ADDRESS. 
One of the objects in the formation of the National Institute, was 
to promote the public interests through the aid of Science. 
As we are all anxious to accomplish that object, it may not be un- 
profitable to devote some attention to the consideration of what is most 
likely to hasten it, in a position like ours, and with encouragement, or 
means, such as exist in this country. 
There are different employments of the mind connected with im- 
provements by Science, which demand notice, and which, though highly 
essential to success, are very unlike, and not equally suited to the cir- 
cumstances in which most of us are placed. One is the collection of 
new facts; another is the discovery of the organic law which produces 
or governs those facts. Without the former, the highest powers of 
genius would lack proper materials for new deductions and systems; 
while, without the latter, the industry of mankind would be lavished in 
gathering materials rather than in using them. We should have timber 
and brick, granite and marble, but not a temple or pyramid, or even 
cottage, rising in fair architectural proportions. In short, the condition 
of Science, where only facts are amassed, is the chaos of matter which 
preceded the creation — a without form and void” — and requires some spirit 
to “ move on the face of the waters,” to produce life and beauty as well as 
usefulness. On the contrary, the talent to analyze or compare, com- 
bine and construct, without the possession of suitable facts, runs into the 
wildest vagaries. Errors are adopted, and theories the most imperfect 
countenanced, from the want of that full collection of materials and ex- 
periments, which are indispensable to reach sound conclusions, and on 
which alone any solid scientific structure can be raised. A third exer- 
cise of mental power, connected with Science, is a species of creative 
talent, akin in grandeur to that which formed matter itself; it is to shape 
all such facts and laws to new purposes and improvements. It resem- 
bles the superiority of the architect over his mute materials, or even the 
maker of his brick or the hewer of his wood, or the striking dominion of 
the general in battle over his rude masses. But unite these qualities or 
pursuits, and every thing is attained which is practicable. Their com- 
bined efforts, as in architecture, for example, produce the useful dwell- 
