New-York tribune., 1867-09-27
SCIENCE.
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCE |
MENT OF SCIENCE.


THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCE
MENT OF SCIENCE.
From Our Special Correspondent ,o.-
DUNDEE. Sept. G, 1867.
Dundee. where the Association meets this year.
is a town of promise, albeit ilatno splendid views
in it. as in Edinburgh, or Perth. few vessels lying
in the quay and the Tay rolling by the town. and an
area here and there give Dundee the semblance OF a
small Liverpool. Tho High-scho0l low, massive
classic building is the seat of three sections of the
Observation-Disclosures Chemistry, and Biology.
The ROYAL Exchange Buildings furnishes an accessl-
BILE and commodous Reception Room. The Albert
Institute $50 entitled in honor of the late frnce
Consort), is a new and picturesque building, occupy
ing a commanding space. and devoted to Ethnology
always the most popular department OF the Ass9ca-
tiOn. PanmuTe-st. Chapel is occupied with geology
"a subject which the churches have resisted long,
and Eucdst Chapel Ia street named after the great
Geometer) one of the old Scotch Independent meet
inC-hOuses is devoted to department OF rsing
interest-EcOnOmc Science. under the appropriate
n1deT Sir samuel Bakers care. Prof s. w. Thomson
prcsdes over Mathematical and Physical Science.
Prof. Thos. Anderson over Chemical Science. MI.
Archibald Goikie over Geology. Prot. Sharpey over
Biology. Prof Rankin over Mechanical science
Business commenced on "Wednesday evening at the
Kinnaird Hall pleasant and well-cOntriyed inte-
rior (outside Quakersh and soso bearing all sorts
of quaint devices inlad on the walls. such as rev
words TO fair faith The Scotch have 1alr
faith" but many words TO IT, LABOR c0nqnerS alI
things is another inscription. and also MuGh corn
much care "a maxim which deters nobody here IN
Scotland from getting rich who can Hear ana
hecdn another mOttO-a lacOmc alteTauon that
might he considered MS addressed to the audience.
The ladies their gayeSt dresses ana sln5llcst
bonnets. Indeed. their head-dreSSes might nave
been devised in the Economic Section; for there were
very few bonncts larger than an oyster shell. In
the streets crowds of wOTkncn, as bNgIt ana as
black as negroes with oil and SCOT. stood IN the
streets 10 watch the philosophers ana women Wlth-
,,,ftc or shoes
trasted with the bright plumage OF the ladies'. who
arTayed III every color OF hiaUNe ana magenta
which the researches Of Chemical Section have DIS
covered Flags were flying on hOuse-tOps. aud Dun
dee was decidedly lively. When the company were
cOngregatcd within the hlnnard Hail. II was gay as
horticultural show, for tho Dundee laSSles are not
wanting in cOmclincsS nor III Consciousness oi H.
Sir David Brew ster was one of the first nagnates
of the Association who took his seat by the Presi-
dents chair. For q moment he looked around the
brilliant assembly. which 81 years ago he called INTO
existence by his suggestion. Immediately Sir Dayids
face became pale. and gentleman standing 10y my
side called out, Help Sir David" Prof Baliour did
SO. The contortions OF coming lit were witnessed
by the meeting, and cOnsderato medical hands aid
the philosopher prostrate on the floor In a short
time Sir David was borne away from the platform.
Ii was to the credit of the meeting that no alarm
arose Very few persons stood mp. No lady left her
teat although Sir David lay upon tho front of the
stage, apparently dying. From his great age his
death was not improbable Happily, Prof. Phillips
soon able to ann uhce that Sir Dayld had been
Oyertakcn by mere falnting Mt, and was better.
Sir ROdcrck MurchisOn, who got his title out Of
Geology. wearing the Grand Cross of the Order of
ST. Stanaus took the chair on behalf of the Presi-
dent Mr. Grove. whom illness prevented being pres
ent. and handed the scat and resigned the Office Of
Presidency to the Duke Of Buccleugh. His Grace is
gentleman in his Gst year. Tan slendcrly built hc has
the Clerkly aspect yOu would look for in Secretary
of State. flesh tumOr Oh the forehead dctTactS
from his appearance little but his manners free
and bold. lie wore the star and Tlbbon OF the Order
of the Garter. Prof. Phillips sat his right. Sir
RodeTick MurchiSOn on his Graccs left. Prof. Phil
lips was the first Secretary of the Association He il
In n ~ q
He has himself the appearance of inc piece Of red
! sandstone. Sir ROdeIick lmpey MurchisOn. to whom
the Emperor Nicholas gave the order of st Stanaus
for his geological researches in ll>sia-was n soldier
fighting yimera IN Spain in lsU9. lie was at the
| battle OF COrunna and won renOwn for standing TO
hIs coors on bloody field. 1t is than half
a century since SlT ROdcTiCk, who was knighted in
1876 left the army. He is still hale and vigorous
cOurtly IN manners, heavy hand at compliment
speaks rather patIOnizngly of the rocks. q though
! he had in view TO bring nature forward and is ia
every sense the most ornamental member of the as
socatlOn. lie AT once broke out BtO praise of the
Duke OF BuccleugL-tOd us he tSir Iiodericl Impey)
| had been - years member and - years an at
tendant at annual meetings of the association, but
! never mao nc undertaken duty OueTOus OF so
! pleaSulablc as That OF adequately describing bis
! Graces virtues. The gallant gcologst always over
does does , compliment. If young ,MurchsOn as q
! graceful things TO the French. he would
have overcome more by his sentences than by
| ms sword. lie recovered himself q little when
! he came to the actual society around him. There
/ was Prof. Philips, as compact as stone Col Sykes,
/ NJ F., looking as fresh as when le camo home from
| India bali century ago; Sir David Brewster was
nearly himself again despite his faintng ft-lhe had
I Travelled that day frCm Inverness unattended and
had dned at Mr. BaXtcrs i. P) in haste so as to be
az the opening address,; and there was Sir Impey
himself, IN an excellent state of preservation and
others who had founded the association i'll 1e}l.
WhcTcupOn Sir ROdcIick exclaimed. he thought
membership of this Science Society good life in
vesiinent Science plainly conducive to longevity
and those who joined ticm might reasonably hope 10
1--we as long rs they had done
In due course the Duke of Bucccugh arose He
0ld not commence speaking; hc bust into words.
lhere was certain dash IN his manner and he shot
ms sentences at his audience : though they were
sent out from culyerin. HIS pronunciation was
ll1ck and reckless He IS evidently proud man
100 proud 10 be useful He said he had never written
an address, and he would not read one if hc had:
people would be sure TO think that be had borrowed
othti people ideas. Other gentlemen had ideas and
no Doubt wanted Them. Anyhow he would not
Ihunder them and retail their ideas aS his OWL lie
had written no speech, he had made no notes aud
ne would say what he could. An ancestor of his was
called the Bold Bucceugh but mono Of his race had
done a b0ldcr thing than that which he had under
taken IN accepting the Office OF President Of the Brit
!sh Association for the Advancement of Science All
ms was candid and courageous. but how abOut thc
nearer lie wishes and expects 10 hear from the
president a briof and lucid statement OF the
hIBhesJ results attained by science until
that date; and If the President does
not know it lie should get the information from
tose tnose who do The auditor docs not care where il
zones nom so that he lrars 1t. III the Duke had an
oDiaOe Scrnplc about appearing to know more thon
i o nc might name his infOrInanis, which wOuld
49, i hollor TO them and information 10 the nearer
lac il t1SS SS'NIHS glad 10 know the authority of what
1lo - iou Ibc Duke spoke in a conlidrnf srlf-nose
@IIc ~ 'ntU;io"ghy frank way. All this was admir-
TaSt ycar Mr. opt CIV IT. was not scientific ii9rmation
ard ;e 81. %io'e Tie eminent Queens counsel
,ii h s"!4 nc Whs nor accustomed 10 ieh speeches
pt ne thonght ti!at on such an occasion ,, was duc
20 the learned audience lac addressed tn ,. W, 4 IL o
uiwcighed iexpgcsSed thing and thcy,.t,r, be Ga
taken all the care lie could TO write ont ,y%t " h
would say, and hc produced address which ca ,v J
science TO higher point than il had before r
FIoi; Phillips followed the Dukc, and pronosed .
vote oi thanks to His Grace. and promptly se1eS
upon the one useful thing in the Dukes speech md
slid ne was glad. most thankful they all ought In
be to hear tho Duke express the opinion that the