OCR Rendition - approximate

1877.] Economic Science and the British Association. 475 method has already gained many of its most signal triumphs. It would seem to be a degradation of the British Association that the subjects of Section F-the whole subject of the life of man in communities-although there is a scientific order traceable in that life, should be excluded from notice. " ` Although to all appearance there has been some want of consideration in the suggestion to the British Association, the origin of it has no doubt been a natural one, and to a certain extent the Council can sympathise with the motives of it. Many unscientific papers have been brought before Section F, and these have been reported and discussed to the neglect of really scientific papers on other subjects. Section F is probably exposed more than any other section to the invasion of people interested in its subjects who have no scientific knowledge or training. Its subjects are also those of practical politics and philanthropy, and this brings to the discussion people who are politicians and philanthropists, but who are not men of science. For the same reason, the discussions on such subjects, whether scientific or not, are likely to be better reported than purely scientific discussions. Hence the irritation, which this Council can understand, among the members of a scientific body. But a sufficient remedy for what is evil in these tendencies would seem to be provided in the other recommendations of the Committee of the British Association, viz., to devise and apply rigorously most stringent rules against the admission of unscientific papers. In this work the Statistical Society would be disposed to co-operate, as it has co-operated in past times. There would probably still remain a proclivity to unscientific discussion, and the excessive reporting of unscientific discussions which could not be wholly removed ; but in exchange for this evil, it must always be remembered, scientific men have a better opportunity in this section than in any other of communicating some notion of scientific method and its value, and of the conclusions of scientific study, to the unscientific multitude. If the British Association is to exist for the ' advancement of science,' it cannot but fulfil its end in making politicians and philanthropists generally aware of the necessity of scientific method and knowledge in their favourite subjects. ` With regard to your second question, 'Do they see their way to suggest any practical means for maintaining the scientific position of statistical and economic science ?' the Council of the Statistical Society has not thought it necessary to come to any resolution. It is practically answered by the answer to the first question. The more the Statistical Society does to effect the object for which it was founded, the better it will maintain the position of statistical and economic science, and the continuance of Section F in the discharge of its proper functions will answer the same end. " ` We are, Sir, " ` Your obedient Servants, " ` R. GIEFEN, " ` HAMMOND CHUBB, Secretaries. " ` Dr. Farr, F.R.S.