present system, perceived practical objections to the appointment of assessors. The matter was referred back for reconsideration. The studies at the University, the distribution of University and College rewards, and the cost of University education, came also under consideration. It is undoubtedly the case that, up to the present time, the effect of the new measures recently introduced has been very small, so far as Cambridge is concerned. The Natural History sciences are, indeed, acknowledged, and examinations are held, at which those who have graduated may test their progress; but hitherto these are not the subjects for which scholarships and fellowships are granted. The general feeling in the University, and among University men, is not favourable to any fundamental and rapid change. It is fortunate that such is the case. The time has not come when Englishmen are to regard mere cram and the acquisition of facts, however important, as taking the place of cultivation of the intellect; and at present, at any rate, there is no department of science, not admitting of mathematical expression, that can be regarded as equivalent to the study of pure mathematics and grammar in preparing the intellect for the subsequent work of life, in the pulpit, at the bar, in medicine, or in the House of Commons. The Mechanical Section (G) was attractive and the papers important. It would be difficult to present a more admirable and practical illustration of the value of pure mathematics to practical men than that offered by the Astronomer Royal in this section, when illustrating the nature and direction of the forces concerned in the case of a tubular latticed bridge with a train crossing it. By a masterly resolution of a very difficult problem in pure mathematics, he showed how a set of extremely simple formulæ were deduced, which led to direct practical conclusions identical with those obtained by series of experiments, numerous, costly, and dilatory, by which alone our great mechanicians had practically determined the ordinary rules-of-thumb. The parts of the bridge that might with advantage be left weak, those where unusual strength was needed, and the necessity of enormous strength in the piers supporting the two ends, were illustrated in a simple diagram. Mr. Fairbairn and Mr. Scott Russell, who represent all that is most intelligent and bold among mechanicians, explained to the meeting the curious processes by which each for himself had worked at the mathematical problem in vain, and had then, by a series of trials, obtained, by an exhaustive process, a result resembling that here given. It would not be possible to show a more interesting and instructive example of the application of high mathematics to resolve a difficult practical problem. A memoir on Artificial Stones, by Professor Ansted, was the means of directing attention to a new material recently introduced by Mr. F. Ran This stone is so very easily and cheaply made, of any rough mineral matter that may be at hand, the process is so extremely rapid, and the resulting material is so uniform in its texture, moulds so admirably, and presents so smooth a face, that it is likely to supersede terra-cottas and cements. It is a curious instance of an important discovery arising out of experiments in another direction. Endeavouring to prove that he was able to preserve decaying stone, the inventor found himself manufacturing a substance that might well replace decaying stone. It is already being made on a large scale, some of the work of the stations of the Metropolitan Railway recently opened being constructed of it. It may well be supposed that unsinkable ships, projectiles and guns, and iron plates, would not escape discussion. Much good sense was shown in discussion, but there did not seem any very new views, the general conclusion being that the gun, as at present used, can throw a projectile that shall penetrate any armour hitherto made. Two excursions were made during the meeting. One, by the Geologists and Naturalists, to Hunstanton, in Norfolk, where there is an interesting cliff showing the bottom beds of the chalk, and the rocks coming out from beneath, and where some good fossils have been obtained. The other was by the Mechanical Section; the object being to see the works now nearly brought to a conclusion that are intended to remedy the evils caused by the recent destruction of the Middle Level sluice and the flooding of the Fens. A few hours after the party had left the Fens, another similar accident occurred, on a smaller scale than the first accident; but still one that it would have been interesting to witness in its early stages. The work of the general committee at the meetings of the Association involves the confirming the suggestions and reports of the council and the committees of recommendations, and the selection of the place of the next ensuing meeting. The money grants made at Cambridge were somewhat large, amounting to nearly £2,000. Of this sum the Kew Observatory, as usual, absorbs the lion's share. There is, perhaps, no work undertaken by the Association that has borne better or more important fruit than that connected originally with Terrestrial Magnetism, and afterwards carried over all departments of Meteorology. When the Association was originated at York, in 1832, the science of Meteorology was barely recognized. It has grown and flourished under the auspices, and has always been an enfant chéri, of the governing body at each successive meeting. Terrestrial Magnetism and Meteorology are, indeed, the branches of modern science that owe most to the Association; and when we say that nearly £1,000 were appropriated, at Cambridge, to keep up the Kew establishment and assist in investigations in the department of physics, including balloon observations, it will be evident that there is no falling off in this direction. Other grants are by tens, but these by hundreds; and, so long as there are no other means available, it is fortunate for the reputation of British science that such is the case. The position of the Association has greatly changed since the time when its meetings (then, at most, amounting to a few hundred members) were greeted with ridicule, and when its efforts were regarded as useless. It has long since fought its way to a position which enables it to command the attention of the Government when any important scientific object is to be attained, and by its Parliamentary Committee, and its Permanent Council, acting in concert with the Royal Society, it has already done much good. That the direct results have not been even greater, is not because its members have been idle. It is but a short time since the reasonable demands of scientific men for grants of public money to carry on investigations of pure science were first seriously listened to. They are now rarely refused, and this has arisen from the development of a combined action, mainly induced by the meetings of the Association and the bringing together of men from all parts of the country, earnestly and honestly pursuing similar investigations and discussing, with perfect freedom, the bearings of every question brought before them. A voice of this kind could not but be heard; and as the meetings have now been held, not only in each University, more than once, but in most large towns throughout the kingdom, and the members have always been received with open arms as public benefactors, their recommendations coming continually with more and more force. We have endeavoured to show in these few remarks that the variety of subjects embraced at the meetings is as great as the spirit of the Association is catholic. The range is, indeed, widening rather than narrowing, and this in spite of the vigorous branches that have been thrown off from time to time. There is, beyond all doubt, a spirit of vitality and an amount of energy developed that show no symptoms of decay; and as the original members, now old, are being well replaced by younger men rising into distinction, it is to be hoped that the stage of doubtful and weakened activity that supervenes on all societies when the founders suddenly quit the field and their successors are hardly familiar with their work, is now well passed, and that a long and useful future may be anticipated. PART II. SECTION AND SUB-SECTION d. ZOOLOGY, BOTANY, AND PHYSIOLOGY. Ar the opening of this Section on Thursday morning, October 2nd, the President, Professor Huxley, F.R.S., delivered an excellent address of one hour's duration, selecting for his subject, "The Condition and Prospects of Biological Science." Biology is the science which investigates the nature and relation of organized beings, and that comprehensive subject he divided into the following sub-groups. 1st, Morphology, or the doctrine of form and structure, including the almost new science of Development, for which we were chiefly indebted to the Germans; Anatomy and Histology, or the anatomy of the tissues; and Taxonomy, or the systematic classification of plants and animals. 2nd, Physiology, which takes cognizance of the vital functions, sustentative and generative, performed by organic beings. 3rd, Distribution, whether in time (Palaontology), or in space (geographical distribution). 4th, Etiology, or the laws of origination and variation, including the physiology of direct and indirect conditions. These were the objects of the science, and taking up each, seriatim, he dwelt upon the progress they had respectively made in the last half-century,—a progress which exceeded that made in all previous time; and would probably during the present generation yield still more startling results. In speaking of the laws of origination and variation, he referred to the work of Mr. C. Darwin, "On the Origin of Species," a work which he said was 66 as perfect in its logical method as it was accurate in its scientific facts," though he did not pledge himself to all Mr. Darwin's results. In conclusion, he stated that he felt bound to make use of his present position, to urge upon the University authorities the claims of biology as a recognized study, and the practical encouragement of it by the bestowal of some of those fellowships which were so ungrudgingly given for proficiency in mathematics and classics. As Professor Huxley had included both Universities in his appeal, Dr. Daubeny, F.R.S., rose, and stated that at Oxford such fellowships were given for natural science, as he could affirm (from his own knowledge) to be the case, at least at Magdalen College, to which he belonged. Rev. William N. Molesworth, M.A.: "On the Influence of Conditions of Existence in modifying the Characters of Species and Varieties." The author said that a theory which should combine all the observed facts of paleontology, distribution, &c., and scientifically grapple with the origin of species, had long been a desideratum; and, although he wished to appear neither as an advocate nor an opponent of Darwin, he believed that that gentleman had been unjustly accused of making a wanton attack upon beliefs and feelings which ought to be respected. He condemned the introduction of scriptural matters into scientific investigations, and urged that science need never come into collision with moral and religious truth. He thought, however, that there was a point on which Darwin might have laid more stress, viz., upon the changes which were continually taking place in the conditions of animal existence, and the necessity of the variations which arose out of those changes; so that the being might be able to keep in harmony with the conditions of its existence. The Rev. Professor Kingsley entirely concurred, as a brother clergyman, with what Mr. Molesworth had said about the ill-founded charge of materialism which had been made against Mr. Darwin. J. Crawfurd, F.R.S.: "On Colour as a Test of the Races of Man." Colour, in different races, appeared to be a character imprinted upon them from the beginning, because, as far as our experience goes, neither time, nor climate, nor locality has produced any change. Egyptian paintings, 4,000 years old, represent the people as they are now. The Parsees of India, who went from Persia, are now the same as when they migrated 1,000 years ago. African Negroes, that have for three centuries been transported to the New World, remain unchanged. The Spaniards settled in tropical America remain as fair as the people of Arragon and Andalusia. He contended that climate had no influence in determining colour in different races. Finns and Lapps, though farther north, are darker than Swedes; and, within the Arctic circle, we find Esquimaux of the same colour and complexion as the Malays under the equator. Yellow Hottentots and Bushmen live in the immediate neighbourhood of black Caffres and Negroes. There is as wide a difference between the colour of an African Negro and a European, between a Hindoo and a Chinese, and between an Australian and a Red American, as there is between the species of wolves, jackals, and foxes. Sir Charles Nicholson could not agree with Mr. Crawfurd's conclusions. The variety of the human races, as they now are, has, doubtless, existed for a long time; and tombs of very great antiquity showed this. But there is now in India a race of Jews perfectly black; and in China, the Jews had long become the same in physiognomy with the Chinese, though the Jews never intermarry with them. Among the natives of America there is an evident approximation to the Red Indian in physiognomy, for they were assuming the hatchet-face, and losing the beard. The same effect could be discerned among the European population of Australia; and Sir Charles stated his opinion that the question was to be settled on philological rather than on ethnological grounds. (The black Jews, to whom Sir C. Nicholson referred, are well known to be the descendants of Hindoo proselytes, and not of Jewish extraction, and they look up to white Jews as to a superior people.) The discussion of greatest interest in this Section was raised upon a paper, by Professor Owen, F.R.S., "On the Zoological Significance of the Brain and Limb Characters of Man; with Remarks on the Cast of the Brain of the Gorilla." The Professor exhibited two casts; one of a human brain hardened in spirits, the other taken from the interior of the cranium of a gorilla, and described the peculiarities of each. He remarked that these were so marked as clearly to distinguish them generically. In the brain of man the posterior lobes of the cerebrum overlapped the cerebellum (or smaller brain) to a considerable extent, whereas, in the gorilla, these posterior lobes did not project beyond the lobes of the cerebellum; that is to say, that in man the posterior lobes were prominent, whereas in the gorilla they were deficient. From long and close investigation into the characters of animals, he was convinced that the brain offered the most constant characters; and he had, therefore, proposed, in a paper read before the Linnæan Society, in 1858, to recast the mammalian groups-classifying them according to their cerebral development. Man, besides having a remarkable prominence of the posterior lobes, also possessed a part termed a posterior cornu, or horn, of the lateral ventricles, and another portion, termed the hippocampus minor, in this posterior cornu. The distinctions between this type of brain and that found in the other mammalia were so well marked that he had placed man in a distinct sub-kingdom. The brain he considered a far better guide in classification than the foot; but, nevertheless, as great difference was observable in the latter as in the former. Professor Huxley said that the paper just read in no way appeared to represent the real nature of the question under discussion, which he would state in another way. That question was twofold-one of facts, viz., What are the structural differences between man and the higher apes? and one of reasoning, viz., What is the systematic value of these facts? Professor Owen had now for several years made three distinct assertions respecting the first question of facts, assertions which he had repeated in the present paper. These assertions he had reiterated without modification or |