THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 
29 
in agricultural chemistry, were very useful ; and his professorship 
of chemistry in the Mining College at Truro, established by Sir 
Charles Lemon, turned out young men who have since occupied 
very important positions as miners and metallurgists in all parts 
of the world ; greatly assisting in the development of those dis- 
coveries of the precious metals in California, Nevada, and Australia, 
which were initiated from 1847 to 1851, and have already effected 
the establishment of new states and governments. 
I had the good fortune to be his demonstrator for a season ; but 
was succeeded by Dr. Letheby, another of our old members, who 
eventually became Professor of Chemistry in the London Hospital, 
Public Officer of Health for the City of London, and Public 
Analyst for several counties. 
Mr. Prideaux's lectures on Agriculture and Agricultural Chemistry 
in this hall and elsewhere at a momentous period in the history of 
this country, that of the abolition of the Corn Laws and adoption 
of Free Trade, which rendered the application of scientific princi- 
ples to agriculture a possibility as well as a necessity, directed the 
attention of the public to the value of artificial manures, and 
contributed much to the establishment of those important chemical 
and artificial manure manufactories for which this town and 
neighbourhood are distinguished. 
Turning away from this tempting topic, we would ask, What has 
been the most remarkable and most active agent in the production 
of these great developments of energy, and of the consequent 
changes in the conditions of the world 1 I think I shall not find 
now any dissentient amongst my audience when I venture to 
answer, The increased vitality of literature as evidenced by and in 
the free press of our country. 
It used to be the fashion in this hall at one time for the fol- 
lowers of literature and the adherents of science to contend which 
was the more worthy, much the same as if the mouth and the 
eyes were to contend as to which might be the more important 
member of the human body. 
The young people of to-day cannot possibly judge of the value 
of the literature of the present time, such and so constant are the 
torrents of it poured forth in the daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, 
and occasional productions of the press. 
The early history of our older members presents clearer because 
less numerous landmarks for observation. They had no daily 
