power which binds the moon to the earth, the earth and 

 other planets to the sun, and the solar system itself to some 

 immeasurably distant star ? which may again be but the 

 satellite of some yet grander centre, sending out its power 

 from some inconceivable distance, which no mortal eye can 

 scan, and mortal sense scarce conceive ! What are these 

 " Meteor Showers" which we saw so visibly in November, 

 i868, and again in 1869, and which, it appears, we are to 

 expect at regular intervals ? We have advanced so far as to 

 know there are, probably, many belts or zones of meteors 

 revolving with mathematical regularity within the limits of 

 our planetary system ; but what are they ? What is their 

 object ? and what is their composition ? — we don't know. 

 That wonderful discovery, Spectrum Analysis, hints darkly at 

 incandescent Hydrogen Gas, tut nothing more ! I fear I am 

 straying from the immediate objects of our Society, but it is 

 such a tempting subject for speculation. The past year has 

 been by no means an eventful one for new discoveries ; indeed, 

 we seem to have arrived at one of the pauses or halting-places 

 of Science, where discovery takes breath for fresh exertions, 

 for all scientific progress is very intermittent and fitful. We 

 are very apt to talk of the wonderful progress Science has 

 made in our time, and to be rather disappointed if each 

 recurring year does not produce some fresh marvel ; but our 

 modern times, especially the last half century have been 

 remarkable rather for the elaboration, the perfection, and 

 utilisation of ideas than for aught else. Electricity and the 

 magnet were known 3,000 years ago to the Greeks, though 

 they have but recently resulted in the Electric Telegraph and 

 Mariners' Compass. The extensive powers of steam were 

 known to the ancients ; and modern Chemistry, with its 

 many wonders, is but the Alchemy of the Dark Ages. So we 

 must be content to work on, each contributing his mite 

 towards the elucidation of existing mysteries. What a vast 

 field for speculation and interest is opened up by the pursuit 

 of Natural History ! How by its aid we find life and interest 

 in the most unexpected places, for to the Naturalist all around 

 teems with life. At the bottom of the Atlantic, in depths 

 varying from 2,000 to 3,000 feet, we still find life, for here 

 dwell countless molluscs, corallines, &c., though how organic 

 beings can exist while sustaining so enormous a pressure. 



