THE PRESIDENT S INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 5 



animal ; and, laRtly, it is equally nsefnl as tlio servant of 

 man. 



I'liese points of resemblance I maintain to be conclusive 

 to my argument. 



Many years ago, I recollect to have read tliat a very in- 

 genious French mechanician, of the time of Louis Qiiatorze, 

 I think, made an artificial duck which could swim about 

 upon a large basin of water by means of its legs, and move 

 its head naturally as it did so. It would stop to preen and 

 apparently lubricate its feathers. It would take its food, 

 and swatter in the shallow water at the edge of the basin, 

 and, witli French-like ingenuity, was made to discharge its 

 dojeota: all, as the account said, in the most natural man- 

 ner possible, and to the admiration of the king and his 

 courtiers. I do not I'emember whether it could quack like 

 a duck, though I should think that most characteristic 

 melody could hardly have been omitted. But though this 

 was considered at the time a most wonderful imitation of 

 nature, yet it had to be wound up, and no doubt otherwise 

 prepare<i for a second performance in the most jtranatural 

 manner, by taking out the food it had swn.llowed, and rj- 

 placing the imitation dejecta it had evacuated. 



This was no doubt an ingenious and, what might be callc I 

 a duck of an invention ; but it was simply an outside imita- 

 tion — it had no sort of life in it, and could do no work like 

 our noble locomotive. The palm, therefore, must be given 

 to our mechanical engineers of the present day. 



Accepting this theory of connexion with our sponsors, the 

 naturalists, as being in every respect satisfactory and sufFi- 

 oient for our purpose, I may now be allowed to crave your 

 attention to a few fLirther remarks on a no less important 

 subject — namely, the object we have in view in assembling 

 hero this evening. 



