ADDRESS. ]xix 



Glasgow — Expcrimenlal Cheiuifctrj', Political Econoiiiy, aud ^Icdiaiiical 

 Engineering. It is now conceded that Black laid the foundation of modern 

 chemistry ; and no one has ever disputed the claims of Adam Smith and of 

 "Watt to having not only founded, but largely built up, the two great branches 

 of knowledge with which their names will always be inseparably connected. 

 It was here that Dr. Thomas Thomson established the first school of Practical 

 Chemistry in Great Eritain, and that Sir W. Hooker gave to the chair of 

 IJotany a European celebrity ; it was here that Graham discovered the law 

 of gaseous diflusion and the properties of polybasic acids ; it was here that 

 Stenhouse and Anderson, Eankine and J. Thomson made some of their finest 

 discoveries ; and it was here that Sir William Thomson conducted his 

 physico-matheraatical investigations, and invented those exquisite instru- 

 ments, valuable alike for ocean telegraphy and for scientific use, which are 

 among the finest trophies of recent science. Nor must the names of Tcnjiant, 

 ifackintosh, Neilson, Walter Crum, Young, and Napier be omitted, who, 

 with many others in this place, have made large and valuable additions to 

 practical science. 



The safe return of the ' Challenger,' after an absence of three and a half 

 years, is a subject of general congratulation. Our knowledge of the varied 

 forms of animal life, and of the remains of animal life, which occur, it is now 

 known, over large tracts of the bed of the ocean, is chiefly derived from the 

 observations made in the ' Challenger ' and in the previous deep-sea expedi- 

 tions which were organized by Sir Wyville Thomson and Dr. Carpenter. 

 The physical observations, and especially those on the temperature of the 

 ocean, which were systematically conducted throughout the whole voyage of 

 the 'Challenger,' have already supplied valuable data for the resolution of 

 the great question of ocean-currents. Upon this question, which has been 

 discussed with singular ability, but under different aspects, by Dr. Carpenter 

 and Mr. CroU, I cannot attempt here to enter; nor will I venture to forestall, 

 by any crude analysis of my own, the narrative which Sir W. Thomson has 

 kindly undertaken to give of his own achievements and of those of his staflT 

 during their long scientific cruise. 



Another expedition, which has more than fulfilled the expectations of the 

 public, is Lieutenant Cameron's remarkable journey across the continent of 

 Africa. It is by such enterprises, happily conceived and ably executed, that 

 we may hope at no distant day to see the Arab slave-dealer rei)laced by the 

 legitimate trader, and the depressed populations of Africa gradually brought 

 within the j)ale of civilized life. 



From the North Polar Expedition no intelligence has been received ; nor 

 can we expect for some time to hear whether it has succeeded in the erowii- 

 iug object of Arctic enterprise. In the opinion of many, the results, scientific 

 or other, to be gained by a full survey of the Arctic regions can never be of 

 such, value ns to justify the risk aud cost which mufet be incurred. But if is 



