THE STUDY AND TEACHING OF BIOLOGY. 299 



to take this course by the fact that our present year's work is confess- 

 edly of a tentative nature : one main object of it being to enable us to 

 decide upon what lines we are to go forwai-d in the future ; and I be- 

 lieve it may facilitate decision on some points if we have before us, 

 as a sort of basis for discussion, a definite statement of views on the 

 subject, no matter how imperfect such statement may be in itself, or 

 how much the opinions expressed in it may afterward be found to re- 

 quire modification. What I propose, therefore, is not simply to tell 

 you what are our arrangements for this year, but also to put before 

 you some thoughts as to what I think we ought to do in the time to 

 come. It is, I am sure, unnecessary for me to dilate at any length, 

 before this audience, upon the interest and importance of biological 

 studies. However contributory to our culture and welfare other studies 

 may be, biology has, and ever must have, a very special interest of its 

 own: it alone deals with the living organisms which surround us, and 

 which are the only things that share with us that wonderful collo- 

 cation and interaction of natural forces which we call life. Biology, 

 too, includes within its range the study of man himself, so far as 

 one side of his nature is concerned; and, as regards his mental and 

 moral qualities, the psychologist and sociologist have already begun 

 to recognize that the progress of their sciences is closely bound up 

 with the development of certain branches of biology. As regards its 

 practical value I might set forth at length the indebtedness of scien- 

 tific medicine and of sanitary science to biology; but I prefer not to 

 recommend the study to you by such considerations. This is a univer- 

 sity: and the object of a university, I take it, is directly to promote 

 liberality of thought and culture, and only indirectly to concern 

 itself witli the practical advancement of material welfare. It is con- 

 cerned rather with the acquirement of a knowledge of principles than 

 with their practical applications; although, in connection with it, it 

 may have subsidiary schools whei'e those who have already learned 

 the principles may acquire a practical knowledge of various arts. 

 Nevertheless it is true that, if we devote ourselves to the higher ob- 

 jects, the rest will be added unto us ; for it is one of the great glories 

 of all the physical sciences that, while second to none in the training 

 which a study of them gives to all the faculties of the mind in the 

 promotion of large and liberal ideas, and in the gratification of that 

 longing to "know," which is the noblest characteristic of the human 

 intellect they at the same time, as a by-thing, but constantly, con- 

 tribute to the increase of man's comfort, and to the material pros- 

 perity and happiness of his race. Those who advance our knowledge 

 of the laws of animal and vegetable life may work without any imme- 

 diate outlook to the advancement of medicine, hygiene, and agri- 

 culture, but such advancement constantly follows and springs from 

 their work, and will ever do so. 



To those who are in any degree acquainted with the state 



