THE president's ADDRESS. 99 



learning and science of our portion of this Dominion. We desire to 

 enroll amongst our members all those of our countrymen who engage 

 in original research in any department of knowledge, and who may be 

 supposed to have occasionally some chaoce of extending the bounds of 

 some science, solving doubts, usefully discussing disputed questions, 

 putting forth theories worthy of consideration, or in any other way 

 leaving the impress of independent thought and truth-loving inquiry 

 on any of the subjects in which man is interested. If any one has 

 observed a new object, a new fact, or a hitherto unperceived relation 

 between objects or facts; if any one can ioterpret what is thought 

 obscure, or by sober argument show the fallacy of what he deems erro- 

 neous; if any one can devise a new application of science to art or 

 human convenience; if any can throw the light of accurate and recon- 

 dite learning, aided by acuteness and ingenuity, on the obscure records 

 of past limes, or by the suggestions of judgment and taste can elevate 

 our enjoyment of beauty in nature and art, we desire all such to help 

 us, that the record of our proceedings may be enriched, and our coun- 

 try may be honoured in the productions of her sons. But we are not 

 permitted to make such as these our only objects. In some states of 

 society, especially in older countries, this might well be ; but in the 

 condition in which we live, our design of promoting knowledge implies 

 an attention not only to its accumulation, but to the increase of its 

 influence, by drawing around us and associating with us the intelligent 

 and cultivated whom the various business of life does not allow to 

 become masters in any one branch of learning or science, but who well 

 understand the value of such pursuits, and can appreciate and enjoy 

 what comes under their notice in respect to them. It is our aim and 

 business to associate together all the higher culture of the country, for 

 improvement and enjoyment, derived from the best sources. We are 

 not insensible to, nor do we as individuals fail to recognise, the claims 

 of societies specially intended to spread more widely through the com- 

 munity means and incitements for improvement ; but we choose for our 

 sphere the higher departments and higher results of knowledge. We 

 feel that ours is a distinct and an important object, and one worthy to 

 be worked out with zeal and energy. 



Tie young are too readily attracted by the gaieties of life, which they 

 allow to absorb too much of their time; or if they are happy in forming 

 domestic ties, they are sometimes beld by them so closely as not only 

 wisely to resist the interference of follies, but even to give ap the most 



