372 Proceedings of the British Association. 



combat the objections which had been urged against such as- 

 sociations. They were said to be dangerous in their ten- 

 dency, but he denied that the investigation of truth could ever 

 be injurious to mankind ; — this was a libel on the God of Na- 

 ture ; for, instead of impugning any of the grander truths, they 

 would, on the contrary, be more and more corroborated. He 

 urged most strenuously upon the Association the necessity of 

 keeping in mind the objects of its institution, and to confine 

 their researches to dead matter, without entering into any spe- 

 culations on the relations of intellectual beings ; and he would 

 brand as a traitor that person that would dare to overstep the 

 prescribed boundaries of the institution. If the Society should 

 ever be broken up — which God forbid — he would predict that 

 it would happen by some members imprudently and daringly 

 passing its boundaries. Before concluding, he made some com- 

 plimentary remarks on the fame which this city had always 

 enjoyed as a seat of learning and science ; and in allusion to 

 the monuments of Burns, Playfair, and Stewart, which had 

 been erected on the Calton Hill since last he (Mr S.) had vi- 

 sited this city, said, that, although he did not disapprove of 

 monuments to warriors who had fought the battles of their 

 country, yet he viewed with more pleasurable interest such mo- 

 numents as those — memorials as they were of peace — and 

 with which was connected neither shrieks nor wailings, heart- 

 breakings nor blood — they were the visible representation of 

 those feelings in which they participated. — He then moved, 

 that, in accordance with the resolution of the General Com- 

 mittee last year at Cambridge, Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Bris- 

 bane do take the Chair. 



Sir Thomas Brisbane having taken the Chair, addressed the 

 audience in the following terms : 



After the distinguished Nobleman who first filled the situa- 

 tion I have now the honour to hold, and after the two cele- 

 brated Professors who successively followed him — men of pre- 

 eminent talent and gigantic intellect, and who are recognised 

 as such all over Europe — I must confess, I appear before you 

 with the utmost diffidence, and must claim your indulgence ; 

 for I feel that I am quite inadequate to discharge in a becoming 

 manner, the various and important duties belonging to the situa- 



