SPEECH OF SIR WILLIAM ARMSTRONG. 375 



impregnation thus obtained is of course valuable, but will be 

 subject to variation. 



From the well marked characters of the waters mentioned in 

 this paper it is evident that, in a systematic survey of the Province, 

 the inquiry into its mineral springs would form a very interesting 

 and useful part of the work involved in so desirable an under- 

 taking. 



BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 



SPEECH OP SIR WILLIAM ARMSTRONG. 



The British Association commenced its labours for the year by 

 the introductory speech from the President. Sir W. Armstrong 

 spoke as follows : — * 



Gentlemen of the British Association, — I esteem it the greatest 

 honour of my life that I am called upon to assume the office of your 

 President. In that capacity, and as representing your body, I 

 may be allowed to advert to the gratifying reception which the 

 British Association met with on their former visit to this region of 

 mining and manufacturing industry ; and, as a member of the com- 

 munity which you have again honoured with a visit, I undertake 

 to convey to you the assurance of a renewed and hearty welcome. 

 A quarter of the century has elapsed since the Association assem- 

 bled in this town, and in no former period of equal duration has so 

 great a progress been made in physical knowledge. In mechanical 

 science, and especially in those branches of it which are concerned 

 in the application of steam power to effect interchange between dis- 

 tant communities, the progress made since 1838 has no parallel in 

 history. The railway system was then in its infancy, and the 

 great problem of Transatlantic steam navigation had only received 

 its complete solution in the preceding year. Since that time 

 railways have extended to every continent, and steamships have 

 covered the ocean. These reflections claim our attention on this 

 occasion, because the locality in which we hold our present meet- 

 ing is the birthplace of railways, and because -the coal mines of 

 this district have contributed more largely than any others to 

 supply the motive power by which steam communication by land 

 and water has been established on so gigantic a scale. . 



THE COALFIELDS. 



The coalfields of this district, so intimately connected with the 

 railway system, both in its origin and maintenance, will, doubt- 

 * Cited from the " Weekly Review." 



