8 
MAEQUIS OF RIPON: 
would remember that in quoting' the words connected with the 
original foundation of the society, he had pointed out that it was 
stated that one of its objects was " to collect and record information 
with the accuracy and minuteness necessary for the successful pro- 
secution of mining." The}" had not so much to do now with the 
prosecution of mining, but he hoped they were not at all forgetful that 
it was their duty to collect and record information with accuracy 
and minuteness. It seemed to him that therein lay one of the most 
important objects that a society of that kind could keep in view. 
It should encourage students to methodise their studies by publishing 
the results of their original research, because he thought that all 
present — who were greater authorities upon science than he 
professed to be — would agree with him that there was nothing more 
important in the work of scientific men, and especially the younger 
students of science, than that exactness and accuracy of work which 
resulted from a constant appeal to the test of publication and 
discussion. That was what that society tended to do. Nothing 
could be of greater value than cori-ectness of observation and care- 
fulness in reporting what is observed and this habit was greatly 
promoted ; when the result of such enquiries were brought, as it 
were, to the test of cross-examination by competent men. That 
seemed to him to be one of the most important and valuable func- 
tions of a society of that kind. Their members were perhaps not 
very likely in these days to make any wonderful discoveries or to 
be able to make science take one of those great leaps or bounds 
forward which have occasionally resulted in the past from some 
profound investigation. But all who had time and knowledge to 
devote to scientific enquiries could help forward the general pro- 
gress of science in the country by correct and careful investigation. 
Especially did it appear to him that that was of the first importance in 
relation to young students of any branch of science, whether during 
the course of their college life or after its termination, and when 
they had entered upon the duties which fell to their lot in the pro- 
fession or position of life in which they might be placed. Therefore, 
he had learned with great pleasure that in addition to the paper 
which he alluded to as having been read by Mi-. Whiteley, at Har- 
