Iviii REPORT — 1861. 



tion, I would now invite attention to the mechanical sciences, with which I 

 am more familiarly acquainted. They may be divided into Theoretical 

 Mechanics and Dynamics, comprising the conditions of equilibrium and the 

 laws of motion; and Applied Mechanics, relating to the construction of 

 machines. I have already observed that practice and theory are twin sisters, 

 and must work together to ensure a steady progress in mechanical art. Let 

 us then maintain this union as the best and safest basis of national progress, 

 and, moreover, let us recognize it as one of the distinctive aims of the annual 

 reunions of this Association. 



During the last century, the science of Applied Mechanics has made 

 strides which astonish us by tlieir magnitude ; but even these, it may reason- 

 ably be hoped, are but the promise of future and more wonderful enlarge- 

 ments. I therefore propose to offer a succinct history of these improvements, 

 as an instance of the influence of scientific progress on the well-being of 

 society. I shall take in review the three chief aids which engineering science 

 has afforded to national progress, namely, canals, steam-navigation, and rail- 

 ways ; each of which has promoted an incalculable extension of the industrial 

 resources of the country. 



One hundred years ago, the only means for the conveyance of inland 

 merchandize were the pack-horses and waggons on the then imperfect high- 

 ways. It was reserved for Brindley, Smeaton, and others to introduce a 

 system of canals, which opened up facilities for an interchange of commo- 

 dities at a cheap rate over almost every part of the country. The impetus 

 given to industrial operations by this new system of conveyance induced 

 capitalists to embark in trade, in mining, and in the extension of manufac- 

 tures in almost every district. These improvements continued for a series of 

 years, until the whole country was intersected by canals requisite to meet 

 the demands of a greatly extended industry. But canals, however well 

 adapted for the transport of minerals and merchandise, were less suited for 

 the conveyance of passengers. The speed of the canal-boats seldom 

 exceeded from two and a half to three miles an hour; and in addition to this, 

 the projectors of canals sometimes sought to take an unfair advantage of the 

 Act of Parliament, which fixed the tariff at so much per ton per mile, by 

 adopting circuitous routes, under the erroneous impression that mileage was 

 a consideration of great importance to the success of such undertakings. It 

 is in consequence of short-sighted views and imperfect legislation that we 

 inherit the numerous curves and distortions of our canal system. 



These defects in construction rendered canals almost useless for the con- 

 veyance of passengers, and led to the improvement of the common roads 

 and the system of stage coaches; so that before the year 1830 the chief 

 public highways of the country had attained a remarkable smoothness and 

 perfection, and the lightness of our carriages and the celerity vvith which 

 they were driven still excites the admiration of those who remember them. 

 These days of an efficiently worked system, which tasked the power and 

 speed of the horse to the utmost, have now been succeeded by changes more 

 wonderful than any that previously occurred in the history of the human 

 race. 



Scarcely had the canal system been fully developed when a new means of 

 propulsion was adopted, namely, steam. I need not recount to you the 

 enterprise, skill, and labour that have been exerted in connexion with steam 

 navigation. You have seen its results on every river and every sea ; results 

 we owe to the fruitful minds of Miller, Symington, Fulton, and Henry Bell, 

 vrho were the pioneers in the great march of progress. 



Viewing the past, with a knowledge of the present and a prospect of the 



