Proceedings of the Polytechnic Association. 749 



■which would lead to the propagation of unsound doctrine. Every 

 new hypothesis or induction should be subjected to the keenest 

 scrutiny of those who are competent to pass upon its merits. A 

 scientist, who reads a paper before his peers, reaches at once the 

 appreciative audience he most desires. If he describes new 

 experiments, they, more than all others, are interested in the results ; 

 if he advances new views they are ever ready to question the 

 correctness of his conclusions. Thus, it frequently happens, that the 

 discussion immediately following the reading of a paper, will dispose 

 of objections, and establish positions which could not be reached in a 

 long time through the medium of printed dissertations. Moreover, 

 the suggestions often thrown out during the free exchange of ideas 

 in a verbal debate, are of great service in exciting that enthusiasm 

 in the votary of science which prompts him to higher efforts in the 

 pursuit of truth. 



The beneficial influence of these scientific associations is not so 

 obvious here as in Europe, where they are older and more firmly 

 established. Of late the British Association for the Advancement of 

 Science lias accomplished much ; yet it will be remembered that, even 

 after its formation. Sir John F. W. Herschel, in a note appended to 

 his able treatise " On Sound," in the Encyclopaedia Metropolitana, 

 acknowledged his indebtedness to foreign jom-nals for a portion of 

 the information he then presented, and expressed his regret that so 

 little attention was paid in his own country to what was being done 

 by scientific men aferoad. "Here," said he, "whole branches of conti- 

 nental discovery are unstudied, and indeed almost unknown, even by 

 name. It is in vain to conceal the melancholy truth. "We are fast 

 dropping behind. In mathematics, we have long since drawn the 

 rein, and given over a hopeless race. In chemistry, the case is not 

 much better." These and other words of regret and reproof then 

 written, doubtless hastened the great and favorable change which has 

 since taken place in his country. Certain it is, that the formation of 

 the British association has led to the happiest results ; for to-day it 

 may boast of many distinguished names in almost every branch of 

 science. 



If there is any hindrance at present to the progress of truth, 

 both here and abroad, it arises chiefly ti-om the spirit of exclusiveness 

 sometimes evinced by those who have devoted their lives to the study 

 of physical laws. This should not excite surprise, because the ten- 

 dency of abstract science is essentially aristocratic. The man who 



