io The Period from 185 i to i860 



livered his address as retiring president at the meeting held in Providence, 

 R. I., in August, 1855. This address, also without a title, was an excellent 

 exposition of the geological history of the earth, including "the progress of 

 life from its earliest dawn to the appearance of man." All of it was on a 

 high scientific, literary and philosophic plane. In the concluding paragraphs 

 of his address Dana referred to the future of man as follows : 



Another of our number has shown in eloquent language how the diversified features 

 and productions of the Old World conspired to adapt it for the childhood and develop- 

 ment of the race ; and that, when beyond his pupilage, having accomplished his rescue 

 from himself and the tyranny of forces around him, and broken the elements into his 

 service, he needed to emerge from the trammels of the school-house in order to enjoy 

 his fullest freedom of thought and action, and social union. Professor Guyot observes 

 further, that America, ever free, was the appointed land for this freedom and union, — 

 of which its open plains, and oneness of structure, were a fit emblem ; and that, al- 

 though long without signs of progress or hope in its future, this land is to be the 

 centre of hope and light to the world. 



In view of all these arrangements, man may well feel exalted. He is the last of the 

 grand series. At his approach, the fierce tribes of the earth drew back, and the race 

 dwindled to one fourth its bulk and ferocity, — the huge Mastodons, Lions, and Hyenas 

 yielding place to other species, better fit to be his attendants, and more in harmony with 

 the new creation. 



Partaking of the Divine image, all nature pays him tribute ; the universe is his field 

 of study ; an eternity his future. Surely it is a high eminence on which he stands. (Pro- 

 ceedings, vol. 9.) 



John Torrey (botany), president in 1855, does not appear to have de- 

 livered an address as retiring president. His successor, James Hall (geol- 

 ogy), delivered his address as retiring president at the Montreal meeting in 

 August, 1857; it was published in 1882. (Proceedings, vol. 31, pp. 29-71.) 



Professor J. W. Bailey (chemistry), elected president of the Association 

 for 1857, died on February 27 at 46 years of age, the first president of the 

 Association to die in office. Professor Alexis Caswell (astronomy) served 

 in his place at the meeting held in Montreal in August, 1857, and also in 

 place of Jeffries Wyman, president of the Association for the meeting held 

 in Baltimore in May, 1858, but which he did not attend. On retiring from 

 the duties of president of the Association, Caswell delivered an address at 

 the meeting held in Springfield, Mass., in August, 1859. The first part of 

 his address consisted of tributes to the members who had died during the 

 year and brief sketches of their lives ; the last part, to a discussion of current 

 problems in astronomy. 



There is no record that Stephen Alexander, president of the Association 

 for the Springfield, Mass., meeting in August, 1859, delivered an address as 

 retiring president at the meeting in Newport, R. I., in August, i860. Nor 

 did Isaac Lea, president for this meeting, deliver an address as retiring 



