The meeting of the British Association this year at Notting-
ham can hardly be called a success. The speech of the Presi- dent, Mr. Burdon-Sanderson, fell on dull ears ; and the idea, in itself sound, of contributing to science rather than to public entertainment was carried too far. Except Captain Williams's paper on Uganda, not one has excited any general interest, and there has been a singular deficiency in those careful descriptions of the precise position of any science which have so frequently wakened up ordinary men to careful thought. The managers should, we think, look to this next year, when Oxford will be the place of meeting, and Lord Salisbury the President. They have a double function to perform, The first, no doubt, is to advance science as far as it can be advanced, by inter-communication among scientific men, but the second is to arouse such general interest in science that the minds which are fitted for such study will be inclined to devote themselves to it. To obtain the ablest in any pursuit we need a vast reservoir of men who are more or less interested in it. You cannot have your Napoleon of science without an army to draw him from, and the work of increasing the area of recruiting is not unworthy a great association. Of course, "interesting papers" often add little to positive science; but, then, neither do music and banners and fine uniforms add to military force. But they bring recruits, without which such force remains latent and useless.
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