170 Transactions of the American Institute. 



purposes. "We resolved to give the best course of lectures on science, 

 choosing that man whom we supposed to be best qualified to illustrate 

 each important branch or department of natural science, in its present 

 fullest development, and with the very latest discoveries which have 

 enlarged its area. This plan was matured, submitted to the Institute, 

 approved by it, and the lecturers called not only from all parts of our 

 country, but from the British provinces adjacent, where, I rejoice to 

 say, that some of the very ablest of those who cultivate chemistry and 

 geology, not merely as a practice but as a true science, were found. 

 This lecture to-night is the last of the course. That course, we rejoice 

 to say, has been sustained by the unanimous approval of the press, 

 and by tlie presence here of very large and intelligent audiences, 

 sometimes in sjjite of very discouraging weather. We have seen and 

 proved that science, even abstract science, has charms for a very 

 large portion of this communit}'- ; and we shall be encouraged. While 

 "we did not expect to make money, and shall never make money by a 

 course of this kind ; while we shall expect to spend money in every 

 such course, we shall be encouraged by the approval of judicious men 

 given to this course, to make other, and if possible better arrange- 

 ments for similar courses during the winters to come. [Applause.] 

 The lecture this evening is on Engineering, and will be given by the 

 Hon. William J. McAlpine, favorably known to the community as a 

 very competent, practical, as well as educated engineer. [Applause.] 

 Prof. McAlpine addressed the audience as follows : 

 The subject of my address this evening has so wide a range, and 

 involves the consideration of so many branches of art and science, 

 that I have been compelled to condense my remarks, and also to 

 omit much of an interesting character, to bring my address within 

 the limit of the hour. It cannot have failed to have attracted the 

 attention of such audfences as have attended these lectures that a 

 marked characteristic of this age is the wonderful rapidity with which 

 discoveries in every range of art and science have succeeded each 

 other. These are confined to no one branch of human knowledge, 

 but apply equally to all of the pursuits of study by man. They now 

 succeed each other like November meteors ; dazzling in their bril- 

 liancy, so frequent, and spread so far over the arch of heaven as not 

 to be even counted, far less comprehended. The eminent scientists 

 who have lectured before you, have each been profound students in 

 their own lines of thought, and almost they only know of, or at least 

 understand, the discoveries in their own courses of study. Our Crea- 



