
ADDRESS. XXXI 
briefly, but profoundly, touching upon every point of interest, so that the 
man about to undertake the task of endeavouring to advance any particular 
branch of science may at once, by referring to one of these Reports, know 
where to look for that information which is indispensable to success, namely, 
an exact knowledge of all that has been done by others. 
These Reports are so numerous, and embrace so wide a field, that to give 
any analysis of them within reasonable limits, would be impossible; and to 
form an adequate estimate of their importance, it is absolutely necessary to 
examine them in detail, just as they have been published. However, it ap- 
pears to me, that without presupposing any knowledge whatever of these 
matters, or of the past history of this Society without assuming that it has 
in any one instance effected, by joint co-operation, important and laborious 
researches in the cause of science, still that, even to a person who will not 
take the trouble of inquiring and informing himself, an answer to the question, 
Does the Association advance science ? may be returned, short but conclusive. 
The answer I should give would be this : I appeal to the experience of every 
man at all conversant with the history of science, and with the working of 
scientific societies, whether it is not an indisputable fact, proved by experi- 
ence, that all such societies, when properly conducted, are powerfully in- 
strumental in promoting the advance of science. 
Unfortunately, it sometimes happens, that when a new society springs up, 
it in some degree interferes with a society previously existing. This Asso- 
ciation, however, interferes with no other society, and therefore, setting aside 
the great objects actually accomplished, far beyond the pecuniary resources 
of other societies, and for which I take no credit, because I presume for a 
moment they are unknown, it appears to me, nevertheless, to follow irresist- 
ibly, that this Association, acting precisely as other learned societies do— 
using the same means, and exerting a similar indirect influence, must like- 
wise, just as they are, and on a scale just proportioned to its magnitude, be 
eminently useful in urging on the advance of science. 
It may, perhaps, be worth while to inquire for a moment in what way the 
associations of scientific men promote science. The inquiry, however, can- 
not alter the fact that they do so, for that fact is based on experience. There 
are many and very obvious ways in which they do so. I shall mention but 
one. 
The love of truth; the pleasure which the mind feels in overcoming dif- 
ficulties ; the satisfaction in contributing to the general store of knowledge ; 
the engrossing nature of a pursuit so exalted as that of diving into the won- 
ders of the creation ; all these are very powerful incentives to exertion; and 
under their influence great works have been undertaken in the cause of 
science, and carried through to a successful termination ; but I believe few 
will be disposed to deny that further inducements must be highly useful. 
Let it be for a moment recollected, that where any, even the most trifling, 
step in advance has been gained, except perhaps the accidental discovery 
of a simple fact, there has usually been a long and laborious course of 
previous preparation. It has been necessary, even in the more popular sci- 
ences, to know accurately, first, what had been done by others; to see di- 
stinetly the boundary line between the known and the unknown, before there 
was the least chance of effecting anything; and in the higher departments 
of science such is the time to be expended, so great the toil to be endured 
in ascending to that elevation, from which the difficulties to be encountered 
but just begin to appear, that the task is one to which the undivided energies 
of man exerted for many years are no more than commensurate. 
But the necessary preparations accomplished, then the real difficulties com- 
