Royal Physical Society. 173 



Wernerian, and Botanical, might form a Natural History 

 Institute for Edinburgh, with three departments, namely, 

 zoological, geological, and phytological. But three sets of 

 meetings are far beyond what experience has shown that Edin- 

 burgh can support ; and if I might be permitted to express an 

 opinion, I would strongly counsel that the Physical and Wer- 

 nerian form at the most one body with one set of meetings. 

 And with all due respect to the philosopher of Freyburg, I 

 clearly opine that it is time to drop his name when the theory 

 associated with it is so completely extinct ; therefore, I would 

 say, let the two bodies henceforth appear under the title of 

 the Royal Physical Society. 



There is one feature of the practice of this Society which I 

 am inclined to notice on the present occasion, as affording a 

 recommendation to young men to connect themselves with it. 

 This is the conversational nature of our proceedings. Seated, 

 as we usually are, around a board containing specimens and 

 instruments, and in close proximity to our President, every 

 one has a ready opportunity of examining whatever may be 

 brought forward, putting questions about it, and receiving 

 explanations. Aspirants are thus encouraged to state their 

 difficulties, and to ask for information . Young and old mem- 

 bers, graduates of last session and veteran professors who 

 began to gather fame half a century ago, come into familiar 

 contact, and learn to like and respect each other. Conscious 

 ignorance and inexperience are not abashed here, but rather 

 encouraged to reveal themselves, that they may go away in- 

 structed. Of course, in our conversations, it is not to be ex- 

 pected that we are to take harmonious views on every point. 

 But when differences are stated with good temper, and under 

 restraint of the rales of civility, as they are here, we do not 

 find that they have a bad effect in any respect. On the con- 

 trary, they tend to advance truth, as well as to check vanity 

 and dogmatism. I must, then, express my hope that this con- 

 versational character of our meetings may be persisted in, and 

 maintained in full force, as it has heretofore been. 



Having spoken of conscious ignorance and inexperience, I 

 am induced to make a general remark thereupon, in the hope 

 that it may benefit some who hear me. It is simply to the 



02 



