The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-26 00:00:00

VIE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

NORWICH, TtTESDAY,

Thelioceedingi at the general committee meeting
gesterday afternoon were very lively. As I informed you
by telegraph, the invitations to the Association for next
Saar come from five places—Exeter, Edinburgh, Liver-
pool, Brighton, and Bradford. With the first place
Plymouth was virtually, though not formally, united ;
for it was stated that the question which of the two would
be the more suitable for the visit of the wise men
bad been submitted by agreement to Mr. Grove, Q.C.,
Professor Philips, and Dr. Hooker, and the triumvirate
had named the ecclesiastical city rather than the seaport.
The reason for this decision was not stated, for, as Mr.
Grove laughingly observed, it was always wise to follow
Lord Mansfield's advice to a young lawyer about to
proceed abroad as a judge : "Never give your reasons for
your judgments, for .though they may be right
it is ten chances to one that your reasons will be
wrong." When the matter came before the two
ex-presidents and the present bead of the Association, I
suppose there was a tacit understanding that the town that
was not deemed the most eligible should support the claims
of the one that was. The advantages of Exeter were most
thoroughly advocated, and all sorts of things, from an in-
spection of Kent's Cavern to endless draughts of Devonshire
cream, were promised to the visitors. The greatest fight
against the western city was on the part of Edinburgh.
The instant that the chairman, Professor Philips, in the
temporary absence of Dr. Hooker, asked if anyone were
present to support the invitation sent from the Scottish
capital, not less than a' score and a half of • enthusiastic
gentlemen from the other side of the Tweed started to
their feet in a body. The representations of the suitability
of the city and of the anxiety felt to entertain
so august a body as the British Association were
exceedingly well put before the meeting by Councillor
Colson—a man with abroad accent and a large heart—and
Sir James Simpson. The canniness of the Scotchmen
raised a good laugh, for they proposed with all seriousness,
and as if it were a great concession, to give way to the
claims of Exeter this year, if Liverpool would undertake
to give way to the claims of Edinburgh next year. The
turn of Liverpool came next, and a very good case die.
its representatives—a member of the town council and two
divines connected with learned societies—make out. I
don't suppose the people of Liverpool much expected
success this year, but they wanted to be well in the field,
and next year it will be seen they will come forward to
renew the struggle with even greater energy. Brighton
was the next on the list, and Brighton was very
deep, holding out a novel and most glittering
bait, which was no less than the promise that
if its invitation was accepted it would undertake to
bring over to the meeting and convey back to their homes,
free of all expense, the sarans of Belgium and France. M
this proposal, Dr. Hooker, who had entered the room and
taken the chair, nodded warm approval. Bradford, in
inviting the Association, -based its claim chiefly on the
convenience of the town and its being a large and im-
portant manufacturing centre. Everyone, lam sure,
was heartily glad when the speaking was over, and it
being seen how the land lay, the other claims were with-
drawn, and Exeter declared to be the adopted home of the
British Association for 1869.

The election of Professor Stokes as president for the
ensuing year has given great satisfaction to the members
of the Association, a fact which was tested by the hearty
way in which the announcement of the high honour thus
conferred upon him was received by thoie who were too
impatient to get to Crown Point to share in the entertain-
ment given by Mr. Harvey, M.P., and Lady Henrietta
Harvey, to wait till the business of the general committee
was concluded. It was late when we got back from our
very agreeable trip to the pleasant suburb, to which we
were conveyed by steamer up the river by the courtesy
of our host. The river itself has its weakness
in an olfactory sense, and therefore we were
not altogether regretful when we reached the really
picturesque grounds which the hon. member has lately
purchased and much adorned. Here a splendid
dejeuner was spread for our refection, and though there
was some little difficulty in getting our wants. supplied,
—the members of learned bodies being much like other
people, somewhat given to selfishness when good things
are in their way—everybody with a little patience was
able to satisfy the cravings of that hunger which seems to
be wonderfully sharpened after a day spent in scientific
pursuits. Happily there were no speeches ; the guests
were warmly welcomed by host and hostess, and spent
some very pleasant hours in examining the grounds and
the objects of historical interest in the neighbourhood.
Nearly all the great literary lights attending the present
meeting of the Association formed part of the company.
Dr. Odling was to have delivered a lecture in the Drill
Hall on "Reverse Chemical Actions " last night, but the
committee got it postponed until tonight, of which the
doctor was not, I should think, sorry. as I heard him in
the morning complaining of symptoms of sore throat.

Passing at a late hour. by the Royal Hotel, in the
Market-place, we were startled for a moment •by an
unearthly roar, not much unlike that which proceeds from
the interior of a menagerie at feeding-time. A
moment's reflection brought an explanation. The
Red Lions were being fed. This society consists of
some of the most notable men of science, who always dine
together during the Association week. lam not sure
whether they are allowed to converse during the consump-
tion of the meal, but I do know that the only response
permitted to the toasts proposed is a concerted roar as
much resembling nature as is possible with human beings.
A notice of the dinner has been affixed to the walls of the
reception-room for days past, to the effect that the lions
would feed to-day, and that those who wished to be
amongst them must roar by letter to the secretary.
Professor Huxley delivers his lecture to the working
classes on " A piece of chalk" to-morrow evening. In
addition to Dr. Odling's lecture, we have our second
soir6e at St. Andrew's Hall this evening.