PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 3 



and Ireland. The last topic mentioned aboA'e, viz., the number of hours occupied daily 

 ■with work, is of especial importance with regard to our Universities. The open discussion 

 of this subject may draw attention to the immense disadvantage under which Science 

 labours here, where one man has to iindertake a great number of distinct branches — has 

 to lecture, for example, as is commonly the case in Canada, on all branches both of 

 Mathematics and Physics. 



On this subject, I cannot do better than c[Uote the words of Lord Rayleigh who, speak- 

 ing of Physics alone, says : " It may be expected, that I should attempt some record of 

 recent progress in that branch of Science, if indeed such a term be applicable. For it is 

 one of the difficulties of the task that subjects as distinct as Mechanics, Electricity, Heat, 

 Optics and Acoustics, to say nothing of Astronomy and Meteorology, are included under 

 Physics. Any one of these may well occupy the life-long attention of a man of Science, 

 and to be thoroughly conversant with all of them is more than can be expected of any one 

 individual, and is probably incompatible with the devotion of much time and energy to 

 the actual advancement of knowledge. Not that I would complain," he says, " of the asso- 

 ciation sanctioned by common parlance. A sound knowledge of at least the principles of 

 general Physics is necessary to the cultivation of any department." 



The possibility of the combination of all the branches of Mathematics as well as of 

 Physics in a single University chair, does not appear to have occurred to him at the time of 

 his Address. If he had knowledge of the fact, as occurring in Canada, he certainly 

 refrained from any allusion to it. But there is some hope, even here. "Whatever may be 

 said of the question of University federation or consolidation, on other grounds, and I 

 confess for myself that I have not studied the literature of the subject, there can be no 

 doubt that an immense stride would be made in favour of Science, if a number of the 

 present Universities of Canada could be concentrated in one city, and would divide the 

 work of lecturing on scientific subjects amongst them for the benefit of students in general ; 

 so that Professors could devote their attention to special branches, and have time to spare 

 to piirsue original research in them. 



A report of the kind I have referred to, on the present state of Science in Canada, 

 might possibly be useful in another way, namely, in forming the foundation for an applica- 

 tion either to the Dominion or Local Government for aid of various kinds. Applications 

 to Government form one of the recognized means by which the British Association en- 

 deavours to promote Science. In the United States, the American Association acts on this 

 principle, as may be seen from the following extract from Science, for September 5th, 1885 : — 



" Rarely is there a meeting of the Association which does not afford striking examples 

 of the relations of Government to Science, and of the importance of securing to the public 

 the resiilts of prolonged research. Astronomy, Geology, Geodesy, certain branches of 

 Physics, Ethnology, and now Biology, through the admirable studies of the United States 

 Fishery Commission, receive their most generous encouragement from the national Govern- 

 ment. To make the same assertion in another form, we may say, that an enlightened people 

 insists upon it, that Congress shall secure, for the good of all citizens, whatever results 

 can be obtained by the liberal employment of Science in the public service. More than this, 

 individual citizens have discovered that there is no better use for wealth than by endow- 

 ments like those which are annually added to the educational resources of the country." 



These relations between Government and Science would, no doubt, be more readily 



