114 



view of the position which I have here the honor to occupy, 

 leads me to adopt a different course. I shall seek to discharge 

 this duty with special reference to the practical advantagea 

 which ought to result from the exercise. And I propose, there- 

 fore, to ask the attention of my fellow members to the consi- 

 deration of topics which may tend, in the result of their dis- 

 cussion, to shew the true relation in which this and all our in- 

 stitutions of learning stand to the community in which they 

 exist; to reveal the essential connection of these institutions 

 with each other; and to suggest the way in which their mu- 

 tual means and resources must be enlarged, and how their in- 

 dividual and united action may be rendered more comprehen- 

 sive and more effective, and adequate to the mighty purpose 

 they are designed to accomplish. 



In the preamble to its charter of incorporation, the object of 

 the Institute is declared. It was organized for the promotion 

 of science and literature." Here were individuals, only a 

 handful, who were known to be devoted t( 



the kingdom of human knowledge, and a leading design un- 

 doubtedly was, to enable them to unite their efforts, and to fur- 

 nish and surround themselves, as far as possible, with the 

 needed and indispensable aids to profound study and research. 

 It was proposed that here, at the capital of this State, an in- 

 stitution should be located, which shoidd take an active and 

 it might be, an efficient part, in those great labours which else- 

 where the learned associations of our own and other countries 

 were prosecuting. 



It is well understood how entirely the world is indebted to 

 the voluntary efforts of individuals for the state to which learn- 

 ing is already advanced. It has been so in all ages and in all 

 countries; and in a great measure it will continue to be so to 

 the end. In every department, its history may be read in the 

 biography of a few names. Take for an example the scien- 

 tific arrangements in Zoology. Ray acted on a suggestion 

 dropped by Aristotle nineteen centuries before; Linnaus im- 

 proved upon Ray, and Cuvier has rivalled Linnaeus. Here is 

 the outline, and the fiUing up would be almost equally brief. 

 And then it is to be noted, that it is not merely that science 



