20 



do not constitute a division of the physical, yet on the principle he has 

 laid down, — the aid the one has given the other, — I claim that the 

 historical and physical sciences must not be separated. 



And in the question which may here arise, Which sciences consti- 

 tute the physical sciences? a grave difficulty presents itself. We have 

 no standard of definition. One author, (another writer in the Encyc. 

 Brit.), says all the physical sciences can be grouped under Geology 

 and Astronomy; the author quoted above says they are only electricity 

 and magnetism ; while if I remember aright, a much quoted author, 

 Dr. Campbell, in his Philosophy of Rhetoric, follows the old Grreek 

 classification and includes Psychology and Natural Theology. 



The question is one of importance to us, since we are meeting on 

 common ground and wish to avoid all questions which tend to excite 

 dissensions. Hence I take the liberty to recommend earnestly that 

 you consider this matter, and as soon as possible form a list of those 

 sciences which you deem physical, and which shall be allowed on the 

 floor of this Association. 



In regard to the historical sciences, the same trouble, in a measure, 

 is encountered; and the recommendation just made may be applicable. 

 Yet the way is more clearly defined. Prof Neander has given a 

 beautiful definition of history. "Its office," says he, "is to impart 

 unity to the consciousness of mankind when it has been divided by 

 Time. It originates in the eff"ort to connect the present with the 

 past." So whatever bears directly upon this is Historical; be it in 

 point of age, a thing of a thousand or ten thousand years ago, or of 

 scarcely five minutes past ; be it in point of matter, a conclusion of 

 Comparative Philology, a conclusion derived from comparing manners 

 and customs and beliefs of people ; an examination of the remains of 

 ancient cities, of the grave mounds of Europe, Asia, or America; of 

 cave remains ; a transcript of the scrolls of Egypt or India ; copies of 

 records from any part of the globe at any period of time and of any 

 nature whatever; or a statement of what men now think, how they 

 dress, what they believe, and how they live. 



The second object of our Association is the study of the surround- 

 ing region and its inhabitants. Here we have use for both the Phys- 

 ical and Historical sciences. Here we have a field which has never been 

 worked, and which is replete with objects of interest and importance. 

 Within a radius of an hundred miles lies a magnificent geological field 



