lectures of this kind (mechanics) instituted among them, 

 and these not only in the learned languages but also in 

 the vulgar tongue, for the capacity of every unlettered 

 ingenious artificer." 



The supreme necessity in this country of a more system- 

 atic application of scientific methods, both in theory 

 and in practice, to our manufactures and industries, which 

 was so wisely insisted upon by the Prince of Wales on the 

 occasion of his admission to the Fellowship of the Society, 

 and again in his Address at the Opening of the National 

 Laboratory, has since been confirmed and enforced in a 

 remarkable way by the individual testimonies of thirteen 

 Fellows of this Society, in the evidence which they 

 recently gave, from their own knowledge and experi- 

 ence, either as teachers of science or as leaders and 

 technical advisers in manufactories or commercial under- 

 takings, before a Committee of the London Technical 

 Board. 



Their testimony was of no uncertain sound, but showed 

 clearly that the Prince's words of warning, which I have 

 quoted, were not unneeded, and that, indeed, our industries 

 and commerce are not only in danger, but are actually 

 passing into the hands of other countries, where scientific 

 research is more directly cultivated under the fostering 

 care of the State. 



It seems to me the time has come when the President, 

 on this occasion speaking on his own responsibility, should 



not remain silent upon a question of such urgency, and 



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