Ivi REPORT— 1853. 



exert so beneficial an influence by bi-inging scientific men togetiier, and thus 

 placing, as it were, in juxtaposition every society in the country. But how 

 has this influence been exercised ? Not assuredly in the promotion of vague 

 theories and speculative novelties, but in the encouragement of the hard daily 

 toil of scientific research, and by the work which it has caused to be done, 

 whether by its influence over its individual members., or on the Government 

 of the country. Regarding our Association, Gentlemen, in this point of view, 

 I can only see an increased demand for its labours, and not a termination of 

 them, in the future progress of science. The wider the spread of science, 

 the wider will be the sphere of its usefulness. 



We should do little justice to the great Industrial Exhibition, which two 

 years ago may be literally said to have delighted millions of visitors, or to 

 the views of the illustrious Prince with whom it originated, if we should 

 merely recollect it as a spectacle of surpassing beauty. It appears destined 

 to exercise a lasting influence on the mental culture, and therefore, we may 

 hope, on the moral condition, of the great mass of our population, by the 

 impulse which it has given to measures for the promotion of general educa- 

 tion. We may hope that those whose duty it will be to give effect to this 

 impulse, will feel the importance of education in Science as united with 

 education in Art. An attempt to cultivate the taste alone, independently 

 of the more general cultivation of the mind, would probably fail, as it w'ould 

 deserve to do. I trust that the better education which is now so universally 

 recognized as essential to preserve our future pre-eminence as a manufac- 

 turing nation, will have its foundations laid, not in the superficial teaching 

 which only aims at communicating a few curious results, but in the sound 

 teaching of the fundamental and elementary principles of science. Art 

 ought assuredly to rest on the foundation of science. Will it, in the pre- 

 sent day, be contended that the study of science is unfavourable to the culti- 

 vation of taste ? Such an opinion could only be based on an imperfect con- 

 ception of the objects of science, and an ignorance of all its rightful in- 

 fluences. Does the great sculptor or historical painter despise anatomy? 

 On the contrary, he knows that a knowledge of that science must constitute 

 one of the most valuable elements of his art, if he would produce the most 

 vigorous and characteristic expression of the human figure. And so the 

 artist should understand the structure of the leaf, the tendril, or the flower, 

 if he would make their delicate and characteristic beauties subservient to 

 the objects either of decorative art, or to those of the higher branches of 

 sculpture and painting. Again, will the artist appreciate less the sublimity of 

 the mountain, or represent its characteristic features witli less truthfulness, 

 because he is sufficient of a geologist to trace the essential relations between 

 its external form and internal constitution ? Will the beauty of the lake be 

 less perfectly imitated by him, if he possess a complete knowledge of the 

 laws of reflexion of light? Or will he not seize with nicer discrimination all 

 those varied and delicate beauties which depend on the varying atmosphere 

 of our own region, if he have some accurate knowledge of tiie theory of 

 colours, and of the causes which govern the changeful aspect of mist and 

 cloud? It is true that the genius and acute powers of observation of the 

 more distinguished artists may compensate, in a great degree, for the want 

 of scientific knowledge ; but it is certain that a great part of the defects in 

 the works of artists of every description, may be traced to the defect of 

 scientific knowledge of the objects represented. And hence it is that I ex- 

 press the hope that the directors of the important educational movement 

 which is now commencing with reference to industrial objects, will feel the 



