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I have thus pointed out, imperfectly I am aware, a few of 



the modes which are within the power of each of you, by the 

 employment of which you may discharge the duty you have 

 undertaken in becoming members of the Institute. The sub- 

 ject is far from being exhausted, but I have desired rather to 

 excite attention and inquiry, than to weary your patience by 

 an enumeration of the almost infinitely diversified methods 

 which ingenuity could suggest. If I have succeeded in doing 

 this, my aim has been accomplished. 



To render our Association completely successful, depends 

 not upon the zeal or acquirements of this or that member, but 

 upon the willingness of each to contribute his exertions towards 

 it. It is not by speculation and generalization to which our 

 minds are always prone, that we can materially benefit our- 

 selves, or add to the stock of useful knowledge. These, in- 

 stead of requiring encouragement, should rather be repressed 

 and discouraged. To be of any ultimate value, they require 

 more extensive acquaintance with the facts brought out by ob- 

 servation and experiment, with their relative importance and 

 connexion, than any of us can boast of, or could acquire with- 

 out an entire devotion of all our faculties to science. They 

 may be safely left to the Herschels and the Humboldts, the 

 giants in knowledge and intellect, while we may contribute 

 materially to lessen their labors, by choosing the humbler, but 

 not less necessary, task of collecting and verifying facts. It is 

 only those who know nothing of science or its pursuits, who 

 would be inclined to undervalue and sneer at these worthy 

 contributions, while they would applaud to the echo, the 

 frothy, empty declamation, which affects the ear, but does not 

 reach the mind. Here each of you can do something, and 

 you should dismiss at once and forever the thought, that be- 

 cause you cannot do all, or even any thing very great or re- 

 markable, there is no necessity for your doing any thing. The 

 water, the sand, the hme, and the brick, are as indispensable 

 to the completion of the lofty edifice, as the towering column 

 or the sculptured shaft. Genius, whatever it may be, no lon- 

 ger sways the sceptre over the realms of science. Great and 

 noble ends indeed are to be achieved, but the means which 



