New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-09-05
THE BRITISH scrNcE ASSOCIATION.
ruIRTY-FOURTH ANNUAL MFETING-REMAFh-
ABLE INAUGURAL ADDRESS fHoN AHE
PRESIDENT, DIR. HOOKER.
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IIIRTY-FO

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reporting to You the progress OF science In England
after sv,allowjng rabbit or a sheep. some reptiles
bvbernate for six months but after swallowing two
oesociotions British and Social Science Ass0Gia
tions-I have found it needful to hypernate for
twelve months Now my appetite isrenewed Science
Is difficult of digeston-taken in large quantities
"The British Association for the Advancement of
Science"-a name long enough TO give any one dyS-
pepsia holds its thirty-fourth Annual Congress IN
the ancient City of NOrwiCh-the old capital of East
Anglia. AS you travel TO it from London. you pass
on the route took Cambridge the seat OF the UNI
versty which all Americans visit and where MI
Lopgfellow has lately been. Lower down upon the
Eastern Counties line you arrive at Ely-anolher
cathedral city Of note age and interest Alterwaru
yol run through the famous fen country which bred
Oliver Cromwell and other impossible republicans IN
the healthy days Of England. Norwich lies down
here-a famous old city, with cathedral, castle, and
10 end of churches rich the dainty architecture of
the middle and earlier ages and nnumerable quaint
old hospitals of the aims house species Norwich is
fine old CITY with population of $4,000 persons not
able for picty and ignorance of letters-the pOpma-
tion being VIGOROUSLY weak III what is now called
Technical education"
The Mayor of Norwich Mr. Colman celebrated
manufactures of mustard a pleasant, weli-sIoKeh
Mayor, tells story that he was lately crossing "
France III the Dover boat when stranger o. al IN
curing tum of mind, accostcd INN, ana asker mn
whence he procured an eNGeIleht coloIi'y =; i~os
he was displaying. (ie does not say wnaS II T us
from which il may be inferred 10 DC muStaIuI 1 f
Mayor replied with PRIDE !. DIS ISIS III sfranSc ~
.. ber yonr pardon for not knowing: have ouly at
rived ron America three days and never heard OF
it before ms c thn Rr;tsb ASSOCIATION that he
believed Norwich was unknown In America; IN lne
course of these reports trust to correct TINS niue
omission in the Typographical knowledge OF me
TaaJers of TUE TRIBUNE If any are in the condition
of the stranger who encountered the Mayor OF Nor
witch. ,c, ,.abr+bo
universal suffrage of Europe, met yesterday August
10 On arriving at the suburbs OF NorWlch tlt tiS-
itor observed the cattle-pens to be cieahly WINE
voshcG This was taken to be a compliment To the
"philosOphers" But it has no such dcIcate 0rlgln.
Itbas ben done through terror of the cattle plague;
tbe plague of science rs unknown IN the CITY, OF he
inhabitants had probably whlteWashed against thdC
On church steeples and from house windows nags
waited and streamers hung IN the stll not arr uSts
oecurs when the ROYAL Agricultural Cattle snow de-
scended in August upon provincial city nave no
doubt the majority OF the people thonght the niaSr
Association company OF graZlerS' SO ihaIy
odd INQUIRIES are made to what KIND OF people
were invading this guiet clerical preserve m
The city has acquired an air OF anlulatlOh' ne
ladies' have Joined IN great numbers as the getle-
men and they certainly are for more picturesque
Students of science Norfolk beauties have fame of
their own and they appear likely to sustain IT, Inc
brilliant women who Jhrong the sections glahce az
the professors with eyes so bright that 1t is very
difficult even for philosophers TO concentrate lhelr
ideas under such a battery OF beauty. ,
The inaugural address by the new President was de-
Gvered i'm the Drill Hail. situated in the Chapel flelds
over which n splendid floral show Is spread, open
to ali members of the Association The Drill Hall
is well suited for scenic effect. and has been adorned
with taste. Around it hang the names of every
President of the Association, and underneath the
date of the year when each filled the char OF science
Long and low, the Hall holds 1000 persons but 1t has
no acoustic merits Nohvlng philosopher mas a'oice
which can be heard throughout 1T.
The reporters were accommodated with two long
desks lying under the platform. and spanning the
whole body of the meeting. The outerrow of writers
were hanked by gracious row OF robust Englsh
ladies' beautiful ana vlgaht dhs TIA np Hai
crowded, made n current OF ar welcome; put THESE
ladies delivered such continuous ana deteiInG I
stream of cold blast from their fans that whole
row of the gentlemen of the press persplIlng AUD
fatgued were subjected TO crck in the neck, when
impaired to them air OF steady attention 10 ther
duties Tho Duke of BuCcleugh very courte0usly
attended to resign his chair, and personally lnduct
the new President into it. The noble speaker, he
did at Dundee repudiated notes and made one of his
abrnpt hearty, and cordial speeches. lie apologlzed
for his special unacquaintance with sciences and
limited at his regliOns fear OF lt-and then DT
Joseph Dalton Hooker took the chair with
great reclamation. 1t was lett last year
at Dundee that the British Association asserted the
Tghtful dignity of science when II took leave OF
dukes and elected man from Its own ranks TO us
chair and trusted its fortunes to the republican ds-
tnctiOn of genius and this year 1T has been well re-
paid Dr. Hooker is a son of Sir William Hooker,
formerly Director of the Royal Gardens OF Kew.
He has almost crcumnavigated the world in the
search of science, and has succeeded to more than
the renown of his father. lie went out IN the Ere
bus lone of the vessels with which Slr John FRANK
time he went out to India with Lord Dalhouse. He
explored China and New-Zeaand. He has enconn-
tered sickness, peril and captivity IN his pursuits
and has written books of European repute. But the
public knew not, they learned tonight, that
he had the courage as well as the capaclty
of science; that research has not OVERLAND
the energy of his genius, and that he is
master in the fields which. he explores
DIR. Hooker is spare, pleasant-looking gentleman
apparently about 80 years OF age. wearing specta-
Giles as he spoke added TO that learned leanneSs
which seems attribute of science. The new Presl
dent read his address using action save that OF
the tremulous vibration of his wlde-dlstended Wills
kers, which gave a shadOwy and an undulatOTy en-
phasls to his periods. Confused III the dark back
ground of crowded platform, in that inartstlc way
which only scientific association permits, the Presl-
dents slim figure was hardly dlscelnlDle
TO the audience. who nothing save a
reading figure and an opening mouth. But
those who could hear forgot everything of
detail IN following that insurgent discourse.
DR. Hooker abOunded in compliments to his col
leagues. The names of these SarGRs were not intro
ducod-they were pulled into the address, for the
Botanical President was not IN his earlier passages
graceful manipulation of sentences and had no sliding
scale In his paragraphs. But he mentioned no one
needess.y and was not protTacted-lt oDtrusye III
his praise. If, however. he delayed the advance OF
his narrative of Science the learned Doctor made
his audience acquainted with the names of those to
whom the friends of Science are indebted for the
trumphs which they valued; and II is rlghttu
thing that the leader who has climbed to the
front should bring forward those unn0ted
labOrers who prepare the way Tor veto
lies that their successors will achieve Dr.
Hooker spoke with the dignity and authority of
science. He complained of governments who were
supine as to the advancement of scienCe-mOurned
schOOlmasters innocent of botanical knowledge
and honOTaby Teviled towns and cities destitute of
public parks, and nStaUCed the City Of Norwich as
one of the defaulteTs. He had candldly and boldly
nvowed at the outset that lie should come in due
course to DaTwlnisn, and when lie did so ms style
rose to eloquence and expanded into grace All his
wealth Of scientific Discrimination all his pTactlced
power of criticism were layished on Dr. Darwin,