The Present of the Society. 351 



leave rather to the Royal Institution here to rival that of 

 London, and such an institution must be held to be of 

 marvellous value to a city. The intention was at one time 

 carried out more than at present, and public attention to 

 lectures has fallen wherever it has existed. On the other 

 hand the roads to places of amusement concert-halls and 

 theatres are choked with vehicles, and the world shouts 

 out for more play and less work. The world is fitful 

 in its progress, and whilst far from satisfactory this light 

 singing of society has some good mixed with it ; men 

 are not so violent, and knowledge as well as comfort are 

 increased. On the other side, whilst earnestness exists it 

 is too much spent in seeking wealth, which when obtained 

 is dissipated in pleasure. We cannot suppose that the 

 loss of earnestness will be lasting ; we shall believe that it 

 will be made up by such a gain of knowledge and com- 

 fort as will give power and peace to a coming genera- 

 tion; and let us hope that Dr. Beddoe has made a 

 mistake if he estimates that our mental power is diminish- 

 ing with a lessening girth of the base of the head ; for if 

 that is true a removal backwards is for certain before our 

 country. 



Whatever the future may be, it is the part of this 

 Society to keep within its walls a sound stock of scientific 

 food, and to bring to it as many members as possible, 

 giving them every encouragement to feed. 



We begin a new century, it would be well to begin 

 with hope, and it would probably be good if we enlarged 

 our plans and endeavoured to attach to ourselves some of 

 the younger societies of the city and do something to guide 

 the progress of investigation. An attempt has been made 



