president's address. 17 



tion may well be called to it again. On the occasion referred to, 

 Sir William said : — 



" It is only of late years that Natural Science has found its 

 proper place in University education in England and among 

 English-speaking people, who are, in this respect, far behind 

 France and Germany. It is now, however, making rapid strides, 

 and the ancient University of Cambridge bids fair to become as 

 famed as a science school as ever it was for mathematical excel- 

 lence. Other Universities are now emulating its example, and I 

 trust that Australia will not permit herself to be left behind in 

 the race for knowledge. Up till now, biology has as a rule never 

 p not usually] been taught except as a compulsory part of the 

 medical profession, and the time required for the study of the 

 specialities of that profession precludes the possibility of acquiring 

 more than elementary knowledge of general biology, yet it is from 

 the ranks of the medical profession that the most eminent biolo- 

 gists of the day have been drawn. Those branches of science 

 which treat of the forces of nature, and the changes brought 

 about by combination, viz., natural philosophy and chemistry,, 

 lead to so many profitable occupations and employments that 

 there is little risk of their being neglected; but it is not so, at 

 present at all events, with the science of natural history. I do 

 not admit that the value of knowledge should be tested by the 

 amount of money it will put into the pockets of its possessor, or 

 that the acquisition of wealth is the sole aim and intention of 

 education, but there can be no doubt that to the mass of people the- 

 consideration 'what will it lead to' must take a prominent place in 

 the training of youth. Is, then, a knowledge of natural science- 

 financially worthless 1 Does the degree of B.Sc, which neces- 

 sitates a knowledge of both ancient and modern languages and 

 of all the sciences, not involve a higher and more general culture 

 than that of B.A., which has a recognised value for teachers, 

 clergymen, and barristers 1 Will not a like, if not a higher value, 

 be placed on the science degree, when its superiority is ascer- 

 tained and admitted 1 The time, I am sure, is not far distant 

 when the graduate in science will be eagerly sought, not only for 



