OCR Rendition - approximate

472 Miscellcanea. [Sept. ment and the Geographical Section are open to the same charge ; but in the latter respect the case is very different. The leading anthropologists are physiologists, geologists, or geographers, and the proceedings of the department are largely indebted to their special knowledge. Geography is apt to receive light from every department of science, and to give no less than it receives. This is not the case with Section F : it stands detached from all the other Sections, except in regard to a few subjects which might severally be banded over to one or other of them. " A notable evidence that its work is alien to that of the Association generally is to be gathered from the fact that in the i 12 lectures that have been given since the system of two annual lectures to the Association generally was first established in 1842, not a single one has been on either a statistical or an economic subject. Other evidence to the same effect is the small number of reports on statistical or economic subjects that have proceeded from Committees appointed by the General Committee to make investigations, and who receive grants of money to defray the cost of making them. It appears that in the nine years 1867-75 inclusive* there have been upwards of 2 5o reports, referring to perhaps 2 zo different subjects. Only four of these appear to be strictly appropriate to Section F, namely :-Pressure of Taxation on Real Property ; Sewage ; on Arrangements connected with the approaching Census; and on combinations of Capital and Labour.f " It would appear from all this that the subjects commonly brought before Section F cannot be considered scientific in the sense of the word that is sanctioned by the usages of the British Association. Also that as the Section is isolated and avowedly attracts much more than its share of persons of both sexes who have had no scientific training, its discussions are apt to become even less scientific than they would otherwise have been. On the other hand, any public discredit which may be the result of its unscientific proceedings has to be borne by the whole Association. " Stress must also be laid on the fact that it is important to keep the number of Sections as small as possible ; for difficulties have arisen in almost every place of meeting in finding accommodation for the number that exist, while, owing to the rapid extension of science, pressing claims arise from time to time for new Sections. " In conclusion, it must be recollected that the suppression of Section F would be little, if any, sensible hindrance to the progress of Economic Science and Statistics, because those subjects now find a more congenial and appropriate home in the Social Science Congress. The diversified topics included in the list of subjects already given can be distributed among its sections, each to one most competent to discuss it. There will always be a larger gathering of experts in these subjects at the Social Science Con gress than can ever be assembled at the British Association ; and * " The year 1876 is omitted, because the Report for that year had not been issued at the time when these remarks were written. t " The Metric Committee is excluded, as being quite within the functions of Sections A, B, or 0, and indeed of other Sections.