THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS, 



By J. JENNER WEIR, Esq., F.L S. 



Annual Meeting, February 26th, 1873. 



GENTIiEMEN, 



In accordance with annual custom it becomes my duty, as your 

 President on this occasion, to deliver an address. 



Diiring the past year, both my time and thoughts have been 

 occupied with official duties, which have prevented my giving to 

 the subject that attention which it demands, and must therefore 

 beg your forbearance for any shortcomings. 



My observations are addressed to you as men of science, all 

 more or less devoted to its cultivation, and showing, by the 

 support you give to this local Society, a desire to make the great 

 truths of Science more generally known and appreciated in this 

 neighbourhood. 



Professor Huxley has defined Science to be "trained and 

 organized common sense," and in this light I regard it ; but it 

 unfortunately happens that it is by many persons regarded with 

 suspicion, and by others with positive dislike. 



This is due in a great measure to different tones of thought. 



The retrospective philosopher is constantly seeking for autho- 

 rity, and the prospective philosopher is constantly seeking for 

 truth, by investigation, observation, and experiment. 



To the latter class only I address myself. 



The truly scientific man is ready to give up his most cherished 

 views, as soon as he finds they will not bear the closest investiga- 

 tion. His mind is ever ready to consider the claims which any 

 new theory may have for acceptance ; if it sufficiently well explains 

 what he has hitherto regarded as a phenomenon, and brings into 

 coherency a number of ascertained facts, and is not opposed to 

 other facts, but is in harmony with them, then the Phenomenon 

 becomes to him a Noumenon, and he feels he has made a step 

 forward in his search after truth. 



The study of Physical Science should be undertaken in the 

 same spirit that the highest branch of it is pursued by those 

 great men who make Astronomy their special subject. 



