92 Mr WhewelPs Address to the British Association 



view ; and these are now ac^cessible to members of the Associa- 

 tion and to the pubhc. It appears to be suitable to the design 

 of this Body, and hkely to further its aims, that some one should 

 endeavour to point out the bearing which the statements thus 

 brought before it may and ought to have upon its future pro- 

 ceedings, and especially upon the labours of the meeting now 

 begun. I am well persuaded that if the President had taken 

 this office upon himself, the striking and important views which 

 it may naturally suggest would have been presented in a man- 

 ner worthy of the occasion : he has been influenced by various 

 causes to wish to devolve it upon me, and I have considered 

 that I should show my respect for the Association better by at- 

 tempting the task, however imperfectly, than by pleading my 

 inferior fitness for it. 



The particular questions which require consideration, and the 

 researches which most require prosecution, in the sciences to 

 which the Reports now before you refer, will be offered to the 

 notice of the Sections of the Association which the subjects re- 

 spectively concern, at their separate sittings. It is conceived 

 that the most obvious and promising chance of removing defi- 

 ciencies and solving difficulties in each subject, is to be found in 

 drawing to them the notice of persons who have paid a conti- 

 nued and especial attention to the subject. The consideration of 

 these points will therefore properly form a part of the business 

 of the Sectional Meetings ; and all members of the Association, 

 according to their own peculiar pursuits and means, will thus 

 have the opportunity of supplying any wanting knowledge, and 

 of throwing light upon any existing perplexity. 



But besides this special examination of the suggestions which 

 your Reports contain, there are some more general reflections to 

 which they naturally give rise, which may perhaps be properly 

 brought upon this first General Assembly of the present meet- 

 ing ; and which, if they are well founded, may preside over and 

 influence the aims and exertions of many of us, both during 

 our present discussions and in our future attempts to further the 

 ends of science. 



Astronomy. — There is here neither time nor occasion for any 

 but the most rapid survey of the subjects to which your reports 

 refer, in the point of view in which the Reports place them before 



