On Wednesday the meeting of the British Association at Ipswich
was opened by the usual presidential address delivered by Sir Douglas Gallon, who, to use Lord Kelvin's words, has been " for a quarter of a century the mainstay of the British Association." Sir Douglas Galton's address was in no sense sensational or epoch-making, but its review of the progress of science contained some interesting facts. Perhaps the most quotable passage is that in which he dealt with the future of aluminium. If, by meana of the wasted forces in our rivers, or of the wind, the extraction of aluminium be still further cheapened, the metal or its alloys may, he holds, not only be utilised in increasing the spans of our bridges, and in affording strength and lightness in the construction of our ships, but " we may hope to obtain a material which may render practicable the dreams of Icarus and of Maxim, and for purposes of rapid transit enable us to navigate the air." We regret to have to add that the strain of reading his address proved too great for Sir Douglas Galton's strength, and that he had to resume his seat before the end was reached. We are glad to think, however, that his indisposi- tion was but temporary.
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