SPEECHES AT THE RECENT TYNDALL BANQUET. 663 



privilege to be admitted to his personal intimacy. I believe that 

 scientific research has succeeded in establishing on a physiological 

 basis certain evidences of intelligence even among oysters ; and cer- 

 tainly there is, I think, one form of intelligence which is conspicuously 

 displayed by the oyster which might, perhaps, be cultivated with ad- 

 vantage by after-dinner speakers in my position. The oyster knows 

 when to shut up. Admonished by that very interesting and suggest- 

 ive fact in natural history, what little else I have to say upon behalf 

 of literature, I shall confine to the expression of a hope that the well- 

 deserved relaxation from his more systematic scientific labors in con- 

 nection with the Royal Institution may enable my valued and honored 

 friend Professor Tyndall to enjoy an increased leisure for the con- 

 tinued cultivation of that department of literature which has already 

 been so richly adorned by his admirable writings." 



Sir Lyon Play fair, 31. P., proposed the next toast, " The Public 

 Services in Relation to Science." He said that undoubtedly the pub- 

 lic services were intimately connected with science, and were pro- 

 foundly affected by its progress, but, unfortunately, the truth was 

 only beginning to be recognized in this country. In the United 

 States scientific men were attached to all public offices, but in this 

 country the attachment was of the loosest possible character. Never- 

 theless, science had undoubtedly affected our public services in the 

 most profound way. The telegraph had altered the whole system of 

 commerce, and also the methods and the powers of government. 

 There was to be a great naval review next month ; it would be inter- 

 esting to imagine Elizabeth's thirty small ships, which conquered the 

 Armada, sailing through two miles of modern ironclads. The largest 

 piece of ordnance used in the Crimean War cost less than a single shot 

 fired from the huge guns of our ironclads. But it was in peace rather 

 than in war that science rejoiced in aiding government. A strong 

 feeling was arising that we must improve our intellectual position as a 

 nation, and this, at last, was being recognized by the Government. A 

 material index of progressive civilization had always been desired. 

 Liebig contended that the best index of civilization was the quantity 

 of soap consumed. When the Queen ascended the throne we con- 

 sumed per head 7f pounds of soap, and now we use 10 pounds per 

 head. The consumption of paper was a more reliable index. At the 

 commencement of the Queen's reign the consumption was 1^ pound 

 of paper yearly ; now it was 12 pounds, while in the United States 

 it was 10 pounds, in Germany 9 pounds, in France 8 pounds, and 

 in Italy 4 pounds. But the main question was whether we were de- 

 veloping the national intellect at the same rate as other nations. Our 

 general intelligence is still high, but our trained scientific intelligence is 

 low. Our secondary education in all matters relating to science was 

 far behind that of the United States, Germany, and France. Neither 



