New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-16

We gave an account year ago Of the first meet
ing Of the British National Association for the Pro-
motion Of Social Science, held at Birmingham, and
presided over and addressed by Lord Broughsm, to
whom indeed the Association owed its existence.
The second annual meeting has lately been held
at Liverpool. The opening address delivered
by Lord John Russell, who had succeeded Lord
Brougham as president, contained somo noticeable
points. He ayowed himself most decidedly in favor
of consolidation of the English law similar to the
Code Napoleon. He continued to say that if four or
fvepenons were appointed as commissioners, they
would within few months make an actual com.
mencement, and within a few years be able to
present the English people with complete code
worthy of the country and the age, in which the
laws would be improved and smplified, and which,
based on the solid foundation Of experience and
ancient legislation, would be supported by reasons
and sustained on principles worthy OF the cnlight
eminent Of the present times.
When We call to mind the execrations almost
with which scareey forty years ago not only the
lawyers and judges, but the great body Of the En-
gish public, received the propositions Of Bentham
to codify and reform the English law, this declara-
ton marks great advance in public opinion. For
We mus. recollect that Lord John Russell il not
and never was anything like theOrst or =
radical reformer, only reformer Of the most
conservative hind. Indeed, toward the end Of
his address, he specially declared well for HIM
self as for the Association, that they were NOT,
Ike some philosophers Of the last century, en-.
amored of chimerical age Of reason, nor
did they share the dreams Of philanthropists of
ten years ago, who imagined that it was only
necessary to establish certain social and econom-
ical changes by authority Of government to en-
able the human race to sit down forever in hap
pinets and contentment. Whatever Lord John
Russell NAY now think, or may formerly have
thought, about the fnaty Of Parliamentary reform,
in this address he wholly disclaims any belief in the
6nallty of human improvement. The lot Of man i'
labor; and it is, so he declared, just Is much the
duty and the destiny of men possessing the advan-
tases and position Of the members Of the Assoeis-
ton before which he was speaking, to go on labor
ing, diligently and perpetualy, for the improve
ment of the laws for the extension and diffusion Of
education-which formed the second special topic
Of Lord John Russelis dscourse-for the improve
ment of primitive discipline, and for the improve
ment of the public health, thereby securing to the
country all the advantages Of vigorous and EN-
ciert race Of men; it was just a. much the duty
and destiny of men holding such position and
possessing such endowments a. those he addressed,
to labor on from day to day, and year to year, and
generation to generation, for the promotion Of these
objects. as it was for Others to spend their lives
in the field or the factory, or At the forge.
On the second day of tho session. there was an
address from Lord Brougham on the subject OF
Popular Literature, in which he held to and Illus
trated the doctrine that after al, sefeducasioa