208 president's addkesfj. 



caused such fearful devastation everywhere. Uprooting count- 

 ,less trees in Northumberland and Scotland, trees which had 

 braved storms for scores and scores of years. The fearful de- 

 struction of our ships and sailors will have written that sad day's 

 work even more deeply and permanently on many a heart than 

 the loss of property has done. The storm travelled with great 

 rapidity, and broke upon the west coast during the night. The 

 cirrus "observed on October 13," the day before the storm, 

 " gave earlier information than the barometer of the coming gale. 

 It may be stated generally that cirrus of a long, straight, feathery 

 kind, with soft edges and outlines, or with soft delicate colours 

 at sunset and sunrise, is a sign of fine weather. Curly wisps and 

 brown back pieces are not a bad sign, but their exact appearance 



should be noted The harder and more distinct the 



outline, and the more some particular forms are repeated, the 

 worse the results." 



It is, however, full time tliat I drew this address to a conclu- 

 sion. 



Look where we will, either in the heavens above us, with the 

 bright and glorious suns and stars, which form the field of the 

 astronomer's investigation, or down to the deepmost valleys of 

 the ocean, all, all tell the same lesson, how stupendous are the 

 works of Him who made them all. How each fresh peep into 

 mighty and beautiful works of Creation does but open the door 

 to further search, and reveal treasures of knowledge before alto- 

 gether unsuspected. Only let us pursue our investigation as 

 simple searchers after Truth, not as those who seek for facts in 

 order to support some strongly conceived and foregone conclusion, 

 and to bolster up and strengthen some pet theory, or as Lord 

 Bacon long, long ago wrote: — "Truth, which only doth judge 

 itself, teacheth, that the inquiry of Truth, which is the love 

 making, or wooing of it, the knowledge of Truth, which is the 

 presence of it, and the belief of Truth, which is the enjoying of 

 it, is the sovereign good of human nature. The first creature of 

 God, in the works of the days, was the light of the sense : the 

 last was the light of reason : and His Sabbath work, ever since, 

 is the illumination of His Spirit. First He breathed light upon 



