xii . THIIID REPORT — 1838. 



any method of giving to each man his mile of the march. Yet 

 something we may do : we may take care that those who come 

 ready and willing for the road, shall start from the proper 

 point and in the proper direction ; — shall not scramble over 

 broken ground, when there is a causeway parallel to their 

 path, nor set off confidently from an advanced point when the 

 first steps of the road are still doubtful ; — shall not waste their 

 powers in struggling forwards where movement is not progress, 

 and shall have pointed out to them all glimmerings of Hght, 

 through the dense and deep screen which divides us from the 

 next bright region of philosophical truth. We cannot create, 

 we cannot even direct, the powers of discovery ; but we may 

 perhaps aid them to direct themselves ; we may perhaps 

 enable them to feel how many of us are ready to admire their 

 success, and willing, so far as it is possible for intellects of a 

 common pitch, to minister to their exertions. 



" It was conceived that an exposition of the recent progress, 

 the present condition, the most pressing requirements of the 

 principal branches of science at the present moment, might 

 answer some of the purposes I have attempted to describe. 

 Several such expositions have accordingly been presented to 

 the Association by persons selected for the task, most of them 

 eminent for their own contributions to the department which 

 they had to review ; and these are now accessible to Members 

 of the Association and to the public. It appears to be suitable 

 to the design of this body, and likely to further its aims, that 

 some one should endeavour to point out the bearing which the 

 statements thus brought before it may and ought to have upon 

 its future proceedings, and especially upon the laboiu's of the 

 Meeting now begun. I am well persuaded that if the President 

 had taken this ofiice upon himself, the striking and important 

 views which it may naturally suggest would have been pre- 

 sented in a manner worthy of the occasion : he has been 

 influenced by various causes to wish to devolve it upon me, and 

 I have considered that I should show my respect for the Asso- 

 ciation better by attempting the task, however imperfectly, 

 than by pleading my inferior fitness for it. 



" The particular questions which require consideration, and 

 the researches which most require prosecution, in the sciences 

 to which the Reports now before you refer, will be offered to 

 the notice of the Sections of the Association which the subjects 

 respectively concern, at their separate sittings. It is conceived 

 that the most obvious and promising chance of removing 

 deficiencies and solving difficulties in each subject, is to be 

 found in drawing to them the notice of persons who have paid 



