ADDRESS. 
lxxi 
the British Association, a second time to Liverpool. It is right that you 
and Liverpool should have frequent meetings, and should cultivate an inti¬ 
mate acquaintance. There is no place which can do more for science if she 
pleases; none has opportunities so extensive of becoming, by her ships and 
commercial agencies, by her enterprising spirit and her connexion with every 
soil and climate, the missionary of science,—perhaps in this place I should 
rather say the importer of the raw material of facts and observations, — the ex¬ 
porter of the manufactured results arising from their scientific discussion. 
There is no town which owes more to science. Without science can her vessels 
stir without danger out of sight of land, or walk the waters independent of 
wind or tide? Without science would they have docks to shelter them, rail¬ 
roads to bring their produce to their docks, telegraphs to announce their 
movements, manufactures to freight them to distant lands ? I do not believe 
that Liverpool is insensible to her obligations. This magnificent reception 
is one evidence of the feeling,—but a stilt better is to be found in her liberal 
support to such institutions as the Public Libraries and Museums, as her 
Collegiate Institution and her Mechanics' Institute, and above all her mag¬ 
nificent Observatory. 
Again 1 welcome the British Association for the Advancement of Science 
to the walls of Liverpool, fully assured as I am of the great benefits, direct 
andjndirect, which their presence will confer upon the town, and of the deep 
sense which the inhabitants entertain of the honour conferred upon them by 
this repeated visit. 
