The British Associations visit to Montreal, 1884: Letters | Page 3

S. C. Stevenson, 181, St. James's Street,
Montreal.
Already somewhere about six hundred applications nave been received,
and it is quite probable that at least one thousand members and
associates may be crowding across next August. Those members who
wish to share in the subsidy of $14,000 must apply before March 25,
and no voucher will be issued after July 20. We may say that the
reduced railway fares mainly extend from August 1 to the end of
September. The active and courteous secretary, Professor Bonney, on
whom so much depends, will arrive in Montreal three weeks before the
opening of the meeting, August 27, for the purpose of securing that
everything is in train. It is expected that all the addresses will be printed

here in time for transmission to Montreal. So far at least as the officials
are concerned, the Canada Meeting will be a representative one. The
President elect, Lord Rayleigh, one of the most solid exponents of
British science, will certainly prove equal to the occasion. The
vice-presidents show a large Transatlantic contingent; they are, his
Excellency the Governor-General, Sir John A. Macdonald, Sir Lyon
Playfair, Sir Alexander Gait, Sir Charles Tupper, Sir Narcisse Dorion,
Hon. Dr. Chauveau, Principal Dawson, Professor Frankland, Dr. L. H.
Hingston, and Professor Sterry Hunt. Sir Joseph Hooker, we may say,
has also been nominated by the Council a vice-president, in place of the
late Sir C. W. Siemens. Perhaps it is scarcely necessary to state that the
general treasurer, Professor A W. Williamson, and the general
secretaries, Captain Douglas Galton and Mr. A. G. Vernon Harcourt,
will be present. There are five local secretaries and a local treasurer.
The presidents of the sections are all men of the highest standing in
their particular departments; it would be difficult, indeed, to suggest a
better selection. In Section A, Mathematical and Physical Science, it is
a great thing that Professor Sir William Thomson has been persuaded
to preside. No more representative chemist than Professor Roscoe
could have been obtained for Section B; in C, Geology; Mr. W. T.
Blanford, the head of the Indian Geological Survey, is sure to do
honour to his subject; in Section D, Biology, Professor Moseley, a man
of thoroughly Darwinian type of mind, will preside; in F, Economic
Science, Sir Richard Temple will be a host in himself; while in G,
Mechanical Science, Sir F J. Bramwell is sure to be vigorous and
original; finally, in the new section H, Anthropology, Dr. E. B. Tylor is
the very man that ought to have been selected. Lord Aberdare, we
regret to say, has been compelled to retire from the presidency of the
Geographical Section; but for a Canadian meeting no more suitable
president could be obtained than the veteran Arctic explorer, Sir
Leopold McClintock, who, we trust, will be persuaded to take the place
of Lord Aberdare. All the vice-presidents and secretaries of sections
have been chosen with equal care; and thus the Association has taken
the very best means of proving to the Canadians how highly they,
appreciate the honour of the invitation, and in what respect they hold
their prospective audiences. For the public lectures, the popular feature
of the meetings, it is hoped to secure the services of Professor W. G.

Adams, the able Professor of Physics in King's College, London, who it
is hoped will be able to go; Dr. Dallinger, the well-known-biologist,
and Professor Ball, the witty and eloquent Astronomer Royal for
Ireland, who will deliver the popular lecture par excellence.
Thus it will be seen that every possible arrangement has been made that
could be made beforehand to insure complete success, and there can be
little doubt that neither the Association nor the Canadians will be
disappointed. Section A is following the example set last year in
Section D by Professor Ray Lankester. The Committee, as we have
already announced, are sending out a circular inviting mathematicians
and physicists to co-operate with them in sustaining discussions and
contributing papers; one of the special subjects for discussion in this
section on September 1st will be the vexed one of the connection
between sun spots and terrestrial phenomena. In conclusion we may say
that the American Association will meet in Philadelphia on September
3rd, and those who have not had enough of science at Montreal can
enjoy another week of it at the Quaker City. The Philadelphia
Committee have sent a cordial invitation to the members of the British
Association to attend their meetings, offering to do the utmost in their
power to make the visit at once pleasant and profitable. This will be a
red letter year in the history of both Associations.

Letter No. 1.
_Thursday, August 21st, 1884; on board "PARISIAN,"--getting near
Newfoundland._
My beloved Mother.--I sent you some lines from the