92 THE president's address. 



covered and investigated. The great work requires every agent that 

 can be pressed into the service, and it is the plain duty of every 

 civilised people to take an active part in the work. The progress of 

 science hitherto has been wonderful ; and yet it has but served to make 

 it more clear than ever that the unknown and yet knowable far ex- 

 ceeds in extent and importance the known. The field of investiga- 

 tion to which you give attention, embraces, amongst other sub- 

 jects, the wonders and laws of the heavens ; geology ; ethnogra- 

 phy ; natural history ; the affinities of the natural properties of 

 bodies ; magnetism, galvanism, and electricity ; light and heat ; 

 the combination and application of the mechanical powers ; the use of 

 steam ; the analysis of mineral products, and of liquid and aeriform 

 fluids ; and the application of science to improvements in the arts. 

 In this vast field there is assuredly room enough for many addi- 

 tional workers for ages to come. 



Again, I am interested in the success of the Canadian Institute, 

 because I desire that my country, whether it is to consist of Canada 

 only, or of all British North America as I hope it soon will, should not 

 be behind the nations of the world in furnishing workers in the field 

 of science ; in taking part in the advancement of human knowledge ; 

 in contributing to the enlargement of the empire of mind. Must it 

 not be the wish of every lover of his country that we should not be 

 satisfied with possessing ourselves of the learning of other lands, 

 but should add some truths contributed by men of science among 

 ourselves ? Must not every man of any patriotic spirit desire to 

 see our land an object of interest to other lands, not only for thfr 

 prosperity of our people and the comforts with which industry 

 surrounds them ; not only for the farseeing wisdom and the patriot- 

 ism of our statesmen, or for the learning an^ purity of our judges ;. 

 not only for the general intelligence of our Canadian fellow subjects — 

 most important as all these objects assuredly are — ^but in addition 

 to them all, who would not wish to see his country an object of 

 increased interest to men of science too, to men who, in other lands,, 

 are engaged in the investigation of nature's laws and in the dis- 

 covery of new truths ? What Canadian of enlightened mind does not 

 long to know that we are giving to such men increasing proofs of our 

 appreciation of their high pursuits ; and are giving them yearly in- 

 creasing aid in the great work of investigating the hidden truths of 

 nature ? The reputation of our country would by such means be 



