Two legacies have recently been left to the French Academy of Sciences for the purpose of founding prizes. The one, a perpetual legacy of 2,500 francs, has been bequeathed by the late M. Gay, to be awarded as a prize in physical geography; and the other, a sum of 10,000 francs, the interest of which is to be awarded to the author of an astronomical work.

A GENTLEMAN in Glasgow who does not wish his name to be given, has just made a donation to Glasgow University of 1000%, for the better endowment of the chairs of astronomy, botany, and natural history.

AT the meeting of the Academy of Sciences at Paris on Monday, January 26, the place in the section of Anatomy and Zoology, vacant by the death of M. Coste, was filled up. M. P. Gervais was elected, but M. Alph. Milne-Edwards was a good second, obtaining 24 votes to M. Gervais's 33.

A NEW work by Mr. F. W. Burbidge, on "Cool Orchids, and how to grow them," is announced by Mr. Hardwicke, Piccadilly. It will be illustrated by coloured plates and wood engravings, and will be furnished with a copious list, in the shape of an index, of what are termed cool Orchids.

IN a despatch from Mr. Williams, H.M.'s Consul at Samoa, to the Foreign Secretary, dated Sydney, Oct. 28, 1873, it is stated that gold in quartz has been found in a valley in that island, about three miles from the Port of Apia; the samples assayed yielded at the rate of 3000 ozs. to the ton.

MR. J. F. GARDNER, geographer to Prof. Hayden's survey, in giving a short sketch of the method adopted by him to determine the altitude of the various points occupied by the party in the Rocky Mountains, states that the experience of the surveys of California and of the fortieth parallel show that in the determination of the altitude of any point a mercurial barometer is liable to an error varying from 150 to 300 feet, even when the base barometer is at the foot of the peak, and only 3000 feet below the summit. In connection with Professor Whitney (chief of the California Survey), the following plan was adopted for correcting the errors of barometrical work. Four points were chosen at successive levels of from one to 14,000 feet. These stations were carefully connected by levellings with a spirit level, and were occupied as permanent meteorological stations. The observations taken by field parties are classified according to their heights, and each class is referred to the base station which is nearest its own elevation; the lower station being Denver, the fourth the summit of Mount Lincoln (14,000 feet), where are a number of silver mines worked by Captain Breese. The central position of this peak admirably fits it for the base of reference. Besides the barometric determination of heights, two connected systems of trigonometric levelling have been carried over the whole area surveyed, and the check observations are so arranged that the probable error can be easily determined, and it is hoped that the system will prove accurate enough to throw some light on the amount of refraction at great elevations. By these methods the altitudes of many high points have been determined, from which to construct a map in contours 200 vertical feet apart, on a scale of two miles to one inc h.

SIGNALLING between the earth and the planet Venus is a suggestion made in all good faith by a French astronomer, M. Charles Cros, who considers the coming transit of Venus to be a good opportunity for ascertaining whether there are inhabitants on that planet, and, if so, entering into relations with them. He says: "It is possible that Venus is inhabited; that amongst its inhabitants are astronomers; that the latter judge the passage of their planet across the solar disc to be an object to excite our curiosity; finally it is possible that these savants will strive in

some way to make signals to us at the precise moment when they might suppose that many telescopes will be levelled at their planet."

IN a recent communication to the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, Prof. Marsh gave a statement of the results of his recent expedition to the Far West in search of fossil remains of extinct vertebrates. He said the richest field for exploration was found in the great basin of the pre-historic lake which is now drained by the Colorado River. This body of water was originally as large as all the present lakes of the North-West combined, and had existed so long that the sand washed down from the surrounding hills had accumulated to the depth of a mile. In the different strata of this bed at least ten distinct groups of extinct animals could be detected, among them some extremely remarkable forms. One of these was a rhinoceros with two horns; but these, not like those of the modern rhinoceros, in the axis of the body, but transversely. In a space of 10 ft. square he had sometimes found the bones of 30 different animals. The number of species of extinct mammals in these remains he estimates to be three times as great as that at present inhabiting the same locality.

A PAPER on Electrical Warfare will be read by Mr. Nath. J. Holmes, at the Society of Telegraph Engineers, on Wednesday, the 11th inst.

THE new Holmes' Shipwreck Distress Signal, of great power, will be exhibited from Primrose Hill on Thursday evening, 12th, at 8.30, in presence of the Marine Secretary of the Board of Trade. This signal is self-igniting in water, and inextinguishable.

THE Naples correspondent of the Times, writing on Jan. 25, states that Prof. Palmieri has just published the following letter in answer to the numerous applications sent to him for information:-"The activity of Vesuvius continues to increase in the crater towards the N. E. Frequent globes of smoke issue from the bottom of it, with a kind of hissing sound, accompanied by an unpleasant odour of chloridic and sulphuric acids. Not far from it, at the commencement of the grand fissure of 1872, alkaline sublimates make their appearance. Meanwhile the fire does not yet show greater activity at the bottom of the crater, where it will probably manifest itself, unless some eccentric eruption should occur before the internal resistance of this crater is overcome. The great subterranean energy now at work does, indeed, appear to be making an attempt at an outlet in various parts. On the 21st inst. a slight undulatory shock of earthquake was felt at Casamicciola, in the island of Ischia, and during the last week many have heard the low continuous mutterings of the mountain at a distance of 15 miles. As I write, however, the sismograph, which has been very agitated for some days, is more quiet." He also reports the melancholy death at Casamicciola of Mr. Moggridge, who having bathed in the open sea, died on his road to the hotel.

We have received the Report of the Senckenbergische naturforschende Gesellschaft for 1872-73, a society of long standing, and with several eminent names in its list of members. The membership, we are glad to learn, shows a considerable increase during the year; though M. v. Fritsch states, in his report, that the efforts of the society are sadly hampered for lack of funds, and that "we exist and vegetate, rather than live." He laments, also, that the museum, which once stood fifth in importance in Europe, is being quickly surpassed by other like institutions, and thrown into the background; which is hardly creditable to a city of such wealth and culture as Frankfort. Among the researches detailed in this Bericht, we note a paper by Dr. Koch on the Arachnida of North Africa, especially those (hitherto unstudied) of the Atlas region, and the coast of Morocco; the

SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES

LONDON

Geological Society, Jan. 21.--Prof. P. Martin Duncan, F.R.S., vice-president, in the chair.-"The secondary rocks of Scotland (second paper). Highlands and their relations to the Mesozoic strata," by J. W. Judd, F.G.S. That the rocks forming the great plateaux of the Hebrides and the north of Ireland are really the vestiges of innumerable lava-streams, is a fact which has long been recognised by geologists. That these lavas were of subaerial and not subaqueous origin is proved by the absence of all contemporaneous interbedded sedimentary rocks, by the evidently terrestrial origin of the surfaces on which they lie, and by the intercalation among them of old soils, forests, mud-streams, river-gravels, lake deposits, and masses of unstratified tuffs and ashes. From the analogy of existing volcanic districts, we can scarcely d ubt that these great accumulations of igneous products, which must originally have covered many thousands of square miles, and which still often exhibit a thickness of 2,000 ft., were ejected from great volcanic mountains; and a careful study of the district fully confirms this conclusion, enabling us, indeed, to determine the sites of these old volcanoes, to estimate their dimensions, to investigate their internal structure, and to trace the history of their formation. The following is Mr. Judd's conclusion on the subject of his paper :-It appears that during the Newer Paleozoic and the Tertiary periods, the north-western parts of the British archipelago were the scene of displays of volcanic activity upon the grandest scale. During either of these, the eruption of felspathic lavas, &c., preceded, as a whole, that of the basaltic; and in both the volcanic action was brought to a close by the formation of "puys." The range of Newer-Palæozoic volcanoes arose along a line striking N.E. and S.W.; that of the Tertiary volcanoes along one striking from N. to S.; and each appears to have been connected with a great system of subterranean disturbance. It is an interesting circumstance that the epochs of maximum volcanic activity, the Old Red sandstone and the Miocene, appear to have been coincident with those which, as shown by Prof. Ramsay, were characterised by the greatest extent of continental land in the area. The Secondary Strata were deposited in the interval between the two epochs of volcanic activity, and the features which they present have been largely influenced by this circumstance. Apart from this consideration, however, the volcanic rocks of the Highlands are of the highest interest to the geologist, both from their enabling him to decipher to so great an extent the "geological records of the district, and from the light which they throw upon some of the obscurest problems of physical geology.-Remarks on fossils from Oberburg, Styria, by A. W. Waters, F.G.S. The author noticed the limited occurrence of Eocene deposits in Styria, and referred briefly to the researches of Prof. Reuss and Prof. Stur upon them. He then indicated certain species of fossils which he had detected in these beds, adding about nine species to Stur's list.

On the ancient volcanoes of the

Anthropological Institute, Jan. 27.-Prof. Busk, F.R. S., president, in the chair.-Aniversary Meeting.-Before proceeding to read his address, the president referred to the financial condition of the Institute, which, although it showed that the receipts were adequate for the necessary expenditure on the present economical principles of management, would not admit either of paying off any more of the debt or of increasing the scope and usefulness of the Institute. Until the unfortunate and, utterly indefensible secession of members early in 1873, on a purely personal question, the Institute, since its formation, had paid off the combined debts of the two old societies at the rate of 100l. a year. He appealed to the loyalty of the members now forming the Institute to make a united effort finally to extinguish the debt of Sool. A year's income would do it, and it was suggested that if each member contributed one year's subscription, that great result would be attained and the Institute would certainly before long occupy a high position amongst the scientific bodies of the kingdom. As an encouragement to the body of members and as an earnest of the sincerity and vigour of his colleagues in management, the president had much pleasure in announcing that nearly 250/. had been promised by members present at a council-meeting held that day, provided the sum of 500/. be contributed by other members of the Institute. The president then delivered the annual address, in which he viewed the work done during 1873 by English and foreign

anthropologists. Amongst a large number of topics he adverted at considerable length to the important contributions to craniometry, by Dr. H. von Jhering and Dr. Paul Broca, criticising the respective methods employed by those distinguished anthropologists; and concluded that part of his address with the observation that the study of craniology is almost futile when applied to highly civilised, and consequently much mixed peoples, and that its results are the more certain in proportion to the purity of race. That purity at the present time was rapidly disappearing, and with it the surest data for the determination of the problems involved in the antiquity and physical origin of man.- -The following was the list of officers and council elected to serve for 1874 :-President-Prof. Geo. Busk, F.R.S. Vicepresidents-John Evans, F.R.S.; Col. A. Lane Fox, F.S. A.; A. W. Franks, M.A.; Francis Galton, F.R.S.; Prof. Huxley, F.R.S.; Sir John Lubbock, Bart., F.R.S. Director-E. W. Brabrook, F.S. A.-Treasurer-Rev. Dunbar I. Heath, M.A. Council-Dr. John Beddoe, F. R.S.; W. Blackmore; H. G. Bohn, F.R.G.S.; Dr. A. Campbell; Hyde Clarke; Dr. J. Barnard Davis, F.R.S.; W. Boyd Dawkins, F.R.S.; Robert Dunn, F.R.C.S.; David Forbes, F. R.S.; Sir Duncan Gibb, Bart, M.D.; George Harris, F.S.A.; J. Park Harrison, M.A. J. F. McLennan; C. R. Markham, C.B. F.R.S.; Frederic Ouvry, F.S. A.; F. G. H. Price, F. R. G.S.; J. E. Price, F.S.A.; F. W. Rudler, F. G. S.; C. R. Des Ruffières, F. R. S. L.; E. Burnet Tylor, F.R.S.

EDINBURGH

Royal Physical Society, Jan 28.-Mr. Scot Skirving, president, in the chair. -The following communications were read: Note on the Crushed Boulders from the Old Red Conglomerate in Kincardineshire, by James C. Howden, M.D., -On Crushed Boulders from Arbroath, and other localities, by Mr. Charles W. Peach.-Report of the Dredging Committee for 1873, by James Middleton, M.B., convener. The meeting of the committee had been held conjointly with the Naturalists' Field Club. In all about 133 species of animals had been obtained, including two new to the Firth of Forth.Note on the Suspension of Clay in Water, by Mr. William Durham. This research was undertaken in continuance of those recorded in the papers on the same subject read at the last meeting. As the general result of Mr. Durham's elaborate and careful series of experiments, it was found that clay held in suspension by water sinks more quickly if the water is slightly acidulated, and more slowly if a slight amount of an alkali is added, but that the conditions are reversed if a large amount of

either substance is mixed with the water.

MANCHESTER

Geological Society, Jan. 27.-Mr. J. Dickenson Hill in the chair.-Mr. J. Aitken exhibited some new fossil fishes from the millstone grit, Yorkshire, and read a paper descriptive of the bed whence they were obtained. He said that evidences of fossils had been brought to the surface during the excavations connected with the scheme for taking water from Widdop colliery to the borough of Halifax by a tunnel cut through Wadsworth Moor, about two miles north of Hebdenbridge. After an examination, by no means exhaustive, there had been discovered seven specimens of Goniatites, three of Nautili, two of Orthoceratites, two of Avicula pecten, two of Posodonia, one of Gastropod, one of Milamia, fish remains, &c. The discovery of the most remarkable character was a new species of Acrolepis presenting peculiar characteristics. The situation in which these remains

occurred was near but somewhat above the middle of the shells which usually divided the third floors from the fourth or undermost grit.

GÖTTINGEN

Royal Academy of Sciences, Nov. 1, 1873.-M. Schering communicated a paper on the Hamilton-Jacobi theory for forces whose measurement depends on the motion of bodies.-MM. Wagner, Philippi, and Tollens described some researches on the Allyl group, made with the view of establishing the constitution of allyl alcohol, and of some of its compounds, especially acrylic acid. They find new evidence, in opposition to Wislicenus, that acrylic acid, as well as acetic acid, propionic acid, and all other organic acids, contains the group CO2H, and may therefore be classed with them.--MM. von Grote and Tollens described an acid obtained from cane sugar by means of dilute sulphuric acid; and M. Toilens gave the first results of an investigation as to combinations of starch with alkali.

Nov. 20. Prof. Lüroth read a paper on reckoning by projections; and Prof. Hattendorff made some observations on Sturm's theorem.

Dec. 3.-M. Enneper communicated a paper on the general theory of surfaces.

Dec. 10.-The Society celebrated its 121st anniversary. The prizes for competition in the next three years were announced. In the physical section the Society invites experiments on the artificial production of some crystallised minerals, as stephanite, pyrargyrite, grey copper ore, galena, fluor spar; in order to solution of the question how crystallised sulphur and fluorcompounds have arisen in the natural state. In the mathematical section, the Society desires an investigation of currentwork, i.e. the work done by the electro-motive forces in their action on the current electricity, especially in its relation to the heat produced from the current, and the vis viva produced from it immediately in the current electricty, or mediately, in other movable particles in the conductor. Papers on these subjects must be sent before Sept. 1875, in the former case, and Sept. 1876, in the latter. The prizes offered are fifty ducats each.Prof. Ewald communicated an interesting paper on the so-called rhetorical ornaments of Oriental speech (a subject suggested, apparently, by the late visit of the "king of kings).”—M. Riecke presented a note on the function of leal-teeth, and the morphological value of some leaf-nectaries. In the bud, the teeth often prevent the hermetical closure of the two folded halves of the leaf; whi is perhaps important, that the bud may not suffer from the ant of gas. A more evident function consists in the separation of resin or mucilage. Prunus avium is taken as a good example; and two other types of structure are also described. The teeth of leaves of Prunus avium are closely allied, morphologically, to numerous nectar-secreting organs in these and other kinds of leaf.

Dec. 17.-M. Bjerknes read a paper giving a generalisation of the problem of motions produced in a still inelastic fluid by the motion of an ellipsoid.-M. Wöhler presented a list of the meteo rites in the University collection at Göttingen.

VIENNA

Imperial Academy of Sciences, Dec. 4, 1873.-Prof. Mach stated that he had made experiments, during the summer, on the time required for rotation of the plane of polarisation by a current-a flint glass disc being rotated between the magnetic poles; but similar experiments by Villari had been described in Pogg. Ann. (No. 7, 1873), and the results were almost identical. Villari used a double plate; and Prof. Mach points out another very simple method for such researches, viz., the spectral observation of a sounding glass rod placed between the magnetic poles.-A paper by Dr. Dvorak described some experiments on the velocity of sound in gas-mixtures. If a mixture is made of two different gases, with densities d and d' respectively, and both with an expansive force I, the velocity of sound in the mixture The author's results show close agree

2

d + d

ment with the theory. Thus for mixtures of carbonic acid and hydrogen, air and hydrogen, ordinary gas and CO., respectively, the observed and calculated numbers for the half wave-length of a given tone were these 715, 710; 88, 890; 64, 633. The author remarks that for a simple gas, as well as for a mixture of gases, the gas theory implies not one velocity, but a graduated series of velocities, of sound; and perhaps the prolongation in sound of a cannon shot heard at a distance may be thus explained. Dr. Exner communicated a determination of the temperature at which water has a maximum of density. He improved on Rumford's method by using thermo-elements instead of a mercury thermometer. The value obtained was 3 945°.

PARIS

Academy of Sciences, Jan. 26.-M. Bertrand in the chair. --The following papers were read: On the various reactions of the compounds of oxygen and nitrogen, by M. Berthelot.-On the production of yeast in a mineral solution containing sugar, by M Pasteur. The author described the growth of yeast in a solution of inorganic substances such as enter into the composition of its ash added to a solution of sugar. M. Trécul replied at some length to certain of M. Pasteur's remarks. On the liquefaction and solidification of acetylene by the silent electric discharge, by MM. P. and A. Thenard. The author found that this gas condensed at the rate of four or five cubic centimetres a

minute into a solid horny body isomeric with acetylene; by varying the conditions of experiment a liquid isomer was also obtained.-Experimental researches on Newton's rings, by M. P. Desains.-Direct demonstration of the equation е = o for every closed and reversible cycle, by M, A. Ledieu. This paper formed a sequel to the author's other papers on thermo-dynamics, lately published.-Note on Poncelet's teaching of applied mechanics, by General MorinA note from Prof. Nordenskiöld was read; he has detected iron, nickel and cobalt in the carbonaceous dust found in 1870 on the Greenland snow; traces of phosphorus were also found.-In structions for M. Doûmet-Adanson's travel in Tunis, by M. Cosson. The instructions are issued to M. Adanson, who is about to undertake a botanical exploration of Tunis-On magnetism, by M. J. M. Gaugain.-New researches on the rejoining end to end of the fibres of sensory with the fibres of motor nerves, by M. A. Vulpian.-Organogenesis compared with androgenesis in its relation to natural affinities, by Ad. Chatin. This portion of the author's paper deals with the polygonoid and cactoid plants.-Researches on the silicified plants of Autun; study of the genus Myelopleris, by M. B. Renault.-On the presence of a considerable proportion of potassic nitrate in two varieties of Amaranthus, by M. A. Boutin. The author found that A. atropurpureus contained 22'7 and A. ruber 160 per cent. of the weight of the dried plant; he suggested a possible future cultivation of the plant on this account. On the theory of the flight of birds, by MM. H. and L. Planavergne.-On a statistical chart showing the distribution of the population of Paris, by M. Vauthier.-On the geometrical properties of rational fractions, by M. F. Lucas.-On the determination of the pluckerian numbers of envelopes, by M. H. G. Zeuthen. On the theory of numerical equations, by M. Laguerre. -On the breaking of magnetised needles, by M. Bouty. The author found that if the steel was very brittle and broke like glass the two portions are magnets of the same magnetic moment, but not so if the steel has to be bent backwards and forwards before it breaks.-On certain peculiarities in the efflorescence of the two hydrates of sodic sulphate, by M. D. Gernez.-Researches on the reaction of argentic chloride on phosphoric di-iodide, by M. Arm. Gautier.-On the isomerism of terebenthene and terebene, from a physical point of view, by M. J. Ribau.-On the alterations of the soft matter (of the brain) accompanying the tearing and cutting back of the sciatic nerve in the rabbit, by M. G. Hayem.-On the pluvial régim: of the torrid zones in the Indian and Pacific Ocean basins, by M. V. Raulin.--Note on Professor Tyndall's experiments on the acoustic transparency of air, by M. W. de Fonvie.le.-On the production of crystals of calcic oxalate and ammonic-magnesic phosphate, by M. E. Monier. During the meeting, the Aca demy elected M. P. Gervais as successor to the late M. Coste, of the section of Anatomy and Zoology.

WE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1874

A MINISTER FOR SCIENCE

E are glad to see that the Times has at last opened its pages to the question of the propriety of appointing a responsible Minister, whose duty it shall be to look after the interests of Science and of scientific research and education, and take charge of the scientific institutions of the country-institutions whose efficiency is at present sadly crippled from the want of a single responsible head. The whole question could not be better stated than in Colonel Strange's letter which appeared in the Times of the 6th inst., and which we consider so admirably to the point, that we gladly reproduce it here. We hope the letter will lead to further discussion, and that whatever Government may hold the reins in the forthcoming Parliament, the important question now raised may meet with serious attention. Colonel Strange's communication runs as follows:

"No subject affecting the material interests of England is more important at the present day than that discussed at Manchester by Lord Derby, and by yourself in your leader of the 12th ult.

"Scientific industry' is one of those clever phrases calculated to catch the eye and ear by its novelty, while it expresses what is already well known by other antiquated names. Lord Derby defines it and explains its meaning in a variety of ways; but throughout his whole speech he is talking, while never naming it, of nothing more nor less than scientific research. The utilisation of redundant natural forces and of waste substances, on which he insists as a primary object of the new movement, is to be brought about by patient, continuous, systematic research, and by nothing else. I own I prefer the old words to the new, but if by using new words old wants come to be recognised and supplied, I shall not complain.

"I, and many who think with me, maintain that scientific research must be made a national business; that the point at which Science, in most of its leading branches, has now arrived and the problems presented for solution are such as to need for their adequate treatment, permanent well-equipped establishments with competent staffs worked continuously and systematically. Lord Derby truly describes it as a case in which what is 'everybody's business is nobody's business.' We must make it somebody's business. We must make it the State's business. We have tried individual enterprise, which so many hold to be all-sufficient. There is more individual enterprise in England than in any country in the world, and yet we are being rapidly outstripped by nations who, though they encourage private exertion, are wise enough not to rely on it, but to establish a system free from the caprice, the incompleteness, the liability to interruption and cessation incident to all individual labour in whatever field. If asked to describe the system we propose to establish, our reply is in one word, 'completeness.' A steam-engine is a system, composed of many parts, each and all essential to its useful action. Furnace, boiler, cylinder, pistons, connecting rods, beam, and fly-wheel-all controlled by a governor. Tested by the condition 'completeness, what is Lord Derby's new society? What is any private society? A mere connecting rod-a most useful link in VOL. IX.-No 224

the system, not to be dispensed with, but still a mere link. Where are the other parts? Is there a trace of them in England?

No

"The first essential to any system is a head. domestic household, no manufactory, no ship, no army or navy, no public or private establishment of any kind, and these are all 'systems,' can hold its own for a day without a head. But at the present hour there is no head to the science of England. The proposed remedy for this deficiency will have been anticipated as obviously a Minister of State, who shall be responsible to the nation through Parliament for everything connected with the scientific business of the country. For want of this head what have we done? The various scientific institutions at present maintained by the State are distributed according to the following list, which was correct some time since, but may have undergone recent changes :-1, Royal Observatory, Greenwich, under the Admiralty; 2, Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, under the Office of Works; 3, Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, under the Colonial Office; 4, 5, 6, the Observatories at Madras, Calcutta, and Bombay, under the India Office; 7, Ordnance Survey of Great Britain, under the Office of Works; 8, the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India, under the India Office; 9, Exchequer Standards Office, under the Board of Trade; 10, the Royal School of Mines, under the Privy Council: 11, British Museum, under 50 irresponsible trustees; 12, Meteorological Office, governed by an unpaid, and therefore irresponsible, Committee of the Royal Society, under the Board of Trade; 13, the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew, Edinburgh, and Dublin, under the Board of Works; 14, the Geological Survey, under the Privy Council. My list is perhaps not quite complete, but as it stands it shows that we place our scientific institutions under no less than seven different Departments of State, all of which have other matters besides science to attend to. Can anyone pretend there is any trace of a system here? Is it not a grotesque caricature of State administration?

"Granted that there must be a Minister for Scienceand I am happy to say that those who have given most attention to the question now admit that there mustthen the whole of the institutions I have named, besides some others now in existence, and many others that must before long be founded, would be placed under him. This would secure the great object of harmony and unity of parts, of provision for modification and extension, and of definite responsibility to the nation through Parliament, none of which objects are obtainable or seem even dreamt of at present.

"Whether such a Ministry should be created as additional to what we at present possess, or whether some existing Minister should be charged with Science ; whether the Science Minister should not also take Education, Art, and Music under his care; whether he should not have permanent unparliamentary advisers, and if so on what scale and how constituted, besides many other points, are all extremely important questions, admitting of a great variety of answers; but compared with the fundamental necessity for a Minister at the head of a Department controlling the whole public scientific activity of the kingdom, they are matters of subordinate detail.