1853.] 



I would rather say, which the successive societies established in 

 Toronto ha\e made, from objects chiefly fanciful to objects essen- 

 tially real, who traces the principle of association through the 

 original Shakespear Societ}', the Literary and Historical Societ}', 

 the Athonasum, to the Canadian Institute, will doubt that in this 

 practical element lits our best hope of a more permanent and 

 acti\'e existence than rewarded the establishment of the societies 

 which have preceded us. 



It has been boldly said by Tennyson, that 



We are the ancients of the earth, 

 And in the morning of the times. 



Assuredly these words are no where more true than here. All 

 which time alone can bring to maturity may be wanting around 

 us, but ought we not to find in its place the buoyancy, the life, 

 and the asjiirations of youth? Measured on the gigantic scale of 

 centuiies of science, our results may, perhaps, for a time appear 

 diminutive enough ; let them not fail, however, to receive at least 

 from oureelves, something of that grateful acknowledgement 

 which made heroes, and sages, and demi-gods, in times of old, 

 of the authors of sufficiently simple discoveries. It will be well, 

 however, if the same state of things do not betray us into a danger 

 not unknown to similar associations : that of substituting recipro- 

 cal compliment for a well-founded estimate of our real status, and 

 indolently lowering the standard by which the world will judge 

 us, to that scale upon which it may be most agreeable to judge 

 ourselves. One of the most distinguished of the men of true 

 science in the neighbouring States has recently drawn a lively pic- 

 ture, — for the truth of which, however, he appealed to all his 

 hearers, — of the degree to which, in the generation immediately 

 succeeding the War of Independence, a species of charlatanism, 

 deriving its countenance and support from the general ignorance 

 of the community, intruded into the place of science, and outvoted 

 it in every division of forces. "Our real danger," said he, in words 

 applicable to every country in which an elevated standard of ac- 

 quii'ement is wanting. " lies now from a modified charlatanism, 

 which makes mei'it in one subject an excuse for asking authority 

 in othei'S, or in all ; and because it has made real progress in one 

 branch r-f science, claims to be an arbiter in others. Sometimes 

 this authority is thrust on men who, not having the force to en- 

 lighten those who press them as to their real claims, injure the 

 cause which they would fain promote, b}' being too impressible. 

 Merit thus moulded assumes the form of the impressing body. 

 Whether the authority be seized or accepted it is unlawful." 

 Thorough knowledge of subjects of science other than those by 

 which, in a young country, men may earn their bread, is not 

 ordinarily reconcileable with that indispensable prerequisite ; but 

 happily it is pretence, not ignorance, makes the charlatan. 

 Avoiding exaggeration of language, and sustaining always, by the 

 aid of a well-selected library, and ready access to contemporary 

 scientific literature, a just and temperate view of the value, as 

 regards the world, of those effoi-ts which to ourselves alone are 

 of high importance, we cannot fail to pass safely over that epoch 

 of danger, which, in the case referred to, preceded the maturity 

 of the national growth. I see no reason why, in a few yeare, a 

 Canadian society should not rank with those of highest character 



PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS. 



on this continent. Already have our great public works created 

 a demand for the highest science of the engineer. Railroads, with 

 their long traiu of applied arts and sciences; processes of manu- 

 facture, which science first divulged, and science alone can direct, 

 are obeying the attraction of profit, and naturalizing themselves 

 on this new soil. With these practical sources of support, and with 

 five or six universities or colleges, including a very numerous 

 professoiial body, and one which counts among its members many 

 names of distinguished academical rank, it is surely something 

 beyond a provincial standing t) which a society in Upper Canada 

 may ultimately aspire. But, gratifying as we must feel the sup- 

 port given to us to be, we cannot say that this Institute as yet 

 by a ly means unites the strength of these bodies ; some of them, 

 I believe, are not represented among us at all, and it must be a 

 work of time to gain the confitlence and interest of all. Among 

 the endless examples furnished by the life of that illustrious man, 

 — -of v\liom it has been so truly said that he left no duty incom- 

 plete, as he left no honour unacquired,— there is one so appro- 

 priate to our present subject that I maybe pardoned for alluding 

 to it. Late in life did the great Duke of Wellington remember 

 that lie had still to testify his respect for those other fields of 

 human rivalry and labour, in which the elder Herschell, Davy, 

 Wollaston, Young, — while he was waging the battles of liberty, — ■ 

 were winning equally imperishable fame, and adding other con- 

 quests to the dominion, not of their countr}', but of their race. In 

 his seventy-eighth year he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. 

 A similar view of duty taken by all those to whom it equally 

 applies would add not a little to our strength and our resources. 

 A command of funds is much more essential to a society like the 

 Canadian Institute than may at fir.^t sight appear. The liberal 

 assistance granted to us by the government, to be amply justified, 

 I trust, by our use of it, has for the present relieved us from em- 

 barrassment; but with our pi'esent very low rate of annual sub- 

 scription, a considerable portion of which also returns to the 

 member in the form of a monthly publication, a numerous list of 

 members is almost indispensable. It has been already stated by 

 the Council in the annual report, that we do not aim at present 

 at forming a general library or a general museum; but we desire 

 that at the earliest possible period, students in any ordinary sul- 

 ject of science, shall find here the most recent^ standard works on 

 that subject, and collections illustrating it. Of the former, a selec- 

 tion has already been ordered ; our progress with the latter rests 

 very much with ourselves. It is much to be wished that members 

 should bear in mind the great accejjtability at the outset of almost 

 any thing belonging to the departments of geology and natural 

 history, and make such individual contributions as may be in 

 their power. By separate exertions, in different quarters, — the 

 quadrupeds and the birds, — the fishes, the insects, — the land and 

 fresh-water shells, as well as the flora of the country, might un- 

 doubtedly be pretty complete!}' collected in a year or two, and a 

 great impetus, as well as a great assistance, given to future 

 researches. It is a pleasure here to refer to the success which has 

 attended the exertions of our sister societies at Quebec and 

 Montreal in this respect, as calculated to give us much 

 encouragement. 



I have alluded to the Canadian Journal, and tiust I may be 



