ANNIVERSAKY ADDRESS. 43 



forgotten that we do not, in either respect, compare favorably 

 with America. On the basis either of population or area, the 

 United States has wholly surpassed us in the generosity of its 

 treatment of educational or scientific establishments : this is so 

 both in respect of state and private benefaction. It is indeed a 

 gratifying feature of recent American history, to notice the 

 munificence of its citizens to their institutions. Great fortunes 

 are largely the outcome of those conditions which have been pro- 

 duced by the general spread of intelligence. The devotees of 

 science, have necessarily adandoned the paths that lead to possible 

 affluence; and yet from their limited means, they contribute, as 

 a rule, liberally to the cause which lies near their hearts. But 

 the institutions on which the progress of humanity depends, 

 require assistance in the material means for their maintenance, 

 far beyond what lies in the power of men of science to provide. 

 It is peculiarly gratifying therefore, when those whose financial 

 genius has won for them affluence, use the great power which that 

 brings, to promote the welfare of the people. I do not believe 

 that in this country we are less liberal or less intelligent than in 

 others : but, that the nature of our needs is not sufficiently known, 

 is certain. Once it is clearly understood that we are languishing 

 for want of the means to do that which ought to be done for our 

 future national prosperity, the assistance will not be long in 

 forthcoming. It is our duty to the community as a whole, to 

 explain our wants : when we have efficiently done so, when we 

 have made it manifest that the development, especially of our 

 scientific libraries is an immediate and pressing need, that our 

 educational establishments cannot with their present endowment 

 compete with those of the older intellectual centres of the world, 

 then we may have some expectation that the generous impulse of 

 the people, will lift us out of our trouble. It has been freely 

 enough shewn in the past, and no doubt will in the future. I 

 hold it to be the solemn duty of those who realize what higher 

 culture means to the world, to publicly explain the circumstances 

 of their day in that respect. Only when that has been done have 



