356 
LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
that love that the artist has in his work and the physician and surgeon in theirs. Take 
the case of the majority of our apprentices. Leaving school at the age of fourteen, 
with only a smattering of many things, no thorough knowledge of one,—the systema¬ 
tic training now requisite, the necessary application of the mind to such an exact science 
as chemistry, as positive as mathematics,—to such facts as those contained in botany, 
materia inedica, and pharmacy,—is of incalculable value, developing and disciplin¬ 
ing his mental powers and widening the sphere of his observation, making life more full 
and varied, and nature rich in objects of interest. His capacity for business, too, is 
increased with his love of it, and he finds indeed that knowledge is power. I would 
urge upon each of them the wisdom of promptitude in this matter to avail themselves 
at once of the means opened for them. It is not by violent or spasmodic efforts at 
cramming during the last six months of their apprenticeship, or looking forward to 
its close and a year at the laboratory and for study, that they will achieve their end, 
or that the purpose of the Legislature or the Pharmaceutical Society attained. It has 
been well said, “ Much knowledge cast hurriedly into the mind smothers the young in¬ 
tellect, as too much fuel smothers scarcely-kindled fire.” It is the quiet, patient appli¬ 
cation week by week, the little-by-little long persevered in, that lays the foundation 
and forms the habits by which, and on which, real permanent success and efficiency are 
achieved. I do hope this appeal will not be made in vain, and I answer for all the 
older members of this Society, that their hearty co-operation and assistance only await 
a claim. 
Your Society has, during the past session, freely discussed the whole system of our 
weights and measures in relation to those of our Continental friends, an admirable paper by 
our Secretary forming the text; and the general feeling was decidedly in favour of sup¬ 
porting heartily a uniform standard, and that of France appeared to them based on the 
most scientific principle and most easy of application. Without committing your So¬ 
ciety in any way, or alluding to it as it bears on its more immediate experience in phar¬ 
macy, but simply stating a commercial fact, I say for myself the present state of affairs 
is an unmixed nuisance, a perfect clog on all large Continental business relations, a plen¬ 
teous source of loss of time, money, and temper. I may mention the fact that, during 
the last month, three instances of mistakes in tares and calculations of invoices, arising 
out of the different values of Prussian and English pounds and the reduction of kilo¬ 
grams, have come under my immediate notice, in which the sum of £40 in all had to 
be returned after much correspondence, bickering, and heartburning. As men of busi¬ 
ness, you are well aware it is not the pecuniary amount that is of the most importance, 
but these unpleasant feelings so induced, engendering reluctance to have further deal¬ 
ings in the same quarter; and as, year by year, our commerce bridges the seas, and con¬ 
nects Europe more intimately together, so does this nuisance intensify, and I do hope 
that ere long we shall have the difficulties that prevent legislation cleared away, and 
I trust we shall be found ready, as a Society, to aid other societies in their efforts to this 
end. 
Gentlemen, I must bring my somewhat discursive address to a close. The session is 
inaugurated. Our schools, our professors are ready and willing. I trust the pupils will 
be found so likewise. During the last session we had papers contributed of rare excel¬ 
lence, but we had to depend too much on one or two kind friends, our busiest members, 
and hardest workers. I do hope we shall not have again to tax them so heavily, but 
that many others will get rid of that feeling of reluctance, that coyness of authorship, 
and contribute something from their observation and research to enrich the common 
stock of all. 
Last year your respected President, my predecessor, stated that the banner of this 
Society bore two inscriptions, “ Self-improvement ” and “ The Public Good.” Be it so. 
For myself I heartily accept it. The two are indissolubly united. The very framework 
of our social system is so ordered by Providence that each one, strenuously endeavouring 
to develope, train, and use all his powers healthily and manfully, is a public benefactor. 
Ay ! however humble his position may be, all around are benefited by his work and 
stimulated by his example ; and it is an ambition worthy of the greatest soul that ever 
lived on earth, and fitted to warm the heart and nerve the will of the youngest associate 
of the Society,—the ambition to leave the world a little better for having lived in it. 
Mr. Abraham proposed a vote of thanks to the President for his address, praising it 
for its practical character. 
