New-York tribune., 1867-09-20

in a different town every year. This year Scotland
is distinguished by the presence of this learned
and enterprising body. Many persons, even in
England, confound this association of the eight
wOrded name with nine-wOrded Olsh0Ot of
1T. BE it known therefore. to all whom it
may concern, that "The British Association
for the Advancement of Science" is society, and
The National Association for the Promotion of So
cial Science" is another. The British Science SOci
ETY., for brevty name it, and which meets to-day
in Dundee was founded III 1881. The Social Science
Society was set foot IL years ago by Mr.. G.. Wood
vat Hastings. The b. 5. 5. has had a new President
every year-the n. S. S. has had Lord Brougham for
its continuous President from Its formation until last
year II is the older, the original and more celebra
ted and important association" The British" whose
proceedings now chronicle.
It's history is odd. The Association no how,
and it has gone in the same way. 1t has, however,
done good service, and is effective STILL and
siOnally brilliant. About the year 1923 certain men
OF science in Germany began to meet together, take
tea, and talk on science annually. After observing
this wholesome pacific habit for eight years, 1t oc-
CURED to Sir David Brewster that Engshnen might
do that, and he suggested to John Phillips OF the
Philosophical Society of York that he should invite
about 100 philosophers to meet III YORK, ana see II the
German idea could be acted upOn. Three hundred
and fifty invitations out. and Curator Phillips
paced the gardens of the Philosophic Society
the day preceding the meeting awaiting the
tumultuOuS arrival of crowd of the $50 SdrGnS.
Only four persons appeared and these were personal
friends of the Curator, who had probably come out
of compassion to see If he was all there himself.
meeting somehow got itself held. Lord FitZwilliam
was appointed President, and every year since the
Association has assembled in one or other of tho
CHEF towns or cities OF Great butan WIN mcreaS-
ing numbers success, reputation, and usefulness and
now the Wise Week., as it Is called. III which the
philosophers meet is renowned in the annals of the
town distinguished by the presence of the members
of this eminent Association. Six times Scotland has
been hOnored by the Association taking up It's high
discourse within Its borders. The fourth meeting OF
the Society was held in Edinburgh in 1884. The
tenth meeting was held in Glasgow in 1870 Inc
twentieth meeting was again heid IN E9r
inburgh GS50l when Sir David Brewster, himself
a ScOtchmau, and the originator of the Association.
appropriately made its President on the occasion
The twentyttth aSSemblage OF the British Science
Society lS5jl was again convened In Glasgow and
in 1859 the twenty-ninth annual meeting was ceie-
brated under royal auspices in the ancient city of
Aberdeen, when the Prince COnsort (AlDerp presided
The association now returns 10 ScotandAgan select,
ing Dundee for its sixth appearance. What would
SIR Walter Scott say to tins Scotlsh actlNlty ol
science, WHO resisted the introduction o. gas lnto
Edinburgh as an impractfCablc, dangerous, ana un-
desirable innovation Science III Great Britain Is
nevertheless, northern product. AS 1t Is IN Amer
lea, so it is in Great Britaln-the energy and lnte-
lect are northern. The south here IS stately luNu-
TiOuS, territorial somnolent and not much gwen 10
believe in science, which commerce and progress
needs so much, and values so Justly and highly
Sir ROdeiick Murchison. the veteran men II OF the
association is q Scotchman and so have been the
chief leaders of the Society, and IN England the
northern counties have furnished its abiest support
ers. 1t was York, and not Oxford where the nativity
of the association occurred Trne, the Cony nybeareS
and Bucllands of Oxford, and nest of fertile and
hcretica biologists settled in Oxford afforded the
association bold and early support.
constitute remarkable and entertaining history OF
the progress of science during 30 years One OF the
merits of the Society is that the most eminent men
of the day induced to occupy It's chair and sue
cessivey deliver comprehensive and historical adj
dress setting forth the position and achievements OF
science down to that hour OF all the addresses de-
lvered in the long series alluded to, that of Prince
Alberts beyond all question the cearest, aboSt,
and most popular. With good deal of truth and
some satire he called Scotland the bare back bone
of the gobe' Rabeais could not have said it better
IIe defined science as the knowledge OF what we
know-the consciousness of human knowledge. lie
wisely told the Association that " 1T was popular
association inviting the uninitiated-the public at
large 10 Join it, This is precisely what the great AS
sOciatiOn would become. In one sense science Will
never be popular. It's necessary care It's caution ITS
modesty, its patience, Its reserve, ITS streness, IN
vOlve qualities that at any rate are lar from beng
universal. The man of science Will be ever retired
aborer but these meetings should be the means OF
pOpuarZing the results thus attained, and should do
il. SO far the Prince was right.
The managers of this association are chiefly oxford
men, and il Is wonderful TO American how far Ok
ford teachers are behind the world Nothing created
moves 50 slowly IS an Oxford man. Inc BRUSH as
sOciation owes everything 20 the press which records
its proceedings and npses abroad lis tane-or fthcr
makes its fame. Within 10 days the press OF New
York will proclaim ITS proceedings IN Dundee. Inc
association itself publishes record of Its proceedings
but il viii be September 1868, before such record APP
pears. On my way to Dundee, stopped at town
on the Scottish border, at the house of Inembe 81
the association, and while was there, the post dc-
livered the volume of the lransact9hs OIL tne a as
sociation in Nottingham last year. held August lo6
When old CaXtOn had only wooden press, ne "oulI
have brought out the volume months eaTer-and
this is the celety OF action on the part Oi aSociey
for the advancement of social science.
No one can hear of this association from one ehd
of the year another. II annually appears to drop
down from the clouds. Nobody knows whence 1t
comes or whittier it goeth. After 81 years II has no
Office in LondOn-no place where ITS transactions are
kept representation OF which the public are con
scious In Flect-st., London, in the midst OF that
maze of buildings where DR.. johnson hved ana wan
dered, Mr.. Spottisw0ode, the treasurer and printer
of the association is supposed 10 buTrow lis place
Of IL
sage And when attained the reference is TO place
still more inscrutable, where what you want was
never heard of within the memory OF any one there
The room where poor ChattcTtOD, the unfortunate
and precocious poet poisoned himself oycrooks the
place and any one would be glad to 90 likewise VINO
had to trace the vital point of the British Association
Every wear they invite the eminent men OF science
of foreign countries to attend and take part IN their
annual proceedings. But short time ago the Sec
retary was using an address book which had not
been revised for twenty years. lhe result was tlat
the Association was inviting dead professors VINO
in these days of spirtuaisn might he able 10 come,
but who certainly never hitherto appeared. Other
philosophers had "gOne away anu leit no addicss,
and not few heard OF the invitation 10 attend one
or two years after the meeting waS over. NOpouy
but philosophers could afford TO act III TINS way
But their own merits when they do speak atohcs
for all and the activity Of the press makes no FOR Their
eccentric Deficiencies II. however. speaks hlghIy
for the love and popularity OF science; that tho meet
ings Of the Association, wherever held, arc WeIi
attended much applauded and moro valued. what
interesting results wOuld follow If sOmo benevolent
business men would take the philosophcre IN hand.
and do the work Of organization aud publicity Tor
them are incalculable.
The Ahcnoum makes violent attempt this week
TO add interest 10 the present gathering OF tho
friends of science by telling the world that Dundee
contains 90 900 honest bOdiosthat the bank of tho
Jay have sand terraces that Perth was formerly
jealous Of Dundcc-tbat the town burned witches
that CaverhOuso wns not so bad as ballads paint
hin--thnt Lord Kilsyth married widow who lost
her wedding rinR-tb0t the tombsioues are very
1afterinR 10 the ladies. and that East Gate where
Wshart preached bns been preserved in honor Of the
brave missionary which is the best thing In the