The President’s Address. 
3 7 
to science that may be rendered by societies of this descrip- 
tion, have bad much pleasure in opening friendly relations 
with the Old ’Change Society ; and they hope, when you are 
better accommodated with rooms in which the instruments and 
collections of this Society can be made accessible, that some 
arrangements may be made by which a closer connection may 
be established with the Old ’Change Society and with similar 
bodies. 
In inviting you to make renewed efforts for the successful 
application of the microscope to the vast range of questions 
which it is able to elucidate, I would remark that, as know- 
ledge advances, the minute structure of every object belong- 
ing to the animal, the vegetable, or the mineral world be- 
comes of more importance to the student, because he possesses 
additional means for its correct interpretation. 
The bodily eye may see ; but if the mental eye does not 
perceive, no information is gained. Hence, while improvements 
in the structure of the microscope and of its various appli- 
ances should be zealously promoted, it is even of greater con- 
sequence that the mind should be trained to understand the 
appearances which optical art is able to reveal. 
Without scientific knowledge, the eye may be pleased with 
beauties and wonderful markings made visible by the aid of 
the microscope ; but who is there who would not wish that 
the result of the devotion of his time, his money, and appli- 
cation to the microscope should result in an increase of 
knowledge ? 
The most common cause of failure with the microscope 
results from the want of sufficiently accurate and scientific 
knowledge to ensure the correct appreciation and interpreta- 
tion of what is seen. There is no purpose of importance to 
which the microscope can be directed without a demand 
arising for several kinds of scientific knowledge. 
The elements at least of physics and chemistry are indis- 
pensable in many forms of microscopic research ; and if orga- 
nised beings, or portions thereof, are the subjects of investi- 
gation, physiology and its kindred sciences become equally 
necessary. We cannot, therefore, effectually promote the use 
of the microscope without encouraging the study of a large 
group of physical sciences. I would particularly recommend 
that young observers make themselves acquainted with what 
has already been done, and acquire an elementary knowledge 
of physics, that microscopic researches may be advanced by 
their labours. 
It fortunately happens that the acquisition of this know- 
ledge, for the most part, does not need a master ; the best 
