1855.] 



MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT GLASGOW. 



375 



ing " mere information," and as tending in no sensible degree 

 to strengthen and invigorate the mental powers! But, again 

 I say, this would entirely fl^pend on how science is to be taught 

 — whether by a mere cramming of facts from manuals, or by 

 explaining how and by whom former problems have been solv- 

 ed, — what and how vast are other problems yet waiting for, 

 and capable of solution. And even where the researches of 

 physical science can d^ little more than guide conjecture, or 

 illustrate merely what it cannot prove, how grand are the ques- 

 tions which i: excites us to ask, and on which it enables us to 

 gather some amount of evidence ! In Geology, is it true, or 

 is it not true, that, " we can see no trace of a beginning — no 

 symptom of an end?" To what extent, and in what sense are 

 we yet entitled to say, that there has been an advance in orga- 

 nisation as there has been advance in time ? In Physiology, 

 what is the meaning of that great law, of adherence to type 

 and pattern, standing behind as it were, and in reserve of that 

 other law by which organic structures are specially adapted to 

 special modes of life ? What is the relation between these two 

 laws ? and can any light be cast upon it, derived from the his- 

 tory of extinct forms, or from the conditions to which we find 

 that existing forms are subject ? In Vegetable Physiology do 

 the same, or similar laws prevail, — or can we trace others, such 

 as those on the relations between structure, form and colour, 

 of which clear indications have already been established, in 

 communications lately made to this Association by Dr. M'Cosh 

 and Dr. Dickie of Belfast ? In Chemistry, how is it that some 

 of the most powerful actions escape our finest analysis ? In 

 Medicine, what is the action of specifics ? and are there no 

 more discoveries to be made such as rewarded the observation 

 of Jenner, in the almost total extinction of a fearful and fre- 

 quent scourge ? It is in reference to such great questions, and 

 ten thousand others equally interesting and important, that the 

 pursuits of science call forth the highest activities of the mind 

 and exercise every power of thought and reasoning with which 

 it has been endowed. 



Indeed, it may fairly be questioned whether those sciences 

 which are called exact, are necessarily the best preparation for 

 the actual business of the world. It is the rare exception, and 

 not the rule, when exact and perfect demonstration becomes 

 applicable to the affairs of life. In general, men have to bal- 

 ance between a thousand probabilities, and to take into account 

 a thousand conflicting tendencies. Surely there can be no 

 training better than that Which teaches us by what careful in- 

 ductive reasoning — by what separation between permanent and 

 accidental causes — by what constant reference from the present 

 to the past, and from the past back again to the present, our 

 existing knowledge has been attained in the paths of physical 

 research. It is true, indeed, that where men's passions and 

 prejudices are much concerned, no amount of teaching will ever 

 induce them to follow or attend to the best methods of an'iv- 

 ing at the truth. But oven where there are no such disturb- 

 ing causes, where moderate and candid men are expressing their 

 sincere convictions, how constantly do we hear them ascribing 

 effects to causes, which the slightest habit of correct reasoning 

 would have been sufficient to dismiss ! In questions of great 

 social or political, as well as of philosophical importance, the 

 want of such habit is often most painfully apparent, and serves 

 in no small degree to retard the progress of mankind. The 

 necessity of considering all questions with reference to funda- 

 mental principles, or laws, and these again with reference to 

 the disturbing causes which delay or suspend their operation, 

 the mode of weighing evidence, and the degree of value to bo 

 attached to that which is of a merely negative kind — these are 



things of which we are perpetually reminded in the pursuits 

 of science ; and these surely are no useless lessons, whether 

 in religious, social, or political affairs. 



And then there is another consideration of no small im- 

 portance. As Science has now come to a stage in her pro- 

 gress, when she heads the Arts, and flings back upon them her 

 reflected light, so also has she now reached a degree of devel- 

 opment which casts some rays forward on questions of hio-her 

 import than those which she can fully answer. It is in vain 

 that we try to draw definite lines between the physical and the 

 metaphysical — between the secular nnd the religious. There 

 is a felt relation between the laws ni iiich obtain in each — such 

 indeed, as we might expect to find in provinces of a universal 

 empire. The consequence is, that in every speculation on those 

 higher questions on which men will and must speculate — in 

 every system of Philosophy, whether ancient or modern, they 

 draw not merely their illustrations, but not a few of their con- 

 clusions from scienec, or from that which passes by the name. 

 If, therefore, her discoveries, and above all, her methods and 

 her history, be but partially and superficially understood, the 

 popular mind will be a perpetual prey to the most specious 

 forms of error. But that history teaches caution. It is full 

 of warning as well as of example. In being a history of the 

 progress of knowledge, it is a history also of the obstructions 

 which knowledge has encountered, and an index of those to 

 which she is still exposed. The influence of opinions and 

 theories preconceived — of rash conclusions, and of false analo- 

 gies, has been, and still is, a perpetual source of danger. So 

 much is this the case, that we soon learn to receive with ex- 

 treme caution the inferences drawn hymen of science from the 

 facts they may bring to light, wherever these inferencs touch 

 upon other departments of knowledge. The relation in which 

 a new fact or law stands to others is seldom at once rightly 

 understood. It is only through fightings and controversies of 

 every kind that it gradually finds its place ; and becomes, not 

 unfrequently, an instrument in defence of truths which at first 

 it was supposed to sap and undermine. I do not mean to say 

 that the full meaning of the discoveries of science is always 

 brought to light. Ear from it. It would be more true to say 

 that their ultimate meaning is never reached; and that for 

 eveiy question which Science answers, she propounds an- 

 other which it is beyond her powers to solve. But in this we 

 may see the strongest of all arguments against our entertaining 

 any fear of Science as regards the interests of Religion. It 

 is sometimes proudly asked, who shall set bounds to'Scicnce. 

 or to the widening circle of her horizon ? But why should we 

 try to do so, when it is enough to observe that that horizon, 

 however it may be enlarged, is an horizon still — a circle be- 

 yond which, however wide it be, there shine, like fixed stars 

 without a parallax, eternal problems in which the march of 

 science never shows any change of place. If there be one fact 

 of which science reminds us more perpetually than another it 

 is that we have faculties impelling us to ask questions which 

 we have no powers enabling us to answer. What better les- 

 son of humility than this — what better indication of the rea- 

 sonableness of looking to a state in which this discrepancy 

 shall be done away — when we shall " know, even as we are 

 known !" 



But, gentlemen, I have already detained you too long, and 

 occupied your time fiir less profitably than it would have been 

 occupied by many who are present on this occasion. The hos- 

 pitality of this great city will afford you, I trust, a pleasant 

 and your own exertions will secure a profitable meetin". You 

 may well engage in its business and discussions, with a sense 



