PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



[^Eeprinted from the Transactions of the Devonshire Association for the 

 Advancement of Science, Literature, and Art. 1873.] 



Befoee entering upon the subject of my address, I am sure 

 I shall be pardoned for referring to the tragical end of one 

 who was the life and soul of this Association, as well as 

 of many good and interesting works in this county. It is 

 through his invitation, indeed, that I am here to-day, and 

 sorely do I miss his welcome and counsel. None saw " the 

 vain struggle, the parting agony " of that chill, autumn day, 

 but many will long remember how the little carriage was 

 sadly led back to the desolate parsonage, no longer to be the 

 home of the bereaved family. He has been taken from us 

 by that mysterious Providence which for some wise purpose 

 cuts off so many in their career of usefulness, leaving others 

 who might, humanly speaking, have been much better spared^ 



" They are vanished from their place — 



Let their homes and hearths make moan ; 

 But the rolling waters leave no trace 

 Of pang or conflict gone." 



Varied as were Mr. Kirwan's attainments, great as was his 

 knowledge, what groping in the dark must it all appear to 

 him now, in the full light of truth. As the poet says : 



" Death leads to the highest knowledge, 

 And being of all things the sole thing certain, 

 At least leads to the surest science." 



I find myself with the task set before me of pronouncing 

 what may be called in classical phrase a trilogy on the three 

 great pursuits which have so long exercised enormous influ- 

 ence, whether for good or for ill, upon the human race. I feel 

 deeply my incompetence to do justice to my subject, having 

 unfortunately come into the world before it was the fashion 

 to give so wide a scope to the education of the youthful mind. 

 I need scarcely say that during the twelve or thirteen years 

 passed at school and college. Science meant Plato and 

 Aristotle; Literature was confined to the dead languages; 

 while Art was represented, 1 am afraid, by cartoons which 



