in Brighton should enjoy the same opportunities which he himself, the son of a Brighton tradesman, enjoyed. The folly of regarding manual labour as a degradation was now altogether exploded; all could not rise to the highest positions, hence the necessity for training to useful manual occupations, and to the exercise of prudence, thrift, and self-denial. Let every man, though not himself educated, respect education, and pursue his manual labour with an intelligent interest, according to the sentiment of Schiller:

'This is man's ennobling part,
What he creates to understand;
And ponder in his inmost heart
The actions of his outward hand.'

Sir George Campbell pointed out that the working men of England, as compared with those of other countries, were not prominent for the virtue of saving. The cultivation of this habit was necessary to enable the working man to discharge his duties thoroughly and honestly to his children; he deplored the indifference in the working classes of this country to political matters, and their excessive attention to strikes and trades' unions. He urged them to use their influence towards making trades' unions remove the obstacles to free trade in labour. Mr. F. S. Powell, Mr. George Godwin, and Captain Douglas Galton also addressed the meeting, the latter pointing out the necessity for technical education to enable an artisan to perform his work properly, easily, and creditably. The Rev. S. A. Steinthal also said a few words cautioning the working classes against the evils of intemperance, and urging them to support every legislative measure to diminish the temptations to this universal and appalling vice. A vote of thanks to the Association for promoting the meeting was proposed and seconded by two working men and unanimously carried.

At the request of a number of influential gentlemen connected with the town, the President of the Health Department, Dr. Richardson, F.R.S., delivered an evening lecture

in the dome on the subject of Vital Statistics' to a numerous audience.

An account of the proceedings of the various departments during the Congress is contained in the Report to the concluding meeting of members and associates.*

Excursions were organised to various places of interest, the visitors to the Congress having been honoured with invitations from the Speaker of the House of Commons (Rt. Hon. H. B. W. Brand), the High Constable of Lewes (Robert Crosskey, Esq.), and Thomas Brassey, Esq., M.P., to partake of hospitality at their various residences. On each occasion the visitors were entertained in the most hospitable manner.

The fourth Exhibition of Sanitary and Educational Appliances and Apparatus in connection with the Congress held in the Corn Exchange, Brighton, was highly successful. The Exhibition was opened with an admirable Address by Sir J. Cordy Burrows, at which J. L. Brigden, Esq., the Mayor, presided, and, on subsequent days, addresses were delivered by Captain Douglas Galton, C.B., F.R.S., on Heating, Lighting, and Ventilation;' Baldwin Latham, Esq., C.E., on Sanitary Engineering;' Mrs. Amelia Lewis, on Domestic Appliances; George Godwin, Esq., F.R.S., on Sanitary Architecture;' William Hardwicke, Esq., M.D., on Food and Clothing;' and John Yeats, Esq., LL.D., on 'Scholastic Appliances.' These subjects, treated by such able authorities, formed a most interesting and valuable feature of the Exhibition. The Exhibitions, held under the auspices of the Association, afford abundant and excellent means of observation and inquiry. Regarding the Exhibition in the light of a display of ingenious and useful inventions, illustrative of the various departments of Household Economy and Public Hygiene, and explanatory of the principles which should prevail in carrying out the work of Sanitary Reform, it realised every expectation. The management was in the hands of an

See Appendix.

influential Committee to which Mr. James Robinson as heretofore acted as Secretary.

The subject of the Constitution of a Supreme Court of Appeal was brought before the Glasgow Congress by Mr. A. E. Miller, Q.C., and by him again in London after the introduction by the Government of the Judicature Act (1871) Amendment Bill.' The Paper was referred to the Committee of the Jurisprudence Department, and subsequently a Memorial was presented to the Attorney-General in favour of increasing the number of Judges, as proposed in the Judicature Bill, it being the opinion of the Committee that no Court of Intermediate Appeal can be sufficient which does not provide for the necessity of sitting ordinarily in two divisions, for which purpose it must consist of at least six ordinary Judges.

The Committee of the Law Amendment Society had under its consideration the subject of appeal from the decision of County Court Judges. The Committee were of opinion that the state of the Law with regard to County Court Appeals operated to produce hardship, expense, and inconvenience to suitors. That in many cases the only way of appealing from the decision of a County Court Judge was by a special case settled and signed by the Judge against whose decision the appeal is brought; and that the drawing and settlement of a special case was often attended with great delay and expense. Appeal by special case has been entirely abolished by the Judicature Act in appeals from Superior Courts, and appeal by motion substituted. The Committee, therefore, recommended that a clause should be introduced into the County Court Amendment Bill enacting that any person aggrieved by the decision of a County Court Judge, at any time within eight days after the same shall have been given, may appeal against such decision, by an application by way of motion to the Court to which such appeal lies, without the necessity of stating any special case, no security for costs or judgment being necessary without the order of the Appeal

b

Court. Accordingly a clause to this effect was placed in the hands of Mr. Serjeant Simon, M.P. A deputation also waited on the Solicitor-General, who promised that the views of the deputation, which he fully appreciated, should have his best consideration. The clause afterwards became law, and now forms section 6 of the 38th and 39th Vict., c. 50.

15th of Creasy, the

The Session of 1875-6 was opened on the
November with an Address by Sir Edward S.
President of the Jurisprudence Department, on
help for the Bar.' The meeting was presided
Hon. Justice Denman, and was well attended.

Studies that

over by the

The Council acting on the recommendation contained in a resolution passed in the Municipal Law Section at Brighton, has authorised the sending to the Chief Justice and Attorney-General of the United States of America, of each of the States of the Union, and of each of the Provinces of Canada, a series of questions bearing on the subject of the examination of accused persons and their wives or husbands as witnesses in criminal proceedings, with a view of eliciting replies which may be of service as giving the most recent information on the subject from the most experienced sources.

In accordance with a request from the Council of the British Medical Association, the Council has consented to cooperate with that body in the matter of the reformation and control of habitual drunkards, and has referred to the Municipal Law Section the consideration of the subject.

A Conference recommended by the Special Committee appointed to consider the subject of the working of the Elementary Education Act, of members of School Boards, headteachers, and others interested in primary education, was held early in May for the consideration of practical questions relating to compulsion and instruction in elementary schools generally. Lord Napier and Ettrick presided. The meeting was of opinion that the Agricultural Children Act, 1873, was defective in many particulars, and it referred to the Standing

Committee of the Education Department a number of suggestions for consideration, with a view to moving the Council to take action upon them.

A deputation from the Council waited upon the President of the Local Government Board to urge the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the subject of the scarcity of pure water in the United Kingdom, and to make a complete investigation into all the circumstances affecting the present sources and distribution, the localities that possess superabundance and those that suffer from scarcity, and the means by which a more perfect distribution may be effected. The deputation was introduced by the Right Hon. Lyon Playfair, C.B., M.P., and a memorial was presented calling the serious attention of the Government to water supply generally. At the request of Mr. Sclater-Booth, the president, a précis of such subjects as the Association thought the Royal Commission, if issued, might undertake to investigate was drawn up as a supplement to the memorial and forwarded to the Local Government Office.

The Health Committee having had under its consideration the Artisans' and Labourers' Dwellings Bill,' recommended the Council to petition the House of Commons approving the principle of the Bill, and urging the enactment of its provisions with such amendments as in the opinion of the House were thought desirable. The Council being of opinion that there are various portions of large towns situated in such a way and so densely inhabited as to be highly injurious to the moral and physical welfare of the inhabitants; that the existence of such buildings in closely confined districts tended greatly to produce fevers, diseases, and sickness, and an increased death-rate, and that such portions of large towns should be reconstructed; accordingly forwarded the petition, accompanied by some suggestions, to the Home Secretary for presentation.

The Health Committee had under its consideration the