3790 Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh. 



Have they not led us deep in the disclose 



Of fine-spnn nature, exquisitely small, 



And, though demonstrated, still ill-conceived ? 



If, then, on the reverse the mind would mount 



In magnitude, what mind can mount too far, 



To keep the balance, and creation poise ?"— Young. 



Thus it is that, so long as reason holds her seat, the right-hearted naturalist wearies 

 not in his work. The longer he lives, the more he sees to admire, and the more en- 

 larged do his ideas become of the glory of the Great Fountain of life, and light, and 

 peace. I take the liberty of reminding you of these things, for the purpose of stirring 

 you up to take a lively and active interest in the working of this Society, the existence 

 and prosperity of which depend upon the combined efforts of its members to contribute 

 each his quota to its proceedings. It appears to me that, by a few years of earnest 

 labours, this Society may be instrumental in doing a great amount of good, the fruits 

 of which will long endure. I now refer particularly to the influence which we (as the 

 only active associated body of naturalists in the metropolis of Scotland) may very 

 legitimately endeavour to bring to bear in favour of that movement now in progress, 

 which has for its object the introduction of natural history, as an ordinary branch of 

 elementary education, into all our schools. Forty or fifty years have elapsed since this 

 movement began, and, doubtless, some progress has been made; but I presume that 

 I speak the mind of most of those now present who are conversant with the subject, 

 when I say, that there is great room for improvement in both the style and the matter 

 of the natural-history lessons at present given in schools. Now, it appears to me that 

 the consideration of the what and the how in this matter may very properly be taken 

 up and discussed here. I cannot but regard this as an important subject; and I ear- 

 nestly hope that some one amongst us, able to do justice to it, will bring it in a proper 

 shape before the Society. Doubtless, it is in a great measure owing to the commercial 

 prosperity of the nation, that there has been, of late, so great an increase in the 

 numbers of students of natural history. Men whose affluent circumstances give them 

 abundance of leisure and of means for the prosecution of science, begin to be wise 

 enough to learn that the pursuit of natural history is both delightful and healthful. 

 It is certainly not because our Government has taken science much more fully under 

 its protection than formerly that its votaries have increased. Yet, what has been 

 begun without the aid of Government, may in future owe much to that aid : and I feel 

 assured that associations such as ours may do a great deal towards bringing about this. 

 If it be shown — as you well know it can be shown — that the study of nature in a 

 proper spirit exerts the most wholesome effects on the moral and intellectual, as well 

 as upon the physical nature of man, may it not be confidently expected that our rulers 

 will yet come to see the desirableness of making proper provision for the more general 

 initiation of youth in natural science ? To be in any measure instrumental in ob- 

 taining such a boon for the nation, is surely an object well worthy of the attention 

 and best endeavours of our Society. And again, it appears likely that, not only in 

 education, but in therapeutics, a more exact acquaintance with natural history is 

 henceforth to be regarded as a sine qua non. You require not to be told that the 

 contemplation of the objects of nature around us, in mass or superficially, is very 

 inferior in power to minister successfully to the mind diseased, to the earnest scrutiny 

 which science teaches. The soothing effects of the discovery of beauty, order, 



