ADDRESS BY MR. MURCHISON. xll 



chanical philosophy enabled recent philosophers to make those early- 

 observations perform a mighty part in testifying the great primal 

 truths of physical philosophy, and applying them to explain, and even 

 to predict, the varied motions and phenomena of the earth and hea- 

 vens. Such a stage there must be in every inductive science, — one in 

 which immediate straining after comprehensive truths would be rash, 

 while the marshalling and classing phenomena is a task full of use- 

 fulness and hope. Those only who mistake the stage of discovery in 

 which statistical observers are now placed, — who do not see that at 

 present observation without premature speculation is the one and 

 necessary step towards wide truths, — will either be impatient to weave 

 rash theories from our present imperfect materials, or to scoff at the 

 unscientific character of those Avho labour patiently to increase and 

 arrange them. The analogy between the early stages of astronomy 

 and the actual position of statistics might be made more complete. 

 The secular character of many classes of statistical observations neces- 

 sary to elucidate difficulties and disentangle truth might be easily de- 

 monstrated, but enough has been said for the purpose of indicating the 

 really scientific character of this useful branch of our Institution. 



It has fallen to our precursors to comment on the advances in Natu- 

 ral History which have been made by the Section of Zoology and Bo- 

 tany; and although, on this occasion, we are not presented with any 

 report upon these sciences, you all know how ably they have been 

 elucidated at former meetings, by a Lindlej% a Jenyns, and a Richard- 

 son ; and also with what vigour that section has prosecuted its inqui- 

 ries under the auspices of a Henslow and a Macleay. We must, how- 

 ever, here allude to the distinguished Northumbrian naturalist who 

 occupies one of our vice-chairs, and express our hopes that Mr. Pri- 

 deaux Selby may soon be called upon to contribute what is yet a de- 

 sideratum — a report upon the present state of the science of Orni- 

 thology. 



We have hardly ventured to allude to the separate proceedings of 

 the Sections, for any discourse which should attempt to analyze their 

 labours or to do justice to their usefulness would occupy too large a 

 portion of your time. And besides this consideration, you, Gentlemen, 

 are all aware, that these Sectional Meetings give rise to the Reports 

 we have been considering, and also to the various practical researches 

 which are carried out by the employment of your own funds, or by 

 demands upon the country. If, therefore, the Reports constitute our 

 high claim upon the literature of science, the proceedings of the Sec- 

 tions must be viewed as the fresh current of scientific enterprise, which 

 continually vivifies and renovates the whole body of the Association. 



Among the investigations which are proceeding under the auspices 

 of the Association, those which originated in the Committee of the 



