Inaugural Address of the President, Sir W. R. Hamilton. 3^3 



but the mixed mathematics ; not only the results of our original 

 intuitions of time and space, but also the results of the combination 

 of those intuitions with the not less original notion of cause, and 

 with the observed laws of nature, so far and no farther than that 

 ever- widening sphere extends, within which observation is subor- 

 dinate to reasoning ; in short, all those deductive studies in which 

 Algebra and Geometry are dominant, though the dynamical and 

 the physical may enter as elements also. The second, or physical 

 part of science, embracing all those inductive studies respecting un- 

 living or unorganized bodies, which proceed mainly through out- 

 ward observation or experiment, and can as yet make little progress 

 in " the high priori road/' And finally, the third, or physiological 

 part, including all studies of an equally inductive kind, respecting 

 living or organized bodies. (I do not pretend that this arrange- 

 ment is the most philosophical that can be imagined, but it may 

 suffice for our present purpose.) 



In all these divisions of science, and in several subdivisions of 

 each, our published Transactions contain many valuable essays; 

 and there seems to be no cause for apprehension that in this re- 

 spect, at least, (if indeed in any other,) the Academy is likely to 

 lose character. Death has, it is true, removed some mighty names 

 from among us — elders and chiefs of our society : but the stimulus 

 and instruction of their example have not been throvm away : an 

 ardent band of followers has been raised up by themselves to suc- 

 ceed them. To keep the trust thus handed down, is an arduous, 

 but noble charge, from which it is not to be thought that any here 

 will shrink, whatever his share of that charge may be. 



And yet, while Mathematics and Physics seem likely not to be 

 neglected here, or rather certain to be ardently pursued, it may be 

 pardoned me if I express a fear and a regret, that Physiology, or 

 more precisely, the study of the phsenomena and laws of life and 

 living bodies, has not been represented lately in the published 

 Transactions of our Academy, to a degree correspondent with the 

 eminence of the existing School of physiological study in Dublin. 

 Our medical men and anatomists, our zoologists and botanists also, 

 will take, I hope, this little hint in good part. They know how far 

 I am from pretending to criticise their productions, and that I only 

 wish to have more of their results brought forward here, for the in- 

 struction of myself and of others. That is not, I think, too much to 

 ask from gentlemen who have subscribed the obligation which is 

 signed by every member of this body, and who are qualified, by intel- 

 lect and education, to take an enlarged yet not exaggerated view of 

 the importance of a central society. I know that many other, and, 

 indeed more appropriate outlets exist, for the publication of curious, 

 isolated, or semi-isolated facts : but it is not so much remarkable 

 facts, as remarkable views, that I wish to see communicated to us 

 and through us to the world ; although such views ought, of course' 

 to be illustrated and confirmed by facts. 



