108 THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



ultimate discovery. It is singular that, while astronomical science 

 has kept ahead of her instruments, and has always been pushing 

 forward the opticians to meet the wants of the astronomer, in 

 microscopic science the contrary would seem to be the case. Our 

 opticians here have gone ahead of the observers, and I think it may 

 fairly be said that microscopic science has not advanced in discovery 

 proportionately to the means which optical science has placed at its 

 command. How far this is attributable to the neglect of optical 

 science on the part of our observers may be disputed, but I cannot 

 help thinking it may have something to do with it. While I am 

 advocating the study of optics, let me not be supposed to confine 

 my suggestions to optics alone ; indeed, they cannot be studied with 

 any degree of profit unless in connection with other branches of 

 physics. Every day is bringing each branch of science more and 

 more into relation with the others ; in studying one, the principles 

 on which it is based are found applicable, more or less, to all. 

 And here let me say a word on behalf of mathematics as an adjunct 

 to these studies. It is the fashion now-a-days to throw reproaches 

 on the study of mathematics as useless in the study of physics, but, I 

 venture to think, very undeservedly ; for although there has been 

 hitherto in our universities a neglect of experimental physics, and too 

 exclusive a teaching of natural philosojDhy by means of mathematics 

 only, I hold that the union of the two is essential for the thorough 

 investigation of physical science. Let the student get a true con- 

 ception of the principles which experiment will give him, and he 

 will find, in mathematical language and methods, a means for ex- 

 pression of thought, which will more readily enable him to pursue 

 his investigations than if left to unaided reasoning alone. 



Our instruments are marvels of optical power. We have gone on 

 from the l-4th to the l-8th, the l-8th to the l-12th, from l-12th to 

 a l-25th, and even to a l-50th. The opticians have placed at our com- 

 mand powerful means of research, and what account can we give of 

 the talent committed to our charge ? I fear the answer is not one of 

 which we can be proud. Look at the means in the hands of our 

 early microscopists, and note what they did, and how much they 

 accomplished with far inferior means and appliances. I fear we 

 are too apt to pride ourselves as being the possessors of superior 

 instruments ; each man pits his microscope in rivalry against his 

 neighbour's, and rejoices that he can beat him in the resolution of 

 Nobert's test lines. There, unfortunately, the rivalry too frequently 

 ends. The difficulty in this matter no doubt is, that our young men, 



