British Association for the Advancement of Science. 397 



in the same calm speculative spirit as the other sciences which we here 

 cultivate. 



" It may, perhaps, sometimes be useful to us to recollect that in many 

 statistical subjects, the discussion and even the collection of facts is rath- 

 er the office of a legislative than of a scientific body. The wise insti- 

 tutions of Bacon's New Atlantis would have assigned to the governors of 

 the land, and not to the sages of Solomon's House, the collection of in- 

 formation respecting the habits, numbers, and education of the people ; 

 where the information is such as almost necessarily suggests legislation, 

 or discussions having legislation for their natural end, and involving the 

 deepest political and moral considerations. There, may very fitly be 

 voluntary associations, which aim directly at improving the intellectual, 

 or moral, or social condition of our population ; but we m>ist ever re- 

 member that we are an association for a different purpose, namely, the 

 advancement of science ; and we are bound alike by our regard to the 

 prosperity of our body, and by our most solemn and repeated declara- 

 tions, to avoid the storm of opinions which is always raised when the 

 parties which aim at social permanence and social progress are brought 

 into conflict. The pursuit of scientific truth is, no doubt, a means of 

 indirectly elevating man's intellectual and social condition ; but we as- 

 semble in order to promote the direct pursuit of scientific truth ; and we 

 must not turn aside into the more wide and tangled paths of those who 

 make its collateral effects their main object. Knowledge is power, we 

 are told. Knowledge is power ; but for us, it is to be dealt with as the 

 power of interpreting nature and using her forces ; not as the power of 

 exciting the feelings of mankind, and providing remedies for social evils, 

 on matters where the wisest men have doubted and differed. 



" Being the person whose voice is first raised in addressing the meet- 

 ing of the Association, I have thought that it was a part of my duty to 

 use the opportunity in calling to our minds the fundamental character 

 and principles of our Institution. There are other subjects which our 

 constitution direct? us to avoid ; but none perhaps in which there is much 

 danger or need of warning. We are in no great risk of deviating into 

 literary, or metaphysical, or theological discussions. Some metaphys- 

 ics and literary culture will of course show themselves in the addresses 

 of those who possess such accomplishments, but are no direct objects of 

 our attention. And in like manner, although we cannot dream of the 

 slightest approach to the discussion of religious questions, heartfelt and 

 real piety may be apparent even in the sentiments uttered at an asso- 

 ciation for the advancement of science. I am sure that many of you 

 who attended the former meetings of this Association, must recollect 

 occasions on which men's minds being excited, and yet solemnized, by 

 the aspect of the assembled multitudes, and by the lofty views of na- 



