The publication of these reports, of which Professor Traill here speaks, is one of the features by which the British asso iation is distinguished from its German model. The association has been blamed for this deviation. That which it does, it is said, the encyclopedias had done before; the articles of the metropolitan encyclopedia, for example, upon different branches of the positive sciences, are full and satisfactory, the savants, who wrote them, are reckoned among the first of the country. This observation may be perfectly just, without presenting any ground of disparagement to the value of "the Reports on the Progress of Science," which the association publishes. An encyclopedia cannot follow the march of the human mind, and show at every instant the point at which it has arrived, as the barometer indicates the fluctuations of the atmosphere in which it is placed. It is only by means of summaries which appear from time to time, prepared by the cultivators of particular branches of science, that the amateur savant, who takes interest in the efforts and conquests of the human mind, can keep up with its progress, or even the philosopher who, drawn by his researches into a special branch of general science, has hardly time to follow, step by step, the advances made in the related branches.

The reports of the association deserve the characteristic of valuable, which Mr. Traill gives them. They are generally faithful labors, accurate compilations, as well of English as of continental and American scientific publications. This is a justice, which none can refuse to render to them. Hence it is not the reports, but the association which makes and publishes them, that is attacked. This labor, it is said, might be done by the Royal Academies, and the other societies, which, under different names, are so numerous in the United Kingdom, and in other parts of Europe. It would be difficult to deny the truth of this assertion. It is very evident that the academies might from time to time make digested reports on the state of science. But, unfortunately, they do nothing of it. The Academy of Sciences of the Institute of France, the first learned body of the world, as Mr. Babbage calls it in his paper "on the decline of science in England," ought every year to publish a report upon the labors of its members. The president was required to make such an annual report before leaving the chair. For many years, this regulation of the academy was observed. But, by degrees, this usage, which made work for the president, where he was looking only for honor, fell into disuse; so that last year, when one of the most respectable of this learned body called it to mind, the

president declared that he knew nothing of it, and that he had made no preparation for it. In this way, the public would gain nothing, and it has cause, therefore, to be grateful to a society, which gives them important scientific summaries, even should it be considered somewhat derogatory to its dignity.

Another feature of the British association, distinguishing it from the scientific congress of Germany, is thus commented upon by Mr. Traill:

"The circulation of desiderata in different branches of science, is another peculiarity in the publications of the British association. The attention of these cultivators, thus drawn to the principal deficiencies in each, has already filled up various chasms in the paths of intellectual exertion, and stimulated to inquiries that cannot fail to lead to important results."

The association has been rebuked through the leading journals, for uniting to mark out a course for men of science to follow, in making their researches. It has been accused of vanity, in pretending to determine what are the questions most important to be solved. But if the British association, which counts among its members all the most distinguished philosophers of the United Kingdom, is not authorized to judge of the importance of a question of natural philosophy, if the union of so much talent cannot point out the way to be taken most quickly and surely to attain the object of the journey, where could this knowledge be obtained? Ought the British association servilely adopt the regulation of the German society? As the latter requires no particular researches, must the former do the same ? Compare the organization of the two societies: one declares that it will preserve nothing; the papers communicated to it are returned to their authors, before the end of the session. The expenses are borne by the members present. It has no capital, and consequently no power. For the most unpretending philosopher of Germany, will always prefer the labor of hatching his own ideas, to the gratuitous developing of those of others.

The British association, though not rich, is sufficiently so to compensate its members for the labors required of them. The extensive circulation of its reports is, moreover, a guaranty against negligence; the members of the association have a less direct interest in sparing each other, than those of an academy would have. In making known a desideratum, and in trusting the solution of it to a person acknowledged competent, everything is done which can be done; perfection is no more the prerogative of a society, than of an individual. The British as

sociation, moreover, has proved that its only object is to extend and purify the cultivation of science. When it supposes that a question proposed, can be better treated by a stranger, than by a compatriot, it forgets that it is English, and remembers only that it belongs to the scientific world. Messrs. Agassis of Switzerland, Dumas of France, Liebig of Germany, were entrusted with reports upon questions in which there was nothing local. Does not this circumstance do honor to the English savants. Does it not prove also that coteries have less influence than in the academies.

One of the most important objects of the academy of science. in France, is, from time to time, to give instructions to expeditions or to individual travellers, sent to explore countries but little known. These instructions have led to several discoveries, and have singularly hastened the demonstration of certain facts, which could not have been proved, or even suspected, until a much later period. We may cite as examples, the intensity of the magnetic force, as is seen by the report upon "the magnetic intensity of the earth," published in the volume which contains the proceedings of the association, in their session at Liverpool, in 1837. "It is to France," observes Major Sabine, the author of the report, "we owe the first rightly directed inquiries on this subject. The instructions drawn up by the members of the French academy of sciences, for the expedition of La Peyrouse, contain a recommendation that the time of vibration of a dipping needle, should be observed at stations widely remote, as a test of the equality or difference of the magnetic intensity; suggesting also, with a sagacity anticipating the result, that such observations should particularly be made at those parts where the dip was greatest, and where it was least."

"The experiments, whatever their results may have been, which in compliance with this recommendation were made in the expedition of La Peyrouse, perished in its general catastrophe; but the instructions survived, and bore fruit in the earliest recorded observations of the variations of the magnetic intensity, which are those published by M. de Rossel, in the second volume of the Voyage Dentrecasteaux in search of La Peyrouse."

We take this fact, among a great number of others that we might cite, to prove that such instructions may conduct to discoveries of the most important laws. Since the time when the French academy recommended to La Peyrouse, to see if the magnetic intensity did not vary with the latitude, not only has the existence been proved, but also the relative force of this in

tensity, at a great number of important points on the surface of the earth, been determined. We are therefore of opinion, that the British association perfectly understands its duty, in pointing out questions to public attention, and in assigning them to competent persons for especial examination.

We have, perhaps, enlarged too much upon the German and British scientific associations, but it was with the view of directing the attention of our readers to a question of the highest importance, which is now submitted to general discussion. We refer to the national association, that has been projected by certain gentlemen in Boston, inspired by a love of country and of science, and by them submitted to the consideration of all persons in the land, who are interested in the culture of the understanding, and of the soul. We give here a part of the circular of these gentlemen, to save the reader the trouble of searching for it elsewhere:

"In consequence of communications between members of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, and gentlemen in Boston, a meeting was held in the latter place, of gentlemen belonging to Boston, Salem, and the university at Cambridge, at which the proceedings were as follows:

'Resolved, That it is expedient to form an institution, to be called the American Institution for the Cultivation of Science, having for its object the advancement of physical science and literature, by assembling those interested in this object, at stated periods, thus effecting an interchange of discoveries and improvements, between the inhabitants of different parts of the country."

But before going farther, we think it necessary to declare that in expressing our opinion upon this important question, we have only in view to interest other persons in it as warmly as we are interested ourselves, to examine it as carefully as we would aim to do, and to endeavor by their co-operation to give to this national society, which as yet is only in embryo, the vigor and the principles of durability, which distinguish our great national union. We have thought it necessary to make this declaration, that none may suppose, in addressing ourselves to the public, we have put on the academic cap, and claim to speak ex cathedra.

If the idea which we have thus far had in mind, has been clearly presented to our readers, they will have understood that we have aimed to communicate to them all the elements which we know, or consider as necessary to the due appreciation of the question submitted to their judgment. The complete history of the German scientific congress, comprising its feeble infancy,

its vigorous youth, and its premature decrepitude, the exposé of the labors and exertions of the British association, which was vigorous from its origin, and still remains so, and which seems to promise a constant development, or at least to preserve its present strength, will be the data, by the aid of which we may attempt to discover what organization should be given to the proposed American association. But these data are not sufficient; we must add others, derived from a consideration of our social institutions, and the peculiarities of our country.

We have commended the British association, for its deviation from the course pursued in Germany, because we believe, that in whatever country an institution is to be created, after the model of one existing in another, it should not be a servile copy of its prototype. The wants and the resources of nations are no less different, than the climates of the countries which they inhabit. The study of these wants and resources, must furnish the data, which, with the foregoing, are to form the foundationstone of the edifice to be constructed.

It is only by a wise combination of these geographical with the historical data, that a harmonious whole, capable of enduring, can be formed. It is only by studying the effects to be produced, by seeking out the causes which can produce them, and those which will infallibly work in a contrary direction, that the machine can be constructed in such a manner as to secure the desired effect.

The utility of an association, uniting into one single body all the individual intellectual power, need not be made a subject of examination. It is only necessary to determine the manner in which this power may be applied to produce the greatest useful effect. It belongs to the philosophers of the country to analyze this part of the question, and examine it, under all its aspects. They alone can appreciate the resources, know the difficulties, point out the course to be followed, to profit by all the forces, and conquer all the difficulties.

The proposed association would have for its object "the advancement of physical science and literature." It would then be composed of men of science, of letters, and philologists. If this project was definitively adopted, we believe that the difficulty of combining heterogeneous elements would soon be felt. The man who studies the sciences, may be versed in literature, the man of letters may make himself acquainted with scientific discoveries. Buffon is still regarded as one of the most elegant of the French writers; Goethe is esteemed by savants for the depth and justness of his views upon the phenomena of nature,