22 president's address. 



America and on the Continent. The increasing use of gas for factory, 

 metallurgical, and chemical purposes points to the gradual concentra- 

 tion of works near the coal mines, in order that the laying-down of 

 expensive piping may be avoided. 



An invention which would enable us to convert the energy of coal 

 directly into electrical energy would revolutionise our ideas and methods, 

 yet it is not unthinkable. The nearest practical approach to this is the 

 Mond gas-battery, which, however, has not succeeded, owing to the 

 imperfection of the machine. 



In conclusion, I would put in a plea for the study of pure science, 

 without regard to its applications. The discovery of radium and similar 

 radioactive substances has widened the bounds of thought. While 

 themselves, in all probability, incapable of industrial application, save 

 in the domain of medicine, their study has shown us to what enormous 

 advances in the concentration of energy it is permissible to look forward, 

 with the hope of applying the knowledge thereby gained to the better- 

 ment of the whole human race. As charity begins at home, however, 

 and as I am speaking to the British Association for the Advancement of 

 Science, I would urge that our first duty is to strive for all which 

 makes for the permanence of the British Commonweal, and which will 

 enable us to transmit to our posterity a heritage not unworthy to be 

 added to that which we have received from those who have gone before. 



