174 THE pkesident's address. 



well as collectively. Armed with it the most amiable of men have 

 been converted into veritable fiends ; and even in the ordinary affairs 

 of ever J day life, it is rare to see power exerted with purely dis- 

 interested and unselfish aims. Asa combination of intelligent men, 

 however, I claim for the true votaries of science conspicuous virtue 

 in this relation. Probably there are few walks in life in which the 

 exercise of authority and party spirit for selfish ends are so little 

 known. Occasionally our leaders in science, doubtless animated by 

 the best intentions, act imprudently in their official recommenda- 

 tions. Something of the kind recently occurred at one of our 

 learned societies, when the action in question was instantly dis- 

 approved by the rank and file of the distinguished body in question. 

 It is not often that science apes the function of the autocrat ; nor 

 are the recommendations of scientific leaders either to be viewed 

 uncharitably, or to be superseded without good reason. At all 

 events I can with confidence assert that there is no calling — if 

 science may be thus denominated — in which personal independence 

 and individuality are so remarkable. Organisations to enforce par- 

 ticular views, dogmas, or modes of thought are almost entirely un- 

 known ; but where any great or good work likely to promote the 

 social, moral, and intellectual welfare of the people is concerned, 

 there you will find these lovers of science (however divergent their 

 liabits in respect of otiier matters which necessarily engage their 

 attention) unite together as one man. Trickery of all kinds they 

 utterly despise ; nor is it scarcL'ly possible for a truly scientific man 

 to indulge in speculative follies which will not bear the light of day. 

 I have sometimes observed that persons, whose mental and moral 

 culture has never been exercised, either in looking through a 

 microscope or in acquiring the rudiments of biological and physical 

 science, a positive inability to tell " the truth, the whole truth, and 

 nothing but the truth." 



If exhibitions of inaccuracy and untruthfulness are admitted to 

 be humiliating and barbaric, let not those who disapprove flatter 

 themselves that the practice of absolute integrity is easy. Unfor- 

 tunately, criteria of smallness of j^rinciple are sometimes noticed in 

 men of sci(.*nce, or ratiier in some who have worked in science, but 

 who have missed the higher aims of science. (Such displays are 

 doubtless rare ; but when they occur they are not difficult of 

 detection, since tliey appear without being sought for. (Greatness 

 of principle is all the greater by contrast. When on a former 



