The British Association

Abstract

THE meeting which has just been brought to a conclusion in Bristol may fairly be regarded as a highly successful one. The weather, though at first somewhat oppressive, has been on the whole eminently favourable for garden parties, conversazioni, and excursions. The destruction of the Colston Hall by fire raised difficulties at the last moment, but the emergency arrangements of the local committee amply met the requirements of the case. Although the seating accommodation of the People's Palace is far inferior to that of the Colston Hall, its acoustic properties are greatly superior. A brilliant audience met to hear Sir William Crookes's presidential address, and the members and associates attended in large numbers to listen to the discourses of Prof. Sollas and Mr. Jackson. Prof. Sollas's lecture on Funafuti was clear, lucid, and well illustrated, while Mr. Herbert Jackson's discourse on Phosphorescence, with his admirable experiments, is universally regarded as a brilliant success. The conversazione at Clifton] College was well arranged and highly appreciated; the exhibits including a demonstration of the spectra of rare atmospheric elements by Prof. Ramsay and of wireless telegraphy, attracting large numbers, and the tastefully-lighted Close forming a pleasant promenade in the open air. The garden parties and the Saturday excursions have also gone off well. The Mayor of Bath took special trouble to make the excursion to Bath a pleasant one, and invited many members to visit the city and environs, the new excavations of the Roman Baths being especially visited and explained. Members who look forward to the meeting as a pleasant opportunity for social converse with their scientific confréres and with people of standing in the locality, have every reason to be well satisfied with the arrangements which have been made in Bristol. The old city has well maintained its tradition of hospitality. Sir William Crookes, speaking on Saturday at the banquet given by the Chamber of Commerce to distinguished visitors and guests, said that he had attended many meetings of the British Association, but could remember no occasion when the welcome accorded was more hospitable and enthusiastic, or the arrangements more carefully planned. In fact, it was agreed by all the members that the local arrangements have been a model of what such arrangements should be. The local hon. secretaries, Mr. Arthur Lee, J.P., and Dr. Bertram Rogers, have been indefatigable in their exertions, and have given nights as well as days to the work, hence everything has progressed with perfect smoothness.