The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-22 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Transactions of the National Association for the
Promotion of Social Science, 1857. Parker and
Sons.

It will be still fresh, of course, in the popular re-
collection, that during five days of last October,
Birmingham was the scene of the first annual
gathering of this very remarkable association. Its
distinguished character has been now resplendently
vindicated by this substantial and really noble
volume, comprising within it the epitomepoaf,
seitas
inaugural transactions. A more extraordinary
book, in its way, has not for a long while
through the press, according to our own recollec-
tion. It consists, as the title-page informs us, of
" Inaugural Addresses and Select Papers." The
inaugural addresses are five ; the papers and ab-
stracts of papers are more than a hundred. As to
the former, the addresses, it will be very well re-
membered that the Inaugural Address was delivered
by no one less than Lord Brougham himself, the
president of this newly-created national association
—Lord John Russell delivering an address ou
Jurisprudence and Amendment of the Law ; Sir
John Pakington one on Education ; Lord Stanley
one on Public Health ; and Sir Benjamin Brodie
one on Social Economy.
As to the subsequent collection of papers, they
will be found to have been judiciously subdivided
under five heads namely, as the inaugural
addresses will have indicated—Jurisprudence and
Amendment of the Law—Punishment and Refor-
mation—Public Health—and Social Economy.
The comprehensiveness of the last of these five
divisions admits of its embracing within it themes
as dissimilar as—Strikes and the Early Closing
Movement, Savings Banks and Workhouses, Rail-
way Accidents and Free Libraries, Baths and
Washhouses and Self-supporting Dispensaries,
Prostitution and Intemperance. Under the head
of Public Health we learn much that is instructive
from Engineers as well as from Physicians, and
observe among the contributors to this section a
name otherwise familiar, that of Tom Taylor, the
facetious and imaginative. In the miscellaneous
treatises relating to Punishment and Reformation,
we meet with some most acceptable papers from
well-known writers and authorities, like Mr.
M. D. Hill, Mr. Jelinger Symons, and Cap-
tain Maconochie. Several papers of great value
upon the vital subject of education, refer more
particularly to the education of the working classe3
as well as to middle class education. While
upon the twin subject of jurisprudence and the
amendment of the law, we have a very useful chap-
ter by Lione Levi upon judicial statistics, and
some very admirable suggestions for a more speedy,
frequent, and economical administration of crimi-
nal law, by Samuel Warren, the learned recorder
of Hull, and member for the borough of Midhurst.
One other masterly paper his yet to be particu-
larised, the production of a very profound and
philosophic intellect—a paper by Mr. George
Combe, on the Teaching of Physiolcgv. A foot-
note at p. xxvii of the" Introduction," by G. W.
Hastings, appears in reference to this paper, by
way of explanation. It is as follows :

The unfortunate and, I must add, improper rdeeT

tinn of Mr. George Combe's paper on the Teaching of
Physiology by the Education Department, arose from
misconception, and not from design. Partly from an
idea that it did not refer to education, and partly from
a belief that it had been published as well 33 printed
(both of which mistakes might have been easily
rectified by a proper Explanation), the rea ling of
the paper was stopped. I was ❑ot present in the de-
p•artment at the time ; but learning what •had occur-
red, and feeling much annoyed at the circumstance,
I at once made inquiries, and can state positively
that no disrespect to the author, nor any disregard
of the importance of his subject, was intended either
by the president or by any otLer member. The only
reparation possible has been afforded by giving the paper
in full in this volume."

As for the " purpose" of the association, Lord
Brougham thus magnificently spoken at the clone
of his admirable address

"Knowledge is power; but its natural ally is the
friendly power of virtue with which its dominion is will- '
ingly shared. This is above all true of the knowleclye
which we shall seek to improve and to impart. The supreme
Disposer and Preserver, who decketu himself with light
as it were a garment, but defendeth all the earth as it
were with a shield,' has provided that the false steps
into which we are led by the twilight, will be prevented
or retraced when the day dawns. If any one is still
al trmed at the force which the people seem to gain when
their faculties are expanded by cultivation, let him re-
collect that this happy process cannot be continue 3, and
further knowledge acquired, without a new security
being given by that very increase of knowledge sgaimt
the delusions and the excesses from which the peace cf
the community has. most to fear. We are reminded by
the subject, as well as by the place where we are assem-
bled, of the exquisite invention, the happiest perhaps in
the history of science, which makes the power of steam
provide by its expansion for its own control, the one
being nicely proportioned to the other. Knowledge is,
then, both power and safety ; it exercises this self-con-
trol ; it gives to the mighty social engine both the
movement and the gc•vernor—
"

Unmeasured strength with perfect art combined,
Awes, serves, amazes, and—protects mankind I
"Bat it is not safety alone that we expect ; we fondly
hope for more; we confidently look higher. Undaunted
by the resistance of adversaries, undismayed by the ob-
structions which the bias of prejudice, or the conflicts of
faction, or the strife of controversy raise to impede
social progress or to retard, its friends lift up their view
to the loftier heights where religious and moral truth
sheds an eternal light. Piercing the darkness of ignore
ranee that shrouds our region, the mists of doubt that
obscure, the storms of passion that vex, the instinct of
selfishness that chills another, the eye loves to repose on
that bright summit whore the same beams dispel all
doubt from our opinion towards God, and warm our
benevolent feelings towards men :
As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form.
Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm ;
Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread,
Eternal sunshine settles on its head I
This is the eulogium of the association.