_ British Association for the Advancement of Science. 397 
in the same ERPS ism. a 
cultivate. 
“It may, perhaps, sometimes be usefil to us to svicnllagettient in many 
Statistical subjects, the discussion and even the collection of facts is rath- 
er the office of a legislative than of a scientific body. The wise insti- 
tutions of Bacon’s New Atlantis would have assigned to the governors of 
the land, and not to the sages of Solomon’s House, the collection of in- 
formation respecting the habits, numbers, and education of the people ; 
where the information is such as almost necessarily suggests legislation, 
or discussions having legislation for their natural end, and involving the 
deepest political and moral considerations. There may very fitly be 
voluntary associations, which aim directly at improving the intellectual, 
or moral, or social condition of our population; but we must ever re- 
member that we are an association for a different purpose, namely, the 
advancement of science ; and we are bound alike by our regard to the 
prosperity of our body, and by our most solemn and repeated declara- 
lions, to avoid the storm of opinions which is always raised when the 
semble in order to promote the direct pursuit of scientific truth ; and we 
must not turn aside into the more wide and tangled paths of those who 
make its collateral effects their main object. Knowledge is power, we 
are told. Knowledge ts power ; but for us, it is to be dealt with as the 
power of interpreting nature and using her forces; not as the power of 
exciting ee feelings of mankind, and providing remedies for social evils, 
on matters where the wisest men have doubted and differed. 
is tony the person whose voice is first raised in addressing the meet- 
ing of the Association, I have thought that it was a part of my duty to 
use the opportunity in calling to our minds the fundamental character 
and principles of our Institution. There are other subjects which our 
constitution directs us to avoid ; but none perhaps in which there is much 
danger or need of warning. We are in no great risk of deviating into 
literary, or metaphysical, or theological discussions. Some metaphys- 
ies and literary culture will of course show themselves in the addresses 
of those who possess such accomplishments, but are no direct objects of 
our attention. And in like manner, although we cannot dream of the 
‘slightest approach to the discussion of religious questions, heartfelt and 
real piety may be apparent even in the sentiments uttered at an asso- 
ciation for the advancement of science. I am sure that many of you 
who attended the former meetings of this Association, must recollect 
occasions on which men’s minds being excited, and yet solemnized, by 
the aspect of the assembled multitudes, and by the lofty views of na- 
