20 
JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
since 1812 up to the present moment; but our Institution still 
continues in existence — may we not hope with undiminished 
vitality, and with at least as good reasons for existence and con- 
tinuance as it ever had 1 
For more than thirty years that I have had the privilege of 
sitting on the side benches, or by the lecturer's door, surmounted 
by the motto so well chosen by the Eev. Mr. Lampen, who gave 
the first inaugural address, in 1819, in this hall, 
TOI2 NYN KAI TOI2 ELTEITA, 
I have occasionally, when unable to fix attention on the lecture, or 
to join in the discussion, had my thoughts directed to its meaning, 
and I have sometimes thought that the plain English rendering 
might be advantageously attached, and so become serviceable; for I 
presume that it may not be beneath the dignity of the Society to 
admit that there may possibly be richly-endowed members amongst 
us who may not be able to readily interpret it. 
Through your kind suffrages at our last Annual Meeting I have 
been brought to face this motto ; and I venture to offer it as the 
text of my Address — 
"FOR THE PRESENT AND FOR THE FUTURE." 
The Present is the fruit, the product of the Past; and the seed, 
the foundation of the Future. 
How have we reached the Present 1 By what labours of our 
predecessors have we attained our present position 1 What is it 
necessary for us to do to insure as good a history for the Future as 
for the Past 1 
The professed objects of this Institution, as stated in the Trust 
Deed, are " for the delivery of lectures, and for discussions on the 
different subjects of Science, Literature, and the Fine Arts;"* 
and they are further elucidated in the preface to the Laws of 
the Institution, printed 1827, thus: "To promote the cultivation 
of useful knowledge, by encouraging habits of research, and afford- 
ing opportunities to persons of various pursuits to communicate 
with each other by the reading of essays on literary and scientific 
subjects, and afterwards entering on the discussions to which they 
may lead." 
* " Laws of the Plymouth Institution," 1827, hound up with "Annual 
Reports of Plymouth Institution and Devon and Cornwall Natural History 
Society," vol. i. 1855 to 18G5. 
