JET. 76.] SPEECH AT MANCHESTER. 809 



becoming from one whose chemistry nearly ended as 

 well as began with the simple atomic theory of Dalton. 

 But there is one topic which I may properly speak of, 

 standing as I do as a representative of those favored 

 individuals which your programme, for lack of a better 

 distinguishing word, calls 4 foreigners.' I refer to the 

 urgently expressed c hope that this meeting may be 

 the commencement of an international scientific organ- 

 ization.' For this we thank vou, Mr. President, most 



V 



heartily. This is, indeed, a consummation devoutly to 

 be wished, and confidently to be hoped for by all of 

 us, especially by those for whom I am speaking. 



"Not only we Americans, who are of British de- 

 scent, and who never forget that blood is thicker than 

 water, but as well our Continental associates on this 

 platform, of the various strains of blood which, inter- 

 fused, have produced this English race and fitted it 

 for its noble issues, we, each and all, I repeat, accept 

 this name of ' foreigners ' only in the conventional 

 sense which the imperfection of the language imposes. 

 In the forum of science we ignore it altogether. One 

 purpose unifies and animates every scientific mind 

 with ' one divine intent,' and that by no means the 

 4 far-off intent ' of which the poet sings, but one very 

 near and pervading. So we took to heart the closing 

 words of your president's most pertinent and timely 

 address. Indeed, we had taken them to heart in 

 anticipation, and so have come to this meeting, one 

 hundred strong or more (in place of the ordinary 

 score) fully bent upon making this Manchester meet- 

 ing international. 



" Far back in my youthful days there was a strong- 

 willed President of the United States, of military 

 antecedents, who once drew up and promulgated an 



