32 
JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
but a greater number would be more satisfactory. We have but 
very few junior associates. I should much like to see an active 
recruiting service for this section. 
We have a handsome building, with room for enlargement ; not 
uncomfortable circumstances, although we should like better, of 
course, a fair library, a decent little museum, and a suitable staff 
for management. 
Thanks to our worthy and indefatigable Secretaries, we have a 
good programme of lectures before us, provided with that 
promptitude which has become so characteristic of our present 
administrators. 
Of the eleven lectures provided, I think I may venture to 
classify them as follows : Social Economy, 1 ; Scientific, 1 ; Politi- 
cal Economy, 1 ; and the remaining 8 all Literary. The subjects 
are tempting and promising, and we may anticipate much pleasure 
from them, and from the consequent discussions. 
May I not be excused for expressing some slight feeling of alloy 
to the pleasure of my analysis of the list, at finding so few scientific 
lectures 1 One thing, however, I know, that if our scientific friends 
will but step forward and volunteer for the second half of the 
session, our worthy Secretaries will be only too well pleased to 
enlist them. 
And now TOI2 ELTEITA. 
For the Future. 
All our early teachings had a curious character of finality about them, 
producing a tendency to believe that the world was drawing to its 
end. With each new discovery new proof was supposed to be given 
of the truth of the supposition. Doctrines of excess of population 
were sagely taught, the old world was supposed to be worn out, 
exhausted, and unable to maintain existing population from 1825 
to 1850. The locomotive, and marine engine won fresh victories ; 
rendered waste places of the earth accessible to the excessive 
population of the old countries; the trammels of the press were 
gradually shaken off, and now the light of knowledge is be- 
ginning to show how very little we yet know, and to give us some 
idea of how much we have yet to know. The sense of finality 
still lurking is rapidly passing away, spite of the recent strenuous 
efforts that have been made to persuade us to rest and be thankful. 
The world will not now stand still, however much we may wish it; 
