30 
FIRST report-1831. 
experiment; for the lower order of experiments* in subjects of 
the utmost ultimate abstractness*—such as the relations* for in¬ 
stance, of heat and of light*—are not only abundantly wanted* 
but by a moderate degree of industry and talent are by no means 
difficult to be supplied. 
te What numberless suggestions, what a crowd of valuable 
but abortive hints are continually floating in the thoughts of 
philosophers, for the pursuit of which time is wanting to them¬ 
selves ! Now I say* Gentlemen, that we have among us* scattered 
through the country, men willing to adopt these unexecuted 
hints, as they arise out of the profound and varied meditations 
of more experienced minds* men not incapable of surveying 
with accuracy a limited district, though they may not pretend 
to draw the general outline of the map, or fill up the whole of 
its details. Many such there are who only wait for instructions, 
and who require no other stimulus than that of being invited, 
to render the most essential service to researches and calcula¬ 
tions of the highest order ; and it is upon this ground especially 
that we venture to pronounce an Institution wanting, which shall 
not hesitate to make such invitations and to offer such instruc¬ 
tions ; it is upon this ground that if we now propose to revive 
in the nineteenth century a plan devised two centuries ago,— 
we see a difference, Gentlemen, in the probability of success. 
Scientific knowledge has of late years been more largely infused 
into the education of every class of society, and the time seems 
to be arrived for taking advantage of the intellectual improve¬ 
ment of the nation. Let Philosophy at length come forth and 
show herself in public ; let her hold her court in different parts 
of her dominions ; and you will see her surrounded by loyal 
retainers, who will derive new light and zeal from her presence 
and contribute to extend her power on every side. 
“ Much, indeed, is not to be gained in the more recondite 
subjects of investigation from the first essays of inexpert in¬ 
quirers; but let the number of those inquirers only be increased; 
collect around you, Gentlemen, a school fired with a zeal for 
truth, confess to them how little you know compared with what 
remains to be known, apprize them that there is not a subject 
to which they can apply themselves where new materials are 
not wanted to advance the fabric, or secure the foundations ; let 
them see that the more multiplied have been your discoveries, 
the more additional openings to discovery have appeared,—and 
if you will then draw the precise line of what is, and what is 
not made out in every science, if you will indicate to them those 
promising points and inlets of inquiry which bid fair to lead to 
valuable results,—if you will thus put before them right sub- 
