206 PEESIDENT S ADDRESS. 



Again, in his Address, delivered in his capacity of President, 

 to the Midland Institute at Birmingham, last October, he affirms 

 that ''Thoughtful minds, finding no trace of evidence in favour 

 of any other origin, are driven to seek in the interaction of social 

 forces the genesis and development of man's moral nature." But 

 he tells us not what he considers the term '' Social forces" to in- 

 clude, upon which e^-idently hinges the whole importance of the 

 statement, except, apparently, that preaching is one of them, and 

 thus again he leaves every question -sN^th regard to the moral 

 nature of man not only unsolved, but practically untouched. 



I need not pursue the subject farther. While it is a matter for 

 great regret, that one, so gifted as Professor Tyndall, should, leav- 

 ing those subjects in which he has justly won world-wide renown, 

 occasionally bring forward, in the name of Science, speculations, 

 theories, and conjectures, which have not the faintest resemblance 

 to her distinctive beautiful lineaments, it is very satisfactory to 

 know that they are in reality utter strangers to her, in no way 

 related to or connected with her, and that we may court her to 

 the utmost of our opportunities, follow her indications, and seek 

 her, through every path, without disturbing our own inmost con- 

 victions on deeper subjects, or distressing others, or exciting dis- 

 trust of our fascinating mistress in their breasts. 



