Address of the Duke of Argyll, F.R.S.

  • George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll
Date:
[1855]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Address of the Duke of Argyll, F.R.S. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    science, and of the best and highest scientific faculties. Seldom indeed has k that disposition of mind which is ever ready to receive a chance suggestion, f and to pursue it believing what great things we have yet to learn, been crowned with a more brilliant and direct reward. It marks the growing sense entertained of the value of Statistical research, f that, during the late session of Parliament, a committee of the House of Lords ( sat for a considerable time on the best means of securing a complete system * of Agricultural Returns. We owe much in this matter to the exertions of the Highland Society of Scotland, and, as has been specially recorded by the ' committee, to the zeal and activity of their able secretary, Mr. Hall .Max- well. We owe not less, also, to the high intelligence of the farmers of Scot- « land generally, who have rendered every assistance in their power, and that • with a willingness which can only arise from an enlightened appreciation of II the great objects to be gained by the inquiry. No one has rendered more important service to Statistical science, in one of its most interesting departments, than the able Chamberlain of this city, Dr. Strang. His periodical Reports on the Growth and Progress of Glasgow > are among the most curious and useful records of the kind which have been published in any part of the United Kingdom. I need hardly say that they supply materials for much reflection on many questions connected with the social welfare of the people. I believe Dr, Strang has lately visited Paris, with a view to communicate to this Meeting of the Association various facts connected with the great improvements which are in the course of progress in that city. Should his investigations cast any light on the best means of improving the dwellings of the labouring classes in the great centres of popu- lation, and on the possibility of doing so on a large scale, by public authority, he will have rendered no small service to his country in a matter of vital interest and of much difficulty. Closely connected with the subject of Statistics, as applied to Agricultural returns, I am happy to say that, mainly owing to the exertions of Sir J. Forbes of Fettercairn, and of Mr. Milne Home, a Meteorological Society for Scotland has been established, warmly seconded by the Highland Society* The wonderful results on a great scale Which have been obtained in this de- partment of science by Lieut. Maury of the United States, give us ground to hope that even on the small areas of individual countries, where of course, from the crossing of local influences, the general result is infinitely com- plicated, some approach may be made towards ascertaining the laws which regulate the seasons. The admirable agency which is now afforded by the Kew Committee of this Association, for the verification of instruments, and by the new meteoro- ] logical department of the Board of Trade under Capt. Fitzroy, for tin reduc- tion of local observations, will, I trust, be taken advantage of by the new Scottish Society. I cannot help congratulating the Association on the posi- I tion which has been secured by science in connexion with both of these \ establishments. The thanks of the commercial as well as of the scientific world are due to Colonel Sabine and the other members of the Kew Com- mittee, whose assistance is now highly appreciated by practical men, and