bable, because such weights were made of baked clay, and it is quite as likely that many of them were used as spindle-worles.

Other implements were made of bones, wood, and staghorns, such as needles, pins, bodkins, spoons, &c., Among the bones found were those of the martin, badger, weasel, wolf, fox, elk, squirrel, goat, aurochs, bear, boar, dog, &c. Of vegetable remains we have the cherry, wild apple, pear, wheat, flax, &c. The pottery is very primitive, with hardly any attempt at ornamentation, and is made of coarse clay mixed with fine gravel.

The construction of this settlement is the same as most of the others of the same age, and those having an interest in such matters will find the necessary information in the very interesting and instructive work of Dr. F. Keller, which has been translated into English. As to the origin of the settlers, the age of the dwellings, &c., the same book contains everything that can throw any light upon these questions. The specimens shown to the society, and which Mr. Moore has accepted for the Free Library and Museum, are all from the settlement at Greng.

The following Paper was then read :

ON THE

JURISPRUDENCE & EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS

OF THE

SOCIAL SCIENCE CONGRESS AT BELFAST.

BY MR. A. BARUCHSON.

ELEVEN years have passed since what we may now call another British Institution was first founded. I speak of the "National Association for the Promotion of Social Science," which was mainly originated, in conjunction with other able and zealous men, by Lord Brougham, the veteran philosopher, statesman and philanthropist.

Its utility, like that of many other new institutions, was questioned at first. As, however, meeting after meeting was held annually in the large centres of our commercial and industrial population, presided over and attended by the most eminent men in politics, science and letters, of this and other countries, the objects of the Association became better understood. Lord Dufferin, the President, in his address inaugurating the recent Congress in Belfast, defined its action thus:

"The acquisition of such knowledge as will enable the human communities, by which the earth is inhabited, to reach the highest limit of physical and moral well-being, which is compatible with the original condition of their existence.”

In 1862, an International Social Science Association was formed in Belgium, for the same purpose as ours. The General Secretary, in his address at the opening of the first Congress in Brussels, thus described the programme of its intended operations: "To develope the study of the social sciences, to guide public opinion towards the most practical

means of improving civil and criminal legislation, to perfect and generalise instruction, to extend and determine the mission of literature and art in modern society, to augment public wealth and direct its proper distribution, to ameliorate the physical and moral condition of the labouring classes, and lastly, to aid in the diffusion of all those principles which give force and dignity to nations." The speaker added, that the Congress was desirous not to obtain decisions on the controverted subjects, but to draw forth ideas, views and propositions, which could, in matters of legislation, art, instruction, benevolence, health and industry, remove doubts, dissipate shadows, disperse prejudices, and throw full light upon social science, which is constantly transformed, and for which the truth of yesterday is not that of to-day.

Although Lord Dufferin and Mons. Couvreur used different language in their definitions, the objects in view are nevertheless identical.

The annual meetings of the Association have already been held in Birmingham, Liverpool, Bradford, Glasgow, Dublin, London, Edinburgh, York, Sheffield, Manchester and Belfast. Besides the regular attendance of those members who take a special interest in the society, an accession of new members takes place in every town where the meetings are held. Information on many important topics, local and general, is given, and instruction afforded, by moving each year to a new centre, and exactly to and from those classes which exercise the greatest influence on society; nor must the important fact be overlooked that the audiences include a large number of the gentler sex, mothers, sisters, daughters, who not only have the power of aiding many of the useful and benevolent projects proposed and discussed, but, what is even of greater value, have the tender feelings, the loving and devoted hearts, to give a helping hand to every project that can benefit humanity.

The transactions of the annual meetings are published, vade mecums of social science

and be considered as may

in all its numerous ramifications.

It was my original intention to review some of the most important subjects discussed in each of the five departments of the Association; but, on consideration, I found that the time usually devoted by this society to a paper would allow me only to dilate on some points in connexion with the first two Departments, viz., those of Jurisprudence and Education.

The President of the first Department, on Law and Jurisprudence, Chief-Justice O'Hagan, an impressive and able orator, expressed himself strongly in his address on the imperfect education, and consequently the deficient attainments, of the legal profession of the United Kingdom, compared with Foreign (especially Continental) Jurists. Although he rejoiced to say there was exceptionally, in spite of these defects, a phalanx of great names, such as Romilly, Macintosh, Brougham, &c., which would have shed lustre on any profession or country, still he much regretted our short-comings in this respect. The time had arrived when a liberal culture of the law as a science was indispensable. The study of Roman jurisprudence, and of the codes and laws of foreign countries, was of great value, not only in our own immediate practice, but also in the great work of digesting a code of laws for this country; a work, which had long been wanted, was advocated by the three last Chief-Justices, and was emphatically approved by the Royal Commission in 1844 and the Parliamentary Committee in 1866.

It is stated that the judicial decisions and dicta on which the judgments now given in our courts are based, amount to no fewer than a hundred thousand, and are comprised in thirteen thousand volumes, the most compact

edition consisting of forty five densely printed quarto volumes.

The several points to which the President of the first department specially directed the attention of his auditors, and many of which afterwards became subjects for discussion,

were:

The Condemnation of Centralisation of the Law Courts in London. Whilst he considered the harmonious decision of all the Courts most desirable, and that the judgments should be uniform and homogeneous, local courts, with local bars of men of talent, were equally indispensable and more in harmony with the British principles of self-government and de-centralisation. He did not think that London should be the legal metropolis of the United Kingdom. What he desired was, an assimilated code, but independent judicature. We have ourselves proofs in Liverpool of the disadvantage and positive injury occasioned by the centralisation of some departments of justice in the metropolis. I may name the Admiralty, and also the Chancery Court, especially the former, which operates to the great detriment of our merchants and shipowners. Happily, our Chamber of Commerce has for some time past endeavoured to get the jurisdiction of the Admiralty Court extended to Liverpool, with an independent Judge; and I trust the time is near when this request, so urgently needed, will be granted.

The speaker then alluded to International Law, which must undergo modification to adapt itself to the altered times in which we live. The dispute about the Alabama, between this country and the United States, is sufficient proof that International Law must be more clearly defined, in the interest of an enduring peace, and in order that reciprocal protection may be extended to the interest of commerce.

*

* The Hon. Dudley Field delivered an able address on International Law, on the closing day of the Congress.