Proceedings of the British Association. 293 



may indulge in an expression of regret that the true system of the 

 universe is known, that the law of gravitation is discovered, that the 

 problem of the three bodies is solved, and that the rich mine of dis- 

 covery is exhausted, and that there remain no rich masses of ore in 

 its veins to make the fortune and fame of those who find them : but 

 it is in the midst of this dream of hopelessness and despondency that 

 he is startled from time to time by the report of some great disco- 

 very — a Davy has decomposed the alkalies ; a Dalton has discovered, 

 and a Berzelius has completely developed the law of definite propor- 

 tions ; a Herschel has extended the law of gravitation to the remotest 

 discoverable bodies of the universe ; and a Gauss has brought the 

 complicated and embarrassing phenomena of terrestrial magnetism 

 under the dominion of analysis : and so it will ever continue to be 

 whilst knowledge advances, the highest generalizations of one age 

 becoming the elementary truths of the next. But whilst we are 

 taking part in this great march of science and civilization, whilst we 

 are endeavouring to augment the great mass of intellectual wealth 

 which is accumulating around us, splendid as may be the triumphs 

 of science or art which we are achieving, let us never presume to 

 think that we are either exhausting the riches or approaching the 

 terms of those treasures which are behind. Still less let us imagine 

 that the feeble efforts of our philosophy will ever tend to modify the 

 most trivial and insignificant — if aught can be termed trivial and 

 insignificant, which He has sanctioned — of those arrangements which 

 the great Author of Nature has appointed for the moral or material 

 government of the universe. Far different are the lessons which He 

 taught us, by the revelation of His will, whether expressed in His 

 word or impressed on His works. It is in a humble and reverent 

 spirit that we should approach the fountain of all knowledge ; and it 

 is in a humble and reverent spirit that we should seek to drink of 

 the living waters which ever flow from it. 



Mr. John Taylor read the Treasurer's account, already printed in 

 the Report of the General Committee [ante, p. 882] . Prof. Phillips 

 read the programme of proceedings. 



The Marquis of Northampton moved, and Earl Fitzwilliam second- 

 ed, thanks to the President, which being carried by acclamation, 

 the meeting adjourned to Wednesday, Oct 2. 

 ( To be continued. ) 



