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present aspect and future prospects of science in this town, 

 had I continued, as I have heen, an ordinary member of your 

 society. But, placed by your kindness in this chair, once 

 filled by Roscoe, I should hold it a dereliction of my duty, 

 if, through a fear of giving offence, or though a fawning 

 desire to bestow undeserved praise, I should conceal what 

 are my real sentiments, or attempt to laud where censure is 

 due. Perhaps, however, I should more correctly state the 

 case, were I to say that the state of literature and science 

 in this town is owing, not so much to any want of liberality, 

 (for that supposition is negatived by the large contributions, 

 on many occasions, and for divers purposes, which from time 

 to time are made,) as to the absence of a few master spirits 

 and leading minds, possessed of wealth and local standing, 

 that might lead, direct, and control public opinion, and so 

 force it into that channel which would lead it to seek, as its 

 primary object, the cultivation, the refinement, the moral 

 elevation, and the general well-being of your populous com- 

 munity. 



" But you will, probably, ere this, have asked yourselves 

 the question, If so little has been hitherto done for either 

 literature or science in this seat of commerce, what 

 reasonable hope can now be entertained that matters will 

 be better for the future ? To this very natural hypothetical 

 inquiry, I can make no more appropriate reply than in the 

 language of the great orator of antiquity, — 'Let it be 

 ' our first resolution, O men of Athens, not to despair 

 ' of our present situation, however distressed, since the very 

 ' worst circumstance in your past conduct is now become the 

 ' best foundation for your future hopes. What circumstance ? 

 ' That your never having acted as you ought has occasioned 

 ' your misfortunes ; for if you had constantly pursued the mea- 

 ' sures necessary for your welfare, and the State had still 

 ' continued distressed, there could not be a hope, Athenians, 

 ' that your affairs would be hereafter in a happier position.' 



