102 THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 
achievements of ancient or modern times; were chiefly pregnant for 
all of us with moral and social influences of a high order, though 
deriving their value from elements apart from those with which 
Science has chiefly to deal. Now that the glare and excitement 
attendant on the visit to our colony of the Heir apparent to the 
British Throne have passed away, and we can look calmly back on 
that event which gave birth to such enthusiastic demonstrations in 
every corner of this wide Province, I feel assured that many 
realize the elevating influences which are begotten by the awakening 
of pure and lofty sentiments of patriotism and loyalty; and reflect 
with unalloyed pleasure on the feelings of generous and affectionate 
interest with which they looked on that son of our loved and gracious 
Queen on whom rest the future hopes of this great empire. Amid 
all the cordial expressions of loyalty which greeted our Prince in his 
progress through this Province, none, I feel assured, were more heart- 
felt and sincere than those in which the members of this Institute 
gave utterance to their earnest prayer: that, endowed with all noblest 
eraces and divine blessings, trained in sound learning, and gifted with 
a liberal love of Science and the Arts, he might be eminently fitted 
for the high trust of which he is the heir. 
Happily it is still our boast that, while, under the genial sway of 
our beloved Queen, science and letters are accomplishing triumphs 
which will render the Victorian era illustrious in future ages, we 
participate in all the glories of that empire—the mother of future 
nations,—which is now girdling the world with a glorious confederacy 
of provinces, alike united in freedom, in intellectual progress, and in 
loyal devotion to their sovereign head; so also, as members of an 
Institute specially devoted to investigations and researches into the 
hidden truths of nature, we claim an interest in all the triumphs 
which mark the progress of Science, wheresoever achieved. In 
attempting a résumé of progress since our last anniversary, I may 
accordingly be expected to refer to the alleged addition to our solar 
system of the new planet Vulcan, as one of the most popular among 
recently announced discoveries. The names of Le Verrier and Adams 
are indissolubly associated with that beautiful demonstration which, 
reasoning from the known forces Newton had revealed, determined 
the existence of the unseen planet Neptune, and with a preseience 
based on true scientific faith, dictated the precise point in the hea- 
vens where, amid the infinite multitudes of stars which the tele- 
