14 



thus seem that this district in which we meet may either become 

 a " Black Country " for the supply of London with Coal, which 

 it is to be hoped will be of an anthracite or smokeless nature; or 

 else may prove an unfailing source of fresh water to the great 

 relief of the Few London Municipality when formed, aifording 

 them an abundant supply of potable fluid for the south side of 

 the Metropolis, and enabling them in part at least to deal with 

 one of the most pressing economic problems of the day. We 

 will not here forecast the future of London. The hypothesis 

 of a smokeless, although undermined Metropolis, with a good 

 supply of pure water, is at least more consolatory than the 

 terrible astronomical forecast which has so recently been 

 annomiced to us. We are told to expect that one of these trouble- 

 some menacing comets will come into collision with the sun some 

 fifteen years hence, producing ten-ible consequences, and by heat 

 and flashing flames, burning up, or liquifying the earth's surface. 



In many departments of science, the year 1881 has been one 

 of retrospect. The British Association held its fifty-first Meeting 

 at York, in August last, and in thus celebrating the Jubilee of 

 the Association's existence, it is to be expected that many would 

 look back and compare the state of knowledge in 1831, with that 

 in 1881, and ask what progress has been made. The President, 

 Sir John Lubbock, Bart., F.R.S., in his opening address, has 

 felicitously and in popular language mapped out the ground that 

 has been traversed, and indicated the vantage points reached. 

 This address is now published in a book form, and as it either 

 has been or doubtless will be read by you all, I shall not attempt 

 to touch upon any of the subjects he has handled with so much 

 skill and didactic power. 



There are two dogmas which have done much to mould 

 scientific thought during the latter part of this period, upon 

 which I would with your permission make a very few remarks. 

 They are respectively known as the doctrine of the Conservation 

 of Energy, and the doctrine of Evolution. 



The first of these, notwithstanding its wide acceptance, can 

 scarcely be admitted to be a demonstrated principle. It must 

 still be regarded as a hypothesis awaiting complete verification; 

 a convenient enough hypothesis for dealing with some of the 

 phenomena around, us, particularly those relating to inanimate 



