466 
Proceedings of the Boyal Society 
substances which compose it ; of the precious materials stored up 
for civilisation ; and of those noble forms of life and beauty which 
everywhere appeal to the affections and intelligence of man. 
But while we have thus much to learn we have also much to do, 
and whatever we have power to do must eventually be done. The 
great inventions which, in living memories, have so mysteriously 
altered the social condition of our race, measure to us, however 
feebly, what art and science have still to accomplish. Our gigantic 
steam-vessels — our telegraphs, aerial and submarine — our railways 
— our light-houses, are still in their infancy. We have yet to pass 
through the sea with a surer compass, a sharper prow, and a 
stronger impulse. We have yet to speak more articulately through 
the air and beneath the ocean. We have yet to guard our coasts 
with brighter beacons and safer lifeboats ; and our railways have 
yet to convey us more swiftly and safely to our home. But, what 
is more important still, we have yet to discover and combat those 
subtle poisons which are everywhere assailing the seat of life, and 
hurrying thousands of their victims to the grave. 
In the completion of these great inventions and discoveries, we 
shall then learn, what statesmen have been unable or unwilling to 
learn, that art and science are the means by which the blessings of 
religion and civilisation are to be sent to the distant isles of the 
sea, — the several families of the earth united in one, and the reign 
of peace and righteousness established on the earth. 
But while art and science are thus adding to our social blessings, 
and are pre-eminently the instruments of peace, they have in our 
day been busily and successfully employed in forging the weapons 
of violence and destruction. Nor is this a retrograde step in 
civilisation. By increasing the dangers, we diminish the chances, 
of war. In perfecting the machinery of Death, we eventually add 
security to Life. War may become so disastrous in its conse- 
quences, so indiscriminate in its slaughter, and so appalling in its 
carnage, that it will cease to be the arena of the heroic virtues ; and 
this bloody scourge of humanity — the master crime of nations — 
will be crushed by the genius of art, and perish by the weapons 
itself has used. 
In calling your attention to the present state of our Society, I 
