608 
INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
instructions by more familiar words than are often used in 
the lecture-room ; and, above all, let us have the means of 
sustaining by any public declaration or act that may be 
required, any moral resolve which may contribute to the im- 
provement of yourselves or your position. 
Very few men are born geniuses, or have any very enlarged 
faculty for the rapid acquisition of science, or any great 
natural dexterity in the practice of an art ; and from this it 
would appear that intellectual talents of a high order are 
not, as a rule, of primary importance to the mass of mankind. 
Not so, however, the possessing of moral talents, as they 
may be called, or the habit of self-control, and obedience to 
the duties of our station. If, however, you have these (as I 
said before in speaking of “will” which is indeed the moral 
centre) you are sure to do well, notwithstanding that your 
abilities may at first appear to be of slender dimensions. 
Moral talents can both acquire, and lead to intellectual ones, 
and thus many a man is enabled to pick up the gems of the 
arts and sciences, and hold them afterwards with a firm and 
secure grasp. 
I would urge also as an especial requisite to your success, 
the cultivation of a spirit of mutual kindness, forbearance 
and charity towards each other. 
Think well of your fellow-pupil, and make every allowance 
for difference of disposition and talent, and even personal 
appearance. Endeavour within these walls to constitute a 
small band of professional gentlemen, the spirit of which, 
when you leave here, shall go forth with you into the world, 
and enter into and animate the profession at large. Accus- 
tom yourselves early to sacrifice personal likings and dislikes 
upon the shrine of your common art : have no personal 
enemies, and hold as foes only such things as are hostile 
to your career as useful practitioners. The genial glow of 
good feeling has a very comforting and germinating warmth 
when applied to the seeds of science. 
With this remark I shall close my observations upon this 
part of my subject, and give a simple resume of the whole 
argument, by saying, that soberness, temperance, and chastity 
may be regarded as the Muses of the arts and sciences ; and 
that if you have them, you will have long life, long leisure, early 
hours and hopeful mornings : and that, in addition to line 
upon line, and precept upon precept, you will have continuous 
and accumulative knowledge, fond hopes and aspirations, 
the respect of your employers, professional renown, and 
wealth enough to make you useful and happy. If you have 
them not, talent and intellect will w r aste away, the animal 
part of you will absorb the rational, and your end will be 
