for the Advancement of Science. §1 



scheme and plan of the Association, they must needs hope that 

 such an event as this publication will exercise a beneficial influ- 

 ence upon its future career. 



This hope is derived, they trust, from no visionary or pre- 

 sumptuous notions of what institutions and associations can ef- 

 fect. Let none suppose that we ascribe to assembled numbers 

 and conjoined labours extravagant powers and privileges in the 

 promotion of science ; — that we believe in the omnipotence of a 

 parliament of the scientific world. We know that the progress 

 of discovery can no more be suddenly accelerated by a word of 

 command uttered by a multitude, than by a single voice. There 

 is, as was long ago said, no royal road to knowledge — no pos- 

 sibility of shortening the way, because he who wishes to travel 

 along it is the most powerful one ; and just as little is there any 

 mode of making it shorter, because they who press forward are 

 many. We must all start from our actual position, and we can- 

 not accelerate our advance by any method of giving to each man 

 his mile of the march. Yet something we may do : we may 

 take care that those who come ready and willing for the road^ 

 shall start from the proper point and in the proper direction.;— • 

 shall not scramble over broken ground, when there is a causeway 

 parallel to their path, nor set oiF confidently from an advanced 

 point when the first steps of the road are still doubtful ; — shall 

 not waste their powers in struggling forwards where movement 

 is not progress, and shall have pointed out to them all glimmer- 

 ings of light, through the dense and deep screen which divides 

 us from the next bright region of philosophical truth. We can- 

 not create, we cannot even direct the powers of discovery, but 

 we may perhaps aid them to direct themselves ; we may perhaps 

 enable them to feel how jnany of us are ready to admire their 

 success ; and willing, so far as it is possible for intellects of a 

 common pitch, to minister to their exertions. 



It was conceived that an exposition of the recent progress, the 

 present condition, the most pressing requirements of the princi- 

 pal branches of science at the present moment, might answer 

 some of the purposes I have attempted to describe. Several 

 such expositions have accordingly been presented to the Associa- 

 tion by persons selected for the task, most of them eminent for 

 their own contributions to the department which they had to re- 



