New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-09
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.


EAnLY DISCOVERY OF MIGHTY LAw"-GEN.
srRacuxY ExpoUNDs AND DEFENDS DARwIN's
TEAcgINGs. |tl
JfRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
BRIsroL. Aug 27.-Of all the papers read yester-
day--and their name was legon--in the different
sections those of Prof. Balfour Stewart and Gen. ]
Straehcy were by common consent the most interest
ing. Common consent must be arrived at in this
Gaze by looking over the reports in the newspapers
Of the following morning IL is physically mpossi-
Die for one 10 hear many papers on one day. The
meetings of the sections all going ON at the same
time, aud you must 60 where your ruling passion
if passion there be in scence-takes you Even the
opening sectional addresses-the star performances
of the meeting-are given simultaneously this year;
plan clearly inferior to that followed last year at
Belfast and to extent the year before al BRAD
ford, where the more distinguished men came INTO
action ca 6hcoa The sections are seven In number
IS follows: A. Mathematical and Physical Science;
b. Chemical Science; e. Gcclogy ID. Biology, with
two sub-departments, Anatomy and Physiology ana
Anthropolcey; Z. Geography; +. Economic Science
and Statistics; G.. Mechanical Science. Each
section is Differed with President. half
dozen vice-Presidents. four five Seer
taries and Committee Of a dozen or more
pretty GOOD audience by themselves if they all at
tended, Which they don't. II is not uncommon for
eight or ten papers to be down on the list for readHg
each morning in each section, with debate or TAX
on each should any Of the rank and Tile feel calico
on to make remarks. solid mornings work TO SIT
through even of the nine meetings, is 1t not
But there good many energetic people VINO
contrive to attend three four sections or more IN
the course Of the morning, picking out the papers
that to theIn are most attractive This is made al
tho more difficult by the distribution OF the lee
ture-rooms along the slopes of an extremely
steep hill all the way from the Royal Hotel at the
bottom in Eristol to the Victoria Rooms III Clifton,
which are tho General Headquarters OF the Associi-
ton. The meeting is in fact more IN Clifton than IN
Bristcl trough Clifton, once suburb OF Bristol,
is now municipality absorbed into the main town, but
still perchcd high in the air rs ever The street
by which You must pass from ore end to the other
lies In blaze of sunlight at the horr we must
ell traverse it, 1t is steep to descend end sleeper
still TO climb and altogether the admiration Of the
members Tor the general arrangements made by iher
quartermas.ers is not very great The Old adage no
longer hollis. Truth does not lie at the bottom OF
we'll nor even at the bottom of hill, but all mp and
down its craggy Sides. And science does not seem
particularly strong in the legs. Yet very likely the
best thiug possible has been done. Bristol was not
built with view to meetings of the British Associa
tion Il lies about in careless way which is more
picturesque than scientific; or once was. before the
sbo,piosti ons called modern improvements Ger |
away ihe most delightful monuments of less pro-
sale age than the present. The effect of setting mp
city on such geological formation as that which
underrs Bristol is instructively shown in the cab
bores the most gaunt and haggard beasts that ever
went between shafts and with curious develop
ment of the muscles of the launches The cabs bear
equal evidence of hard uphill work, and altogether
the scientific stranger who is III hurry prefers to
walk
What called papers moment ago, shoud have
described as addresses The distinction is this:
Papers arr read the routine work of the sections.
Addresses are the more ambitious performances by
the Presidents Of the sections with which the pro-
ceedings OF each are ushered in. l detected one
scientific nan 10 saying inangurated but he was
Surtly hooted for it, and had to take it back Dr. Bal
four Stewards was solar spots, which seems
modest title enou gh, though not assudionsly humble
rs DR.. Carpenters "Piece of Limestone" on which
he is to give a lecture in ColSton Hall.
In fact, DR.. Stewards address sngular,y
compact and luminous exposition Of tie discoveries
during the last ten years 80 in solar astronomy.
If that be the proper term. The advance III our
knowledge within tlat period has been extraordi-
nary and no lan, suppose, is more competent than
DR.. Bafour stewart to sum il Up. His address Is n
nodel of condensed statement, closing with hint
that we are on the of gieat diSc0very-Of some
momentum addition to The knowledge we possess OF
the physical action of the heavenly bodies and of
their relation to the earth and Influence upon tie
earth-the solution to not few terrestrial and as
Economical problems. Dr. Stewart says:
II canno. 10 Goubted that great generalization is
looping in TIE dstsncea mighty law, We cannot yei
tef what that Will reach US We cannot yet say when
scarcely received such because they appear opposed
10 oar present knowledge taoir causes. u is not
ton beyond certain point bay we ought not TO fosGi
that hasten it, and that is orr duty 10 do So 1t
depends mUch ourselves, resolution, orr car
pe'tnt c scientific policy adopt, as well IS on
tne power may have 10 devote ourselves to spcai
INVESTIGATIONS whether snch advent shall he realized
IN dly and generation. or whciE'r It shall be ndti
nely postponed II governments would understand tne
ultimate material advantage o. every step forward IN
science, however In lie able each may appear for The
inoaG1 to .re wants 1f e. % % ohey r sS
brDrng tho wealth OF mind now lost on the dri%ciy
OF common la,oTs. tho search for those
lrOus laws which govern every movement not only ci
the mehty OF orr SYSTEM but oI every atom dis
tibuted throughout space.
1t was in the Geographical Section, oddly enough,
thai the irrcprcssible conflict between Science and
Orthodoxy do not say Ra;gion first broke ont this
week. Here tho President, Gen. Strachey, deliv-
cred an address Of very abstruse character for the
most part, on the science of physical geography.
He has enlarged tie ordinary meaning Of the word
till II is made to include geology and physiology and
biology and some other rather large subjects. The
address embraces among other matters a Darwinan
argument for Evolution AMI the doctrine of Natural
Selection il stated in its most mpgehelsive form.
The General says:
Prolonged over great extent Of time, 10 supplies the
key to the complex system of forms ctder
found in the fossil state and xlans the relations
among them. and the manner In which their Distribution
10 the cncnsOn that the directing forces winch nave
been efficient in developing The existing forms OF Ire
eessve external conditions, including both The forms of
land and and the character Of the climate wnca
a1yh IN m