36 Mr Russell on the Fallucks of the 



of fallacies to which the Quadrature of the Circle and the Per- 

 petual Motion have long been assigned. 



To any one who compares the state of the Mechanical Arts 

 in Great Britain at this instant, with their condition at the com- 

 mencement of the century, the progress of these arts will un- 

 doubtedly appear more rapid in their approach to perfection, 

 and more extensive in their range of application, than during' 

 any former period in the history of civilization ; but if he will 

 direct his attention more closely to these wonderful effects, and, 

 looking below the surface of events, will examine into their 

 causes, if be will consider how large and wealthy a portion of 

 our population have directed their whole talents and energies 

 solely to the purpose of attaining perfection in these arts, he 

 will be disposed to question whether the results have been at 

 all proportioned to the means, and whether by such mighty in- 

 terests judiciously directed, more would not have been achieved, 

 had these resources been devoted exclusively to legitimate pro- 

 blems of real improvement, instead of being expended on the 

 ignes fatui of mere visionary speculations, and had the talents 

 which have been permitted to deviate from their proper chan- 

 nel been devoted to such ends only as should permanently be- 

 nefit society, and form decided steps in the advancement of ci- 

 vilization, or valuable additions to the truths of science. 



To direct the enterprise and resources of one part of this em- 

 pire into the legitimate avenues of valuable improvement, and 

 to afford the means of distinction and encouragement to the 

 mechanical talent of Scotland, is the object of this Society; and 

 when I reflect how many men there are, even within the limited 

 sphere of my acquaintance, whose inventive genius is of the 

 highest order, and whose labours are yet abortive, I cannot but 

 feel convinced that there must be either a misapplication of ta- 

 lent to objects which others with better opportunities, and pos- 

 sessed of peculiar advantages, have better accomplished, or a mis- 

 direction to subjects containing in their own nature something 

 either impracticable or impossible. Were it possible on the other 

 hand, for such men to unite their exertions for promoting the 

 real advantage of society, and were every individual, by a proper 

 division of mental labour, to direct his mind to the object most 

 congenial to it, I cannot imagine but that, with such means 

 so directed, changes and improvements in the state of the arts 



