Proceedings of the British Association* 597 



with the proofs of wisdom and omnipotence in their common Creator. 

 This is a portion, at least, of the results of this Society. I select 

 it for notice, because it deals with a subject which comes partially 

 at least, within the comprehension of those to whom algebraical 

 formulae or the hieroglyphics of mathematical science are a sealed 

 letter. 



Gentlemen, I have endeavoured by these remarks to convey to you 

 the general reasons which induced me, an unscientific man, to wish this 

 Society success, and to endeavour to assist that success by any means 

 at my disposal. I would ask leave, before I conclude, to further illus- 

 trate these views and feelings which are incidental to my own position, 

 by reference to a scientific transaction of no very distant date. Some 

 two years ago, as I have understood, an adventurous and scientific 

 party, with Prof. Agassiz at its head, undertook the ascent of that 

 Swiss mountain, whose name indicates that it had for ages been pro- 

 nounced inaccessible to the foot of man. They applied, however, to 

 physical difficulties in this case the energies and perseverance which 

 have won them many triumphs over intellectual obstacles, and they 

 succeeded. I doubt not that there were many who, from the chalet 

 and the pasturage beneath, directed their glasses to those peaks of 

 ice, and watched with intent and thrilling interest the progress of 

 those adventurers. Perhaps among them were some who, by some 

 trifling incursions into those awful regions, in pursuit perhaps of the 

 artist's or the hunter's pastime, had learned to appreciate the dangers 

 of the crevice, the toil of the assent, cut step by step with the hatchet 

 in the precipitous ice, and the general magnitude of the enterprise. 

 Be assured, you climbers of the heights of science, and there are many 

 of you here, that individuals so situated hail the progress they 

 cannot share, — that they sympathise with your advances, lament 

 when you are baffled ; and that when you plant your flag on some 

 hitherto virgin summit, their shout of applause would reach you 

 from below, — if it could be couveyed to your organs by the pure and 

 attenuated atmosphere it is yours, and yours alone, to breathe. Dwel- 

 lers in the peopled valley as we are, absorbed by other cares, and I 

 hope discharging other duties, breathers of a heavier and too often 

 tainted atmosphere, we yet can look upwards. We watch and count 

 your triumphs ; and as you gain them, we gladly add your names 

 to the list of those who have done honour to their country and service 

 to their kind. For your labours have this privilege, that while their 

 results become the common property of man, for that very reason, 

 and because they confer that common benefit, they elevate the country 



