90 ADDRESS TO THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION, 1881. 



But however this may be, though the progress made 

 has been so rapid, and though no similar period in the 

 world's history has been nearly so prolific of great re- 

 sults, yet, on the other hand, the prospects of the future 

 were never more encouraging. We must not, indeed, 

 shut our eyes to the possibility of failure : the tempta- 

 tion to military ambition ; the tendency to over-inter- 

 ference by the State ; the spirit of anarchy and 

 socialism ; these and other elements of danger may mar 

 the fair prospects of the future. That they will suc- 

 ceed in doing so, I cannot believe. I cannot but 

 feel confident that fifty years hence, when perhaps the 

 city of York may renew its hospitable invitation, my 

 successor in this chair more competent, I trust, than I 

 have been to do justice to so grand a theme will have 

 to record a series of discoveries even more unexpected 

 and more brilliant than those which I have, I fear so 

 imperfectly, attempted to bring before you this evening ; 

 for assuredly one great lesson of science is, how little 

 we yet know, and how much we have still to learn. 



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