Inaugural Address. 7 



The term " Scientific Association" would, therefore, have been 

 a better designation than Philosophical Society, as more suitable 

 to the spirit of the age ; and if, instead of one pur&uit alone, 

 which is the characteristic of a Geological, a Geographical, or an 

 Entomological Society it is intended to permit investigations of 

 the whole round of Physical Sciences (as this Society professes), 

 then a more general and comprehensive designation, suitable on 

 account of its undefined vagueness is an advantage. We cannot, 

 assuredly, obtain a better than that which, at the same time, gives 

 a sanction honourable to those who accept it. 



This opinion is in agreement with the Eeport of a Committee 

 appointed by the Council, and presented for adoption on the 26th 

 July, 1805, to consider the propriety of the change of title. 



To such as object to change, it may be said, that it will not 

 prevent our cultivation of Science, Art, or Literature, in that 

 " spirit of Philosophy" which a celebrated writer has said " is 

 even more valuable than any limited acquirement of philosophy. 



It need not, however, be pointed out, that the spirit in which 

 truth is sometimes sought for in the present age is anything but 

 philosophical ; for having cast off the darkness of the past, men 

 are sometimes found shutting their eyes against the only light 

 of truth which they already possess. 



There is, I hope, no need for apology in venturing to remark 

 that there appears to me to be only one true Philosophy, that 

 which is given to and not elaborated by man — " revealed," to use 

 the words of Mr. Lewes,* who is not particularly bigoted in 

 favour of the supernatural — " because inaccessible to Reason, 

 revealed and accepted by Paith, because Reason is utterly incom- 

 petent ;" nor will this proposition be disputed by any here, that 

 if a Revelation of any kind has been given by the Creator, it will 

 in the end be found not in contradiction to the works of His 

 hand. And, although men may now be occupied in studying 

 what are called the Laws of Nature, if the fallacies which are 

 often uttered in relation to them, being as they are only the 

 mode of creative action, are abjured, the Positive Philosopher 

 will be led to see, that those very laws are not in opposition to, 

 but the expression of creative will. We have not entertained as 



* Vol. II, Page 223. 



