New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-10-16

BlR,uNGHAM Sept SO.-It is always desirable
where il is possible, to commence new Su~oce ~
being ineligible. In such case the reader Il n'
cares at all for the natter has chance OF tahnB an
interest in it, To this end let me say thaI my pre-
viOus letters from Norwich related TO the bltis AS
pociaton for the Advancement OF Science Inns
letter and one other to follow. relates to another
English associatiOn-the Social Science SOclety-
commonly known by the laborious title of tho Ma
tional Association for Promoting Social Science.
This society holds its twelfth annual meeting this
wear in birmingham, in which town write. At the
Norwich meeting some interest was excited among
the Professors by the appearance of THE NETWORK
TRIBUNE reporting the proceedings of National
Science Association if remember the name rightly,
meeting almost simultaneously in America. Pro
fessOr Wilson, whose province Is agricultural chem
istry in which department he has attained eminence,
is, | believe. the only Englishman who has been
officially deputed TO attend your Congress OF Science
You have social science societies also IN America
similar TO the being held here and ere long
you may expect populations from this country 10 at
tend them, rs hear yearly increased curiosity eA-
pressed to the state of what lmaY describe as co
parative sociology in America. :.
The Social Science Society very properly meets IN
Birmingham again, for 1t was III TINS t0Wll Univ IL
began its career. IL was here that LORD bIougnah
inaugurated il in 1851. Birmingham heeus lttio
descrIptlon 1t is an old midland work shop, stand
ing near the center of England; and Is immlllaIly
known as the toy shop of Europe III mas now
population of $4,000 inhabitants. IL Is MOI 'ao,e
cent undulaion in IT. No water, no bridge, no gIanu
scene. There regns pure inland monotony q uall-
fled by smoke and business There Is one oid muse,
The Old Crown House. sOunder to-day than any
new house in it, 800 years old Ii Is the property OF
an eminent Black Letter Lawyer, Mr. lOuiulh
Smith who ecured in your States thirty years ago,
and who is the most emineB writer OH mnnlclni
politics this country has produced. The town Is rich
in traditions and old English customs, ana tho Town
is growing conscious of its historic character; ITS old
buildings coming to be regarded, and It's famous
residents 10 be singled ont for memorials of honor IL
he SlOn England
sound of the anvil was, no doubt, heard here When
Julius Caesar landed The smiths and armorers OF
birmingham were famous III the middle ages. lie
very blood of the peOpe metallic and the old pride
in good work is Teyiving IN the town ITS ancient
FREQ Grammar Schools. IL has now graceful Free
library and magnificent Library of Reference, and
when the Centenary of Shakespeare was lately cee-
hrated. they established a Memorial Shakespeare
Room, dainty little chamber hlied Mlth inc oIuess
md latest editions and memorials of Shakespeare OF
all kinds, that love can collect or money purchase
birmingham men always were distinguished for
robust interest in public affairs Here the famous
Political Union formed which carried our Re,
form Bill in 1882 statue stands III Newest, OF
Thomas Atwood. the banker and leader OF the Union
He was the first member of Parliament OF the town
In those days the streets were filled with people
when Mr.. Atwood canvassed the town, and i saw
him kiss on an average 5000 women DAY, Wmle the
CANVASS lasted Mr.. Atwood had a talent for KISS
ing 1t is well that Mr.. Bright. the present senior
member for Birmingham. Is not under this necessity
and that personal canVaSSlng Is rcnqulshvd III lr-
mngham with its present enormous population
When John Bright OStraciSed ut Manchester and
was absent from England and ILL., Birmingham elected
The great Commoncr, and lie has remained member
fol Birmingham TO this day.
tec of mark john Hanson and 20 years it the
most imposing town hall in England. 1t stands upon
The only emintnce In the town, III PaTadlse-st--a
spot from which something pleasant was once 10 be
teen. though nothing is visible now. The hall has
much Of the staieiueSS and grandeur OF an OLD
Grccian temple. 1t was the first building that gave
the midland pOpnace the impression that art was
higher than man. Mr.. Hanson, who bnilt NJ also
built Harmony Hall at Queenwood, England for
Robert Owen, the only great COinmunistlc
building erected in this country The hall
will hold many thousands. 1t not much
more than half filled. In an ordinary hall the
audience would be deemed great. When the Social
Science met III London Lord Brougham delivered the
inaugural address in Exeter Hail. which holds 1000
persons. In such an area a large meeting OF social
philosophers seemed small meeting OF persons
Under our Reform Bill the town has three MEM
bes. and everybody is absorbed in the election which
Is near at hand. .
came upon the .ttornl. and was not known or was
not seen and therefore not greeted as he usually Is
Lord Lyttleton, Lord Houghton' and rev notable ne
persons silently took their seats, on tue evening OF
September 80, 10 hear the opening address by Earl
Carnaryon, the President for the year. ,...
ton than the Social Science Congress. The eXplr
ing President attends to introduce bis successor to
the Chair. At Norwich few weeks ago, the Duke
of Bueceugh presented himself to gracefully induct
DIR Hooker the new President This year no Lord
Duficrn appeared 10 resign his chair and consign il
TO the noble Earl whom he left TO get into the char
by his device lt was effected IN very pefemp-
tory way at last. Outside the town was damp. The
1t rested the heads of the passengers IN the streets
1t had made its way into the vast hail. and filled the
nninhabited corners with CHASTITY gray Just when
the appearance of an uneasy ghost from the spirit
world womb be- felt TO be the natural thing the pro-
ceeding commenced. Without sign, or sound. or
word from any one up jumped a Invisible gentle
man. who covered hastily his face with handful OF
fOliOs, and commenced reading with an impulSlye
energy, in which the words wero vigorously pushed
across the pages When the attention OF tie audience
was slowly concentrated upon the PLATFORM they dis
covered that the Right Hon. Henry Howard MOly-
neux Herbert, Earl of CarnarvOn had taken tho
chair. "
Earl Carnaryon with black hair, whiskers, and
mustache IL u some what slim, handsome, and agree
able gentleman. His voice. small aud clear. had the
merit OF being swift; bat for this quality he CONC 1
never have got through his protracted address dis
LnfShip used pages Of nearly quaro size, winch lie
held up 10 obscure his face TO the great disap-
pointsient of the ladies' who, not Interested III the
Treatment of the subject. might have been interested
In contemplating the speaker r.
Earl CaTnarvon made no attempt 10 dehne Social
Science nor even explain commend II IN any way.
His Lordship went straight at IT, aud straight into It,
Some subjects lie stated some he discussed but why
he took them rather than others or why he took
them at all, was not explained. ne reap WIN ceI
relieved those who listened IN tho hope that ~ woud
one day to an end And now and then he
paused to cough and did il in the pretlest metallic
way possible. The larynx tinlled like vesper bell
The audience rather admired II, and expressed APP
plause when Lord LyttletOn was named or Earl Car
nsryen. seemed to agree IN opinion win HIaaahy
was undoubtedly Intelligent and aimed 10 DO useful
He had pIanfestly thought upon every point ana he
introduced upward OF hundred Inc auuience uh.
dertOod all they could hear and cheeTed at the right
points. a,
SECOND hour of reading was waning the noble Earl
nologized for his immense occupation of their time;
but though the audience were delighted to think
that the inteTminable speaker was conscious of
tit brought no relief me speaker Ge read do oygry
when there arrived q nsreading by his lOrCship-