endurance. In the discussion which
ensued Sir Roderick Murchison said he believed
Livingstone was possibly, if not probably, alive, and
he would never go into mourning for him upon the
testimony of such convicted liars.
The special department of Biology, conceded to
anthropologists at Nottingham, has been withdrawn.
The members therefore refused to read the papers.
hey will probably hold separate meetings as a sort
of protest against the association.
In the Mathematical and Physical Science Sec-
tion, Mr. Glaisher read a paper on luminous meteors.
Simultaneous observations made at Sidmouth and
Cardiff showed that the phosphorescent train of one
meteor was 18 miles long ; the meteor seen at
Dundee, from 51 to 57 miles high. One observed
at St. Andrews and Glasgow was GO miles above
the earth. The catalogue of the association of the
year had contained the most complete report ever
presented on the subject of the maximum display
in the November shower of stars in America. The
approach of daylight will probably deprive British
observers of the spectacle. At tho Last display the
luminous streak was visible in North France and
Germany for more than an hour.

Manifesto of the French Government.

PARIS, Thursday Evening.

The Marquis de Moustier, French Minister for
Foreign Affairs, has addressed a circular, dated the
25th of August, to the diplomatic agents of France
abroad on the subject of the meeting of the Empe-
ror Napoleon with the Emp.ror Francis Joseph at
Salzburg.
The circular says :

"In going to Salzburg, the Emperor and the
Empress were guided by a sentiment which public
opinion could not mistake, and I should refrain
from writing to you now of the interview between
the two Sovereigns, had it not formed the subject
of interpretations which tend to distort the charac-
ter it possessed.
" The journey of their Majesties was solely dic-
tated by the idea of bearing an affectionate testi-
mony of sympathy to the Imperial family of Aus-
tria, so cruelly afflicted by a recent misfortune.
Certainly the heads of two great empires could not
be together in confiding intimacy for several days
without mutually communicating to one another
their impressions, and exchanging ideas on ques-
tions of general interest. But neither the object
nor the result of their interviews was the formation
of combinations which there is nothing in the pre-
sent state of Europe to justify.
" You remember the language of the Government
of the Emperor each time that it has had occasion to
explain itself respecting the state of things created
by the military events of last summer. Our atti-
tude was defined first in the circular of the 16th of
September last, again later by the language of his
Majesty the Emperor, at the opening of the Senate
and Legislative Body, and, lastly, by the speeches of
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show ourselves, in all our actions, faithful to the
intentions which we have from the first manifested
in presence of the changes that have taken place in
Germany. At a recent conjuncture we have seen
the Cabinets of Europe do justice to the straight-
forwardness of our policy, and lend their concur-
rence to our ideas of pacification. What then
occurred is a guarantee for the support which in
case of need ideas of moderation would again receive
from them. The interviews of the Emperor
Napoleon with the Emperor Francis Joseph could
not therefore have the character attributed to them
by certain journalists.
Long before meeting at
Salzburg the two Sovereigns bad both attested, by
their acts and by the pacific sentiments which guide
them, that their Governments united could not form
anya n other,heir conversa-
tions
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upon general affairs were lmite
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i
assur-
ance, which was mutually given.
" Thus, far from considering the Salzburg inter-
view as a subject for preoccupation and anxiety to
other Courts, weshould see in it only a fresh motive
for confidence in the preservation of peace.
" I desired to let you know my opinion upon pub-
lications of which the object is to create a contrary

impression.
"You may adopt these considerations in order to
correct the erroneous views on the subject which
may prevail around you.

(Signed) " MOUSTIER."