8 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
perhaps be learnt from’ such positions. Spectroscopic observa- 
tions by Huggins, Secchi, Vogel, D’Arrest, Finlay, Wiedemann, 
Schiparelli, Hasselberg and other philosophers lead to additional 
explanations in this respect. 
What photography, an art discovered within the lifetime of 
many assembled here, in progressive scope may effect in future, is 
as yet mere conjecture. The producing already, but not the 
fixing as yet, of three of the principal colours within the present 
processes of this glorious art holds out some hope, that its faithful 
pictorial representations may become embellished yet by vividity 
of colouration emanating directly and thus unerringly from 
operative processes. 
In a very different way other questions come before us. 
Whether in the organic world a supposed involuntary tendency 
of striving for higher development and further melioration, 
whenever circumstances are favourable, arises from uncontrolled 
impulses, so that nothing is left in a stationary distinctiveness ! 
Whether specific values for clear diagnosis and systematic fixity 
have in the generality of cases been allotted with adequate scope? 
Whether fertile hybridity is far more extensive, than we have 
hitherto been led to suppose? Whether diversity in the physical 
conditions of nature can explain the vaster development of 
gigantic mammals and birds in the zoologic ages prior to the 
present ? Whether forced accommodation or spontaneous adapta- 
bility to altered circumstances of existence can change gradually 
and even infinitely structural organisations and specific functions? 
Whether crowding out, however overwhelming, can extend to 
absolute annihilation in the free fields of nature, when undisturbed 
by human action, or whether this combat for space and search 
for nourishment is limited to mere repression? Whether among 
specific organisations the most powerful always dominate to 
the extensive suppression of others more numerous? Whether 
organisms, which in the present creation-epoch became extinct by 
the hand of man, could possibly ever be restored, by progressive 
growth, even after many lengthened periods and with every 
conduciveness for resuscitation? Whether our present means 
for research are advanced enough, to distinguish all innate 
peculiarities, with which distinct types in the organic world are 
endowed? Whether, if all this could be answered in the aftirma- 
tive, it would be sutiicient to account for the marvels of designs 
in organic individuality connected with vital processes, as revealed 
to us from the simplest and minutest to the most complex and 
huge of living beings, all displaying perfection for their own 
distinct purposes? Whether all our search for what is knowable 
can ever lead to a worldly insight into the commencement of all 
origination? Can we contribute from this Association, by 
original unbiassed research here in new countries, towards the 
answering these momentous questions 4 
