Iv the wise and learned men who attended the mesting of the British Association this year care for ench trifling things us financial resulte, they must have been gratified to learn that the visit to Montreal had been satisfactory, in so far as ® considerable balance remained on hand. This would probably be chiefly gratifying to them because of the evidence it gave of the interest that had been taken in their proceedings in the Dominion and in the United States. The ation that was made that the American Association for the Advane ut of Science contemplate holding their next meeting in London called forth a cordial vote of welcome, Sir Lyon Pinyfair's Pre- 5 sidential Address was on the Relations of Science to the Public Weal. Ho said that it was very remarkable thata young nation like the United States should devote n hundred and fifty millions of acres of national lands for the promotion of scientific educations, and heartily praised the man-jer in which science was joined to the administrative departments of the publio service in America, Those of our readers who have seen the Report on the Agriculture, not only of the United States buat of other countries, will know how complete, useful and; energetic are these scientific depart. monte, Sir Lyon Playfair mentioned some of the work done and carried on by these; researches into Paleontology and geology, and investigations into the habits, migrations, and food of fishes and in reference to this important matter he mentioned that be had served a8 Chairman of one of the Royal Commissions appointed to investigate the subject. The fishermen on our coasts wore found only to have knowledge of a very limited sea area, and their evidence was most contradictory and unsatisfactory, In America, que are pat to Natare and not to fishermen, by menus of exact and searching investigation into the life history of fishes, by skilled naturalists, aided by others sent from the universities, Passing to secondary education, the Pre~ sident said he considered England was inferior in the means adopted for ite State supervision to auch kingdoms as Greece, Egypt, Portugal and Japan, to say nothing of our own colonies. However, we seem now in a fair way to have matters put into better train, and he did not doubt that in the next Parliament, a Mivistor of Education would be appointed. The next Par ment had. needs be made of most superior materials, so much Las already Leon promised in its name. Coutrasting English schools and universities, Sir Lyon thinks that the former are changing their traditional methods more rapidly than the schools. The latter ation to their classical curriculum, while in Oxford and Cambridge some heed is being paid to the atilitarinn requirements of the age, by coustracting Inboratories of. Edinburgh Glnegow Universities have followed their lend, and the new Victoria nich as Nottingham, Leeds, Bristol and Birasingham colleges, more or less complete, have been established, all of which are healthy signs that the public are determined to have the advantage of science teaching. The Address of the President was an appeal for national support of science, put in a sensible, if not a very striking or eloquent mau When the actual work of the Asso. ciation began, Professor Leoni Levi read a paper on the depression of trade, He considers it due to the introduction Into years of now, important, and us lo understood influences. Competition, particularly by the multiplication of joint stock companies "hich have brought millions into trade, was Ube chief of these. Profits he said had increased, but trade was more precarious than formerly. Chinese nud Jupanese traders in the Enst, and German and French manufacturers in Europe were all striving to wrest her commerce rom England. Trade depression was no novelty, and, when this had passed electricity, oil, and gas in When they compared electricity with single new Douglas 10-ring gas burner, the strongest light, other than electric, tried for light house work, they found t. thut the electric light went out in a fog a beam that was 100 to 150 times as bright. Ube section devoted to Biology was the most popular and numerousded, a special attraction on being n paper by Sir John Lubbock, on our old friendy the ants and the bees. It seems that ho hus ascertained that ants not only would reongnizs their own friends and species in ordinary intercourse, ut that they did so after a separation of more than ayer, Some considered this was due to scent; bat Sir John thought it wns dificult. to suppose that among the multitude of nuts ench had n character istic smell, A number of experiments had moreover shown him that, at least in our English species, utter version in water for some time, they were ab once recognized by thole fellows. No very stu papers were rend ut this meding of the Asso. ciation, although a large number were rend, and the proceedings as reported wear upon the whole rather air, Probably the mest interesting proceedings to those visitors she return way, prosperity would take its place, some little frivolity in Lbeir nature, were to be succeeded in due course by the excursions to different places near Jalternations of bad and good times, Aberdeen. We suspect thut even the Monometallism or bimetallism bad savants preferred these outings to the nothing to do with the depression of trade; money was abandaut; was wanted was grenter diffusion of comforts and more confidence in position! and social tranquility, Meanwhile we are to pin our faith ov chenpness in everything, free trade, politienl economy and peace among the nations. Professor Sidgwick delivered n long address in defence of political economy, which was highly commended fur the accuracy of its facts and reasoning.
subsequent day, a paper was read on the Incidence of Taxation, by Professor Hanter, some of whose estimates Professor Levi controverted. Questioning some of Mr. Chamberlain's dejduetions of the amount of taxation regaler meetings, for grumbling wore heard that insulicient excursion tickets had been issued. The next meeting ins to be held in Birmingham.
SILVER IN AMERIVA, Tuere is surprisingly linie in the Auwerioan papers which we have soon about Silver and the Blund Bill, LO the President has adopted any policy to be recommended to Cungress he keeps it a secret. Ho hus probably not made up his mind, and n tele. gram from Berlin dated the 80th of September, if we can accept it as authoritative, indicates (hat ho is waite gto see what the leading Kuropean rowers will do, It is stated in the brid by wor people, Professor Levi said that taxation was pretty fairly levied on all classes. The upper classes brid £65,000,000 on an of £720,000,000, and working £44,000,000 on £470,000,000, being only proportionally. trifle more than was paid by therich.'The wealthy puld £6.4.8 head for income tax, while the working classes paid only £1.15.11 per head. Dr. Playfair, brother of the President, furnished a paper describing plateau on Montague Grise, in Numidia, on which there ig an uninterrupted mass of the most splendid marbles the world contains, Some are creamy white; others rose colour, like coral; and some are as varied aga pencock's tail. Professor Adams read " paper on the Electric Light and Atmospheric Absorption which be entered into a comparison between the illuminating power of telegram referred to that Mr, Marble had been in consultation with the Central Union of German mann fi turers, representing the leaders of the Protectionist Party, who had presented a petition to Prince Bismarck asking him te enquire into the position of hi-metallism. This is probable enough and it ins sometimes been stuted of Into that the Price has shown an me clination to return to the double standard, In this ho sould perhaps have the support of protectionist man. ufnetarers, especially of those whose productions are shipped to markets in silver using countries, Mr. Marble was, it seems, sent from Amerien by President Cleveland with instruc tions to enquire about the silver ques-on in Europe and make. Report thereon befor the mooling of Congrenn, The German bankers, it is vaid, favour
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.