28 BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 



but one. Tlie love of truth ; the pleasure which the mind feels in 

 overcoming difficulties ; the satisfaction of contributing to the general 

 store of knowledge ; Uie engrossing nature of a pursuit so exalted as 

 that of diving into the wonders of the creation ; all these are very 

 powerful incentives to exertion ; and under their influence great works 

 have been undertaken in the cause of science, and carried through to a 

 successful termination ; but I believe few will be disposed to deny 

 that further inducements must be highly useful. 



" Let it be for a moment recollected, that where any, even the most 

 trifling, step in advance has been gained, except, perhaps, the acciden- 

 tal discovery of a simple fact, there has usually been a long and labo- 

 rious course of previous preparation. It has been necessary, even in 

 the more popular sciences, to know accurately, first, what had been 

 done by others ; to see distinctly the boundary line between the known 

 and the unknown, before there was the least chance of effecting any- 

 thing; and in the higher departments of science, such is the time to be 

 expended, so great the toil to be endured in ascending to that eleva- 

 tion, from which the difficulties to be encountered but just begin to 

 appear, that the task is one to which the undivided energies of man 

 exerted for many years are no more than commensurate. 



" One disappointment succeeds another, and years of toil pass 

 away and no result. Under these trying circumstances the Associa- 

 tions of scientific men afford their friendly aid; they soothe disappoint- 

 ment, excite hope, and prepare the way to redoubled exertion : they 

 call into active existence that principle which has been implanted in 

 our nature for the noblest pur])oses — the legitimate ambition of merit- 

 ing and receiving the approbation of our friends and associates. In 

 the ordinary circles of acquaintances, the man engaged in scientific 

 pursuits will find very few, if any, who can understand and appreciate 

 his labours ; but in such associations as this, there are always many 

 who see exactly the object aimed at, the difficulties to be encountered, 

 and who are ready to acknowledge with gratitude every successful 

 effort in the cause of science. 



** But this Association performs other important seiTices. It ap- 

 pears to me to diflfuse over scientific inquiry (if I may so express 

 myself) a salutary influence — a healthy vigour of action. What 

 more calculated to dispel that feeling of languor and weariness, the 



