Scientific Lectures. 199 



SCIENTIFIC LECTTJRE-I. 



THE BATTLE-FIELDS OF SCIENCE. 



By Hon. Andrew D. White, President op Cornell University. 



The first of the winter course of Scientific Lectures before the 

 American Institute, was delivered on Friday evening, December 17, 

 at the hall of the Cooper Union, by Andrew D. White, LL. D., 

 President of Cornell University, the subject being "• The Battle- 

 Fields of Science." The lecturer was introduced by Prof. S. D. 

 TillmaUj Secretary of the Institute, wlio said : 



Ladies and Gentlemen. — Owing to the unavoidable absence of 

 our president, Mr. Greeley, it devolves upon me to introduce the 

 speaker of the evening. The decided success of our course last 

 winter has induced the trustees of the American Institute to pursue 

 the plan of presenting Science in her most attractive garb. Last 

 year the lectures were mainly devoted to a description of philosophi- 

 cal instruments, their uses, and the laws they elucidate. This year 

 a majority of the lectures will have a direct bearing on the physical 

 well-being of man. In addition to these, one will be devoted to a 

 description of one of the most remarkable formations of the earth's 

 crust, found on our own continent, and another will treat of a sub- 

 ject which is now attracting a great deal of attention, namely : 

 '' The Constitution of the Sun." I now have the pleasure of intro- 

 ducing Dr. A. D. White, President of Cornell University. 



Mr. White, on coming forward, was received witli applause. lie 

 spoke as follows : 



Ladies and Gentlemen. — In view of the fact tluit my studies 

 liave been rather in history than in natural science, it has seemed 

 to me not unfit that I begin this series of lectures with a historical 

 sketch bearing upon the great subject of your course. I purpose, 

 then, to present to you this evening an outline of tlie great sacred 



