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i^ repose-so varied, efficient, and beneficent in its milder 

 activities-so sublimely terrible in its awakened and ungov- 



erned power! . u r u^j 



The admirable work of Professor Cooke, just published 

 under the title of "Religion and Chemistry ;"-a volume 

 which deserves a place not only in our colleges and schools, 

 but in every family ;-contains two lectures on the iestimony 

 of Oxygen. I see not how any one can read those lectures, 

 and not sympathize fully with the learned author, when he 

 says • " To me the double condition of oxygen is one ot the 

 most remarkable phenomena of nature. I ponder over it 

 again and again, with increasing wonder and admiration at 

 the skill of the infinite Designer, who has been able to 

 unite in the same element perfect mildness and immeasur- 



able power." r «. . 



We assemble. Gentlemen of the Society, on this our forty- 

 seventh anniversary, under circumstances of far more than 

 ordinary interest. I might speak to you, indeed, of a bprmg. 

 Summer, and Autumn, which have smiled upon your toil ;- 

 of crops, rich and various, gathered, or soon to be gathered 

 over all the land. But we have other, and deeper, and more 

 enduring cause for grateful rejoicing, than any harvest, how- 

 ever bounteous, ever has been, or ever can be. A great 

 nation saved from disruption and ruin by the valor and pa- 

 triotism of her children! Aye, more than saved-a nation 

 redeemed and disenthralled! Such is the spectac e of peace, 

 and union, and strength, upon which the sun looks down to- 

 day over all our wide Republic. Cold indeed must we be, if, 

 on meeting here, for the first time, since the happy termina- 

 tion of a struggle so long and so severe, we have no felicita- 

 tions to offer, and none to receive. 



Aside from the great issues of the conflict, and from those 

 general results in which all share, and all rejoice, it seems to 

 me that the productive classes of the North, have, in the 

 history and consequences of the contest, special reasons lor 

 congratulation and encouragement. In an important sense 

 3 



