- -'I^'' 
 
 The EDITH and LORNE PIERCE 
 COLLECTION of CANADI ANA 
 
 ^eens University at Kingston 
 
INAUGURAL LECTURE 
 
 glcg;irtiucnt of |Jr;tctic:iI ^iWKt 
 
 or THE 
 
 I!f 
 
 BIcGILL UNIVERSITY, MONTREAL, 
 
 -I. 
 
 Dkliveued IX THE William Molsox Hall, 
 
 MONDAY, l!)r„ FEIUUJARY, 187-2, 
 
 8T 
 
 GEORGE FREDERICK ARMSTRONG, M.A., (Cantad.), C.E.,F.G.S., 
 
 Prn/cssor nf Civil Knginc^'ring and Ajijilie'l Mechanics ; 
 
 Aiiociale of the Inalstute of C:iii Engineers nf (,'iecit Biituin ; 
 
 Mtmbir '>/ the Sucietij of Art/, .j'c, .jc. 
 
 ^ 
 
 '4 
 
 >.. '. • MONTREAL: 
 
 ; OAKTTC rriNTLNO HOl'SK, NEAItLV l)Pl'OSITE TUB POST OEHM. 
 
 1872. 
 
.ffwawjws™' ■ • " ■• "T.";:- 
 
 r 
 
 ^ J 
 
 J 
 
The Author wmikl rcniiirk that the Sdiool of rrnctical Scioncc wliich tliis Locturo 
 inaugui-at'S, is the first nttmiiit wliirh has hem made In British Kortli Auu-rita to 
 establish the systtmatie tearhiiig of Apiilied iScieiiee, 
 
 111 (lesi-.TR also to ai knowKdge his ob.'igations for mueh tliat is embodied in this 
 
 Li-cture, to the following : 
 
 Inaiigural A'ldr.ss of th.' Trcsid. nt (ISOT), and " Report on tlic Edurfttion and Status of 
 Kugiueiis,'' (1800), of tlie lustitule of Civil Engineers of Great Britain. 
 
 AND 
 
 Address by (dl. (f. ('iii;sm;y, R. E., at the Offieial Opiuing of the Indian Engineering 
 College, Cooper's Hill, Surrey, 1871. 
 
A 
 
 Inaugural Lkcturk. 
 
 Gbntlkmkn I'KTiiK DKi"AinMKNTi)KPitAcTu;Ai, sU' h ri'fi'it iv'c only to tin- work of othi'rs as 
 
 SoiBNCK— LADiua AND (iKNTLEMKN : — I aiii liLTc iu:iy si't'iu to bear upon our own position. 
 
 to-tlay to Kay li low wmils to you by way of In tin; liist place thrn — stiangi) and p:ini- 
 
 inaiiKuratiiiff tho rcconimtncfint'iit of tht^ doxical as it may mvm to some of you — our 
 
 teaching of I'lttL'tical Stiouco in tliis Univcr- aim hero will not bi; to mukc KuKinctrs. 
 
 ity. Ami in ho (lnin>{, I ilcsiic at the outset Ttuit has been tried over and over auain by 
 
 to recor<l my convictioii that this is a day Schools in all parts of ICurope, but has not 
 
 full of liappy auf;ury and meet for sineero yet, in any true si nse, proved a success. 
 
 congratulation, not within the ju'ccincts of Whnt we do, liowever, set ourselves to do is 
 
 onr University only, but ecpially so, if not thi^.— namely, to alford suih an education — 
 
 in ft still higher degric, for the community partly theontical and p:irtly (iracticid — a.s 
 
 at large. And I fancy 1 can hear it spoken will, when supphni'nted hyacttial e.xpevii nee 
 
 of as Huch by thos(^ who, wh n wiUiave p.iss- in an ollice and in cliarjj:e of works, form, 
 
 ed away, and are perhaps forgotten, hhall lill wt; vetitury to ho|)e, a suh-struetine upon 
 
 our places here, as they look thankfully back which may be based a professional capacity 
 
 in the li^ht of a grially advanced state of neither mean nor imperfect. 
 
 many branches of Apjilied Science in this It has beconn^ i)retty clear to every on(! 
 
 country, and in that also of a lo-e.xtensive who has had the means of judging that 
 
 and residtant material prosperity as being — neither does the old Knglish systi'mof |)upil. 
 
 as I tirmly believe, in the main, it will he — age, pure and simple, nor that of the Tech- 
 
 the most certain outcome of that work which, nical Schoolsof the continent of lltiropefnllill 
 
 during the present seaeion, we have com- the recpiirements of tho case in producing 
 
 menced in this place th(» really ellleient engineer, one who is 
 
 It is not my intention, as tho occa- fully competent, in fact, to grapjile with the 
 
 Bion might tittingly suggest, to deliver daily increasing dilHenlties, in theory as 
 
 nn esHay on the widely discussed quea- well as in practice, which are met with iu 
 
 tion of Technical Education, but rather to a professional career. 
 
 wpeak more particularly of ourselves and The case may, I think, bo fairly stated 
 of the work wiiicli lica before us. And, iu- thtis — namely, ''That while the English 
 asmuch as we desire it to bo well under- enginc^er is launched in his profession with 
 stocxl, no less among the jx^oplo generally the qualification of u considerable practical 
 of tliia country than among ourselves, experience, but with perhaps little or no 
 what our aim and object hero will theoretical knowledge, tho foreign one begins 
 he, as well as what provisions wo are with a thorough foundation of principles, 
 making in our course of lectures to attain but with a limited course of practice." 
 such aim and object, and moreover, that noni ; " The contrast, indeed," in the words of Pro- 
 may be deceived, what sort of standard we fessor Jenkins, " between the two systems is 
 propose to establish in our examinations, it comphito. Abroad men have almost perfect 
 is my intention to contino ray remarks, as' theoretical instruction, coupled with a won- 
 much aa poaaible, to thuse matters ; making I durfully good imitation of the real work, so 
 
far as design is concerned ; but thoy are not, | We have large and rapid Ocean Steamers 
 
 howivtr, luought into contact witli tilt! I'Xf- p1>MnK npon every mini, with a piiiictiiaU 
 
 ciitiiiii ot tli<i>L' <lt-r'igu8 uutil thi-y bcgiu tu ity and tVcidom from casiiiility whicli is 
 
 ciirn tin ir b'lad.' niiirvclloils ; but swift.-r and yut surer Htiips, 
 
 " 111 iviKliiid tile theoretical instruction is att'irdliig lietter and increased accommoda- 
 
 woeiully ill 111 lent, but tile abler lueu are tion, arc now bein^ called for. 
 
 allowiil to lU^ign real work, and th< y wateh 'riurc uro iiobi' I'lirts and capaciou,^ Ilar- 
 
 the ixeiutiou of that work 111 uiaiiy stages " hour-" in every pai t of the globe, but they 
 
 •'Abrotid, coiiipetitivu eMtnii.'MMuns keep overfliw with shipping, and arc choked with 
 
 out iiicoiii|>ett nl m< II In Uiiiain they are an ever-increasinx ciiuin< rce ; sotliai ^reiiier 
 
 Wi-t ill (I iiiil liy lUe re^Ult ot the htrll^^le for proti'Clion and IU<>rc extillded III' ailM ol dO' 
 
 exi.->t. iiie Aoroiiil, nicat iiuiubers p i»s b irkatloii mnl shipment are now dein iiuh d; — 
 
 ihruii^h the sainu hehool, m<<kiiig the i-aiiie D.iekH and Quays, in fact, ilrinked with ware- 
 
 de>i>ins, ill great variety, under the saui.- houses, and turniHhed with "crabs" and 
 
 piotiws.rs. ill-re each uiiiu sees different "cranes," and all other mechanical appliances 
 
 work, liiit of a limited kind " whatsoever, — of a more perfect kind and of 
 
 Hiiviiig, tluretore, this result before us, wc greater power than have hitherto been at. 
 
 say honestly to tho.e who arc about to he- tiiinahle. 
 
 come memliers ot our classes, you must not Mines of all descrip ions, of vast area and 
 
 con-iiler your eduraiion as Engineers to be abysmal depth, are being profitably worked ; 
 
 complete will u you have hained all that wi- hut I'limpiiig Plugines and Machinery of an 
 
 have to teiu b you. Alter you have do ,e altogither novel and improved coii^trm tion 
 
 with us you must look forward to a coiirseof are required to aiil in wimiiiig the miiieial 
 
 praeiiee, whieh lau only be of real service to treasures of the earth under augmented dilli- 
 
 you when persued m theoiruc, the workshop eulties. 
 
 or the fi. Id, under a master's eye, and wit i Cities and Towns draw their copious sup- 
 
 a certain share of responsibility ; and then, plies of pure and wholesome water from 
 
 and then only, < uu you claim to possess a distant lakes and storage grouiidr*, but at 
 
 complete training for your profession. last the Metropolis of the World, awakened 
 
 Ami hence our aim will be to do only that to a sense of the vital impo'-taiuc of a con- 
 
 which can be done in a College course, but to tinuous and niiconfaminiite.l supply, deems 
 
 do it Well, as far as in us lies; leaving that it not chimerical to look to a lake among 
 
 which we believe cannot, with any substantial the distant hills of North Wales as an 
 
 Buciess, be so done, lO other hands. eligible source from whence to draw it. 
 
 J?iit before we can form atiy satisfactory And, anon, we hear it eagerly discussed whe- 
 
 estiiuate ot this task wiiicn lies before us, we ther all our presi-nt means of locomotion are 
 
 must endeavour to understand what condi- not tardy and antiquated, and that a perfected 
 
 lions — in tlie present litate of civilization — system of aerial locomotion be not an abso- 
 
 a Civil Engineer is required to fiillil ^ as lute necessity of a not remote future, 
 
 well as the nature of the work which he Thus contemplating for a moment the 
 
 may be called upon to accomplish. For achievements of the immediate past, and 
 
 it may be truly atiirmed that at no pic- the reiiuiremciits of an equally itnmc- 
 
 vious time have the ucmIs ot civilization diatc future, wu shall begin to sec, 1 
 
 and commerce pressed so heavily upon the think, that they who arc now preparing to 
 
 resources of our profession; nor docs tliis enter this profession must not only be com- 
 
 pressure show any signs of diminution, but petent to imitate all that has gone before, 
 
 rather of increase. Its demands are ever but to cope also with far more extensive and 
 
 more and more exacting. perplexing problems than have hitherto been 
 
 Kailwajs, indeed, spread themselves like met with. And to do this successfully it will 
 
 the meshes of a mighty net over the face of be ai)parent also that no mere " rule of thumb" 
 
 eontiinnts ; — three electric cables span the knowledge will avail ; inasmuch as they re- 
 
 Athiiiiie, and hourly throb as if with the rpiirc for their solution, in addition to a pn- 
 
 pulsi' of life; but other and vaster conti- tietit and laborious investigation of natural 
 
 111 Ills are now catling fm Bunilar works ; and laws, a "sound judgment and practical ex- 
 
 three eleeiiic tibres have but demonstrated pi-rieni'e" — an intimate aciiuaiutance with 
 
 the fact that the peiicetul intercourse of the .Scientific Principles. 
 
 Old Worlil and the New has work to do for But let us look a little more closely still 
 
 fifty others like them Nor again does it seem into the kind of work which the Civil 
 
 proliable that this craving for telegraphic Engineer is liable to be called upon to per- 
 
 commiiiiiiatioti will abate, until the system form in order that we may have some further 
 Las become nothing short of universal. iinsight into his functions. 
 
 A Tunnel, such as wo should not have i We all know that frequent attempts 
 
 dreamt f twenty years ago, now penetrates have been made to define, in a few words, 
 the liHrrier mountains of France and Savoy. | what a Civil Engineer is; but no such dctl- 
 
 liiit this is not all. The British Channal to- nition has, so far, I think, been found ade- 
 
 day awaits the operations ot the borer. qiiate to express him. as will appear from the 
 
 Rivers and Estuaries of great magnitude following summary, — under a few general 
 
 have been succe,si<lully bridged, but others of head.x, of the character of the works which 
 
 still greater dimeuviuus yet remaia to be Jie within the scope of his labours. Such 
 traversed. | summary must not, however, be understood 
 
7. 
 
 as being anything beyond an indication of 
 kind ; lor iiii exliaustivo oataloguu would 
 ni.'L'd fur iiiDn: tiinu tlian we can Hpure for its 
 nitii! I'iniruiTiitioii. 
 
 Tliu EiiKJiK^ur, tiuin, muni bu prt'parcd to do 
 any, or all, of tliu following things, viz: — 
 
 be the determination of the ki-^dof material 
 to be used in any construction, — and then 
 its persoiial stiection. And nothing can 
 claim prior consideration to the questions to 
 whicli tins douhlu stdection will require an 
 answer. And it is well that every young 
 
 To design, plan, specify, estimate for and | Engineer should bo fully impressed with 
 
 liuinriiitind the carrying out of 
 
 1. All kinds aiut modes of inland commu- 
 nication, such as Uoads, Uailway, Canals and 
 lUvers. 
 
 2 All works connected with Hygiene and 
 the convenience of towns and cities, such as 
 Si -.verage, (Jas, Water, and Urainage Schemes 
 
 3 All work connected with the U'xlaim- 
 ation, Ini^ation and Diainage of Lands. 
 
 4. Tlie construction of Doi:ks, I'lers, Break- 
 waters and Harbours, both for the purposes 
 of Commerce and Uefiige. 
 
 .'). All works and m;ichiaery necessary in 
 Quarries and Mines, 
 
 (>. All such applianei'S as are used in Cn- 
 giui- and Machine Factories, and in Sljip- 
 building Vards. 
 
 Sincly such a list, imperfect as it is, ig not 
 calculated to make a young Engineer think 
 lightly of the task before him, if he aspire 
 to any degree of excellence in his prof, ssion- 
 al knowk:dg(!. For it lie estimate the mat. 
 ter rightly, lie will know that even a partial 
 success ill any one of these brunches de- 
 maiiils, beyond a large experience in the 
 practice of con.structioii, a corresponding ac^ 
 
 their importance, since it is not improbable 
 that by far the major part of the mistakes 
 wliich have as yet been made are due to no- 
 thing else than the employment of wrong or 
 unsound materials. 
 
 The kind of Stone, for instance, to he used 
 mu.sthave relation to the sort of construction 
 contemplated. And this ndationship can 
 only be determined by one who, in addition 
 to the knowledge of the quiirrymau and the 
 mason, possesses that also of tlie geologist 
 and the chemist. The Engineer must be 
 able to detect, in fact, the sound and un- 
 sound beds of the quarry, and to say if the 
 conditions of site are such as are likely to in- 
 <lu(;e disintegration and decay in each parti- 
 cular case. 
 
 A knowledge of Cements, and of the art of 
 making the best practicable mortar Irom 
 each description of lime, is almost equal in 
 importance to that required in the selection 
 of stone, brick and otlier building materials 
 themselves. 
 
 In the case of hydraulic limes, such as 
 Lias, the same general knowledge, as to the 
 proportions of sand to be used is, as in that 
 
 (luaintance with general I'liy.sics, as well asjof other limes, requisite, but, from the great 
 with Cliemistry and Geology. And more em- variation iu the character of Lias lime, and 
 pliutically is tlii-i so, iti a country like our ' the dillerent proportions of silica and alu- 
 cwn, wlurc, in nine cases out of ten, the niina in combination, it is essential to obtain 
 only ri'soiirces available to a man at work la careful chemical analysis, in order to 
 ill the tiiUI, are those which he liinisclf muy !avoid the great disappointment and bad con- 
 liappcn to (lossess. Tlu'rcfore it is that we sequences which will surely result from 
 would so earnestly press upon our Students I ignorance of such particulars, 
 the vital importance of laying the founda- ' When the employment of Iren is under 
 tion of their cureeis as iMigineers upon as , discussion in any structure, it is essential to 
 wide and "xteudiMl a knowledge as their op- to know under what circumstances cast-iron 
 poriunities will all'ord. | is best for the purpose, and when wrought 
 
 in Europe, where there is such a well- iron should be used, as also when steel should 
 
 marked independence of each branch of in 
 dii.stry, and suc^ h an extreme sub-division of 
 labour, it is ([uite easy for an I'^ngineer, if he 
 
 be resorted to. 
 
 A knowledge, moreover, of the attributes 
 and qualities of the various " brands " of 
 
 so will, to word liis Speeilication in such a; iron in the market is equally essential to an 
 manner as will, by throwing all the respon- ! intelligent use of this material. C>r, should 
 sibility on tlie contiaetor who carries it lie the construction of any of those larger 
 out his plans, shield himself from all i kinds of work which claims attention, such 
 l)lame should the work in any way fail jas a bridge or viaduct, then, in addition to the 
 And the contractor, again, may transfer the i foregoing, it is of the utmost impoitance that 
 onus to the suii-contiactor ; and he, in his : tlie Engineer be master of the higher me- 
 turn, to tlie manufacturer, where in moHt|tliods of mathematical analysis, by which 
 cases it ultimately rests. lUit no such sys-i alone the nature and extent of the stresses to 
 tern as tins can at the present time obtain i which the various parts of the structure will 
 here. To be abb; to Wi'ite a stringent speci- . be liable can be fully determined ; so that, in 
 lication is all very Well; but unless a man the design, nothing weak be placed where 
 knows also the "ins' and "outs" of the con- strength is required, and no excess of ma- 
 tractor's business, as well as the mere office terial be used where economy may be safely 
 routine, he will have but a poor chance of 
 
 satisfying his employers, who will, in all 
 probability, look to him to till both "role's" 
 in relatioik to any scheme which they may 
 have iu hand. 
 
 The first thing, therefore, which will pre- 
 sent itself to an Eugiueer thus placed will 
 
 practised. 
 
 Cast iron, or pig iron re-melted and run 
 into moulds, is largely used for columns and 
 other parts requiring great power of resisting 
 compressive strains ; and since its price is 
 something like one-half only of that of 
 wrought iron, it becomes a matter of some 
 
niom<'nt to ii«c if wlicnver it rnn pnfi'ly lie Casn with miny oth'r wood'' nscd by Ihc 
 lUirli'.N""' ; I'lif ilif i.'r. at' St tiiri'is iicii >siin l''iii,'iiu'tr. Towliiit Hirn tinul nriiiri)j;i'nii'ntn, 
 t'> nlitiiiii It -iiiinlili' kind, ill cDii-ii i|iirii(i' lit tlnii, mod.' of growlli, imd otliur cansus, 
 th> ^'iciil did' riiic K in (lUiiiitv and htiiiigtli is iliis diic ? 
 
 wliii li iiri' Ml' t with 'I'lmiit r |ila('i d under ccrtiiiii conditions is 
 
 Tiic ()ii;ilitiis and n-cn of wiDu^tit irf>n liabli- to rot and d cay. To what <iiiniiciil 
 ni'yht li.- hiiv ly drtili 11)1(111, liut it will In icn<tion is this iitlribiitiililf, and how may it 
 BMtliii(iit to n mark thatwh.ri tensile stiaing lieairisted? 
 
 01 cnr, its I ni|il(>\ III' ht is Miiialile, for as com- : Tho foiepiirifj illii-tialionR of tlic inti- 
 paifd with (list iron its pcm-.-r of ri sistiiij; mat- relatioiishii) whiili cvists between 
 wiich stiains is as 1 to i ; and it is also less Natural Science and oiii- prot'ession have 
 lialile to Midden fiiitiire lii'eti siliiteil liapliaxard from an intinitu 
 
 It niii~t lie r< ID inli'nd, also, that wriiii,u;tii iiiiinl)<r whict) at once (iiisiiit tluniselves as 
 iron i> (if Very Villi d kinds; surnetini' h jiiiri ive j;lanee over tho w. II niiih illimitahlo 
 and of lii^h cjiiility, sciiitiniis vt ry iiiiimn li Id of its op' riiions ; and I iiin sure tliat, 
 ami c.f tlie (oinmoiie^t de-^ciipiion Nor i- itt. r tlieir indii atioii, iinjierfect fiioii>;li it 
 the decree of piiilty any ti st ot iinality ; fir has lieen, it will imt lie suipiisiui; to any one 
 with tile satiii d'Kiee of piiriiy if may tie to lie told thai Nitiiial S-ieiue will occupy 
 I'ithi r Mifi and lihioii- or haul and cr\stiil- a very piimiiiunt position in our conrso of 
 lini' Hi net' it Wduld appear that the I'lii- study 
 
 pineer should not he iiiiimant of tlie natiiii lint yet there are sinii', I doubt not, wlio 
 of tld» ni.iteiial, both chrrniiaUy a'ld physi will li ■ f.mnd to carp and olijeet soiiii thin;{ 
 cally, if be wmiiIiI srciire that de.M-riptioii att r tins fisliioii. ' Now cuiild not all this 
 w!;i h is b. St Miited til hi> ne d. time whirh i.- to lie taken up in teaihing tiieso 
 
 Arniniii phitih and Kails may ti in-taii'-ed sm Ji-et.-', which can be iii-;t as wi II hainediii 
 as reipiiniie the be^t (jiialily of wioiiuht iron ; acfii il piaeti'-e, he more prolitahly einployed 
 hut the i|imlity, tlioiij,'li h. s', niiist he of a on aetii il woik in the olliei' or the tiehl ?' 
 tcitaily ililli relit kind in each case. — the one Were we ovt'ii to admit the plaii-itiility of 
 lieiiin as siift and lilnoii-i as po.«sililc, the the ass, rtimi inv 'v d — niindv, thit sit li 
 other a- bird and cr\Ntiliine knowlidu'e may be a'lpiired liy exp riencc in 
 
 Many piiii.t> havini; nf. n nee to the treat practice, w • may still b • p Tinitted, I think, to 
 tni III of wrmiiiht iron .-lioiild lie f'lmiliar to eMij'iire where, now-a-diys, eniploycis art' to 
 the Knjfiiieer, — siieh as the hiet that soin-' lie loiincl who are williii;,' to pay for tho 
 kinds, as for exam[ile that known as "best education of th' tinn tlcy have jn-ed to eni- 
 Yiirkshirc," seeni to impidve with i viry ad ploy; for such they will in. vilably have to do 
 ditioiial operation in their inanufaetiire, (inless lie previnii^ly possess the kind of 
 while others, such as the ordinary '' Welsh knowledge of which wi; liave spoken, and 
 iron," are almost destroyed by repeated which is only |iiis-ilile of a<(piirement in 
 miiiipiilalions. two way-', admitting' the assertion of thosy 
 
 The iiatii'c and uses of Sti 1 1 onuht, at who would eriticise ih, either by a care- 
 the piiseiit time, to he \v. II nn 'cr-t'iod. ml trainin;; in the lecture room, or from 
 so far as they are as yet d teriiiiii' (1 ; and hliiiider-i and iiiistakes committ d in prac- 
 th r- i-Ntill aiiih r. waid to h ■ ri aped hy t:c , all o( win. h mistakes and hliinders 
 a'.» one \\\\,< w..utd iind' i lakea eomplete and iiiii-t, in the loiii; run, b^ paid for hy some 
 siiitaiil ■ s- I j,N iif 1 xp rimei.lr. in n fiT' nee tn on-. 
 
 its adipiali'liiy in con-tiiietion, similar tn No instance of the ine of a wron,' m iterial 
 th'ise So fiiily Winked out liy II. id;^kinson and while jxripiii;: in the dark to find the ri^ht 
 Kail him in r. feriiice to Iron mie, can n cur hut will cau-ie, sooner or later, 
 
 I'iiiiiiiKh, ]) rlia|is. ha« already ben said to what we mint rcLjaid, heciUHc |)reventihle, as 
 convince the ymiin; Kneineer of the imp irf iinn -cessaiV and needless exp use And, after 
 anci of a tli(iiiiMi,li study of the nature and all, what does experieiit'e thus ohtained 
 stii 11};' h id matei jals pii.ir to any attempt, on amount to > Why just this ; the man who pos- 
 his pait, to eiiipliiy thiiu conslriictively. sessit,ha~a (piiredakind of instinctive know- 
 
 In takiiiL', however, one other exainiile of hdife, iiinncent of why or wherefore, which 
 this know Itdife iif mat' ri lis which should b. enaiiles him to distiiii:uish between a i;ood 
 piisse-sed by the Knuiiieer, I wmild pnint to eiiieiit and a had one, without knowiiiK any. 
 the almost iiiiiver-al employ ment of I'i nher lliintr of either Silicates or Oxides ; and also 
 in iiiKineerinif works. An aequ lintanci , to furiii, peihaps, a pretty shrewd ^^U'-ss 
 till ret'ie, with the qiiaiities and ti'ness of thi- wli re to dif,' for a suitable hrie'k earth, with 
 niafeiial, it^ stri n};ili and dinaliility, cannot sum- chan e ot lindin:,' what he wants, ''just 
 be too deeply iiiipresscd U|ioii tin Html nt a " — in tlie Kraphic words of Col Cliesii y — 
 Such 1)11 stiiiiis as these in nf. nni'e to ''by in<tinet, a pig is guided where to grub 
 this nuiti lial will, in piaelice speedily arise for truflliM " 
 
 Will rein atid to what extent does one Pliis ,Miit of tliincr, were it even cffieient, 
 
 variety (if I'iiie diller frnm another, depend eaunot, hnwever, htr said to be altoicetherdig- 
 
 <;nt iipnii soil, country acid Ideality ? ; niti d oi worthy the members of a profession 
 
 Does hlcedinu, 111 witlidia«iii« the sap, Biter ; which claims to possess, in u large degree, 
 
 thi (pialitics of any iriveti variety? jihe nature of a Science. 
 
 Tlie Oaks, auain, ot Knjriand and America j It would be idle to take up more of your time 
 are totally ditl'erent in quality, as in also the | in showing how much the one system is in 
 
9 
 
 atlvftnco of tlin othor, nnd in illiiHtratini? how 
 tliat iiMs iiialili' tniiiiMi)j; in Niitiiiii! Scii'ticu 
 and Siiciititic Mi'tlioil, wliiili wo hopn to 
 snpply hiMi', will mnlilc ii man to •liHcrimi 
 niitt! with ('crtiiinty, wlcru innlliict coulil 
 only do HO, ftt till- b st, with unci'rtuinty, 
 
 In Hdvimco of nil tliii iscicntic knowli'dari', 
 till' Civil Knirinccr must h,; an " Artinnn." 
 Hf must !)(' iil>li' — lis (^vfiy fcnoii workman is 
 — to know the appi'aniiicc of j^ood work as 
 Well as of hud : and this is a knowji'd^rc 
 only to III' tjaini'd by a conrsu of real work- 
 hIioj) lalxiur. 
 
 Prof Iloskin, yi'nrs a'jjo, made, p"rhaps, tiic 
 bist attempt wln'i'h his yi't tict-n niadi" to 
 di'Nciil)!' the KriK'ni'cr Hii''cintly,wlicn li^said 
 tliat ''it is till' coniliination of tlie workman 
 and till? man of siii'ticc tliar forms tl'.o KiiKin- 
 t't'r." And, as I have said, this workman- 
 liki" liahit can only Im st'cnrcd by really 
 workini; in a workshop; ami it is (iinally 
 trill' that th'' sooni'r in the I'limlHcii's lurci'r 
 ttiis w.irk, 1)1', at I'list, I'dnini'ticid, the lict- 
 tiT. For to Imtoii''! a nu'chaniiiil adept,' 
 I'itlicrat the "liemh' or the "lathe," is a long 
 and tedious operation. 
 
 And apiiii, thoroiii^hly to understand the 
 "ins "and ''oiits"anc) the details of desif^tis, 
 it is not siilHi lent to study them from diaw- 
 iiiijs only they must he aelually I'xeeuted, 
 if lint in fiill-si/,i(l I'onstrueti'ins yet in mo-; 
 <li'ls, hefore th-y eii'i i'.' full\ coiii|)re|ieiided :! 
 and a very coiisid.riilph' knowled);e of these i 
 matters ou^'lit to h • a' (juired hy the student i 
 before enfeiini: upon the seeond or nspon^i- 1 
 ble and pra' tieal phase of his triiiiiin^', if Ik 
 Would reap the fullest Ij mtit tln'rifroni 
 
 To talk of edtieatiiiir tin? Chemist witliout 
 a l.alinratory, or the Siii^:' on without a Di-^- 
 Hi'etiiiL'-room, would be considered an iitisin-j 
 dity, and just of tlie same nitutt: is tlie at- 
 tempt to train men to be Kiiufineers without a 
 Workshop 
 
 A Woikshop, tlien, attached to our Collejtc 
 is one of our most pii'ssiiiif needs ; nor must 
 wo rest contiiit until we have built one, and 
 8o placed ourselves on the same footing in 
 this re-ipect, as every similar school with 
 which I am aeipiainted, at hast in Kurope 
 And W(i are persiridi'd that, when oui 
 want is known, the jreueroiH niunilieeiiee of 
 the foundiTs of this (Miair wliic li I have th<] 
 honour to octii[>y, anil of (hat also held by; 
 my worthy colleiit,Mie, Dr. IIarrini;ton, will! 
 not fail us ill our endeavour to make the] 
 teaehiiii,' in this jdaee as perfect a- we an i 
 ahle. Xor do we for one ni'imeiit doiiht liut ' 
 that, when the kind of work whicii we pro-i 
 jiose to do in this Department of Practical [ 
 Science hecomi'M better and widelier nnder- 
 Btooil, the necessary funds will be forthcom- 
 itiK, and that before many months are past 
 We shall havi! the satisfaction of secinf; the 
 lathes turnin^r, and of liearinj;; the hammers 
 riii>rin){ in our miniature m inufactory. 
 
 We do not ask for muili — a few hundred 
 pounds sterling would enable us to mako a 
 very respectalde commencement. 
 
 What wo want is, in the lirst jilaco, ar on- 
 closed brick, stone or timber shed witli a 
 
 liRht corrtiRated Iron roof, sufficiently large 
 to accommodate our prcHent numbers, but 
 capable of uxtension as circumstances may 
 reijuire. And to this should be attached a 
 little engine-house of sulficiont size to house 
 an engine of three or four horse power and a 
 boiler. In the matter of internal fittings, 
 for the present, we could get along very well 
 with such a|iplianceH as would enable us to 
 undertake a course of Carpentry, and which, 
 for instance, would be somt^what as follows : 
 an adequate numl)er of joiners' benches, a 
 circular saw, two or three wood lathes and 
 the like: — all the more expensive machines 
 requisite for a course of Iron-work remaining 
 to he added from time to time, as funds be- 
 came available. The instruction given in 
 the Workshop mif,'ht be attbrded by one — or, 
 when in full operation, two — skilled work- 
 men, a carpenter and a litter, eusjasfed to at- 
 tend two afternoons and during the whole of 
 S itiirday in each weifk ; and I am persuaded 
 that the instruction thus given, would sujiply 
 a iTi'ans second to none in forwarding the 
 teclinical education of our Students. 
 
 Pefore quittinif this siiliject I must read to 
 you a few words of the late Uobt. Stephenson 
 — lie it is, to whom I refer, who di-signiMi our 
 Victoria lindge. — in wliidi he describes the 
 degree of importance which he himself, from 
 a long experience, believed to attach to this 
 workshop training. At a meeting at Isew- 
 castle in I85S, he said; — "lam fully con- 
 scious in my own mind how greatly my Civil 
 EiiuMiieering ha.< been regulated and intlu- 
 eneed by the mechanical knowledge which I 
 'lerived directly from my father; and the 
 more my experience lias advanced, the more 
 convinced 1 have Viecome that it isnecos.sary 
 to educate the Engineer in tlie workshop, 
 riiat is omphatieally tin education which 
 will render the Kiigineer most intelligent, 
 most useful, and the fullest of resources in 
 tinie.s of dilKeulty." And, ladies and gon. 
 tlenien, 1 may add, no truer word:) were ever 
 spoken. 
 
 Another quiililication of the Engineer is 
 that he be a "man of the world," well versed 
 in commercial matters and capable of giving 
 his clients good and sound advice when the 
 tinancial prospects of any scheme are under 
 consid'iation. He must be able, in fact, to 
 say whether the cost of attaining an object 
 he worth the commercial advantages likely 
 to be derived therefrom, as also to advise as 
 to the niode of dealing with the general 
 question of ways and means. 
 
 And it shoulil ever be liorno in mind that 
 " it iii not the business of the Engineer to 
 liiiild a fine bridge, or to construct a magni- 
 ticent Engineering work for the purpose of 
 'isplaying his professional attainments, but 
 whatever the temptation may be, his duty is 
 to accomplish the end and aim of his em- 
 ployers by such works nnd such means as 
 are — on the whole — tlie best and most eco- 
 nomically adapted for the purpose" 
 
 The Engineer again must needs possess 
 the head of a Lawyer, in drawing specifi- 
 cations and revising contracts. 
 
10 
 
 And, lastly, but by no means of least im- 
 portance, he sliould bo a man of good com- 
 mon st-nse, and bn able to display it in the 
 selection of his subordinates, and afterwards 
 in maintaining discipline among them ; and, 
 if poBsible, lie further capable of inspiring 
 them with entliusiasm and energy, allowing' 
 the strength of his own character to trans- 
 fuse and permeate theirs, and so bring out 
 all their best powers. 
 
 It will loug ago have been apparent to you 
 all that the Civil Engineer, it he look for 
 success and eminence, must be a man who 
 not only knows " everything of something" 
 but " something of everything." Nor can wt 
 sufely limit his function to this knowledge 
 merely. For in a country like our own, 
 wliere it would not pay a man to cultivate 
 any one branch of the profession as a spe- 
 cialty, as is often the case in Knglaud, he 
 must be ready to carry out any work what- 
 soever that may be suirgested to him, and 
 must therefore be alile also to convert his 
 abstract knowledge into a concrete form. 
 
 Anil, (ientlemi^n, the only sure way of ac- 
 quiring this power is, before all things, to 
 attain a lirni hold upon PriiifipUn, together 
 with a kiiowli dge of their wf/Aii/.i of applica- 
 tion. For with such a possession you will 
 be ennbled to face boldly, and without fear, 
 ditheulties of every kind, whether they occur 
 in already traversed directions or in as yet 
 tin rodden lii Ids of operation, and will do so, 
 moreover, with a feeling more akin to satis- 
 fu< tion than dismay ; knowing that every 
 obstacle honestly attacked and successfully 
 overcome i.s a certain stepping stone to higher 
 things. 
 
 In whatever you have to do never let go 
 your hold on rriricijile : — never try a fasci- 
 nating experiment which has not sound 
 prineiple as a basis, for it can have but one 
 result, and that failure and disappointment. 
 
 It is not improbable, however, tiiat you 
 will nieit with those in your |)rofessional 
 lareer who will make very light of this 
 knowledge of Scientitic Principles. But 
 then such o|)inions need not alter your con- 
 viction, for you will probably have observed 
 that, as a rule, it is only those who do not 
 themselves possiss II tiling that is valuable 
 who ari' in t!ie habit of decrying it. 
 
 Is it not grievous to think of tho power 
 and thought which have been dissipated and 
 lost it) striving after the impossible in such 
 H ])roblem, for instance, as that of perpetual 
 motion, whii b, had tht y but operated by the 
 light of the true principlijs of conservancy 
 and co-relation of energy, might have been 
 turned to noble profit in the advancement of 
 real Science? 
 
 In viiw of this pre-eminent value of a 
 knowledge of riinciple,'we cannot urge upon 
 you, gentlemen, too strongly to make it your 
 business while here — as being the most 
 fitting period of your studies — to master It 
 Nor shoidd you judge any time or labotir 
 mispi lit in fixini; it indelibly in your minds 
 
 Ko half and half acquaintance with this 
 subject will suQicu) it must bo maatured 
 
 :itterly, and in eveiy form in which it can bo 
 presented to your observation. 
 
 It may be said, then, that the education of 
 the Civil Engineer should be divided into 
 two parts : one to be persued during youth 
 and early manhood, the other duting maturer 
 years ; one to be undertaken in the School and 
 the College, the other in the Ullice, the Field 
 and the Manufactory. 
 
 And, if we would insure the best 
 results, wo must be careful not to 
 confuse, or fail to give its due prominence 
 due to each phase of this education; — the or- 
 der in which they should be taken alone ad- 
 mits of discussion. For it may indeed be a 
 matter of question whether the study of 
 Practice should precetd that of Theory — or 
 the reverse. 
 
 Historically, Art has had the preceedenco 
 of Science ; and no words can express this 
 better than those used by the late Dr. Whe- 
 whell when discussing this very question. 
 '' Looking" he says " at the progress of Art 
 and Science in past times, we find that Art 
 has preceeded Science. Men executed great 
 works before they had a Scientific insight 
 into the piinciples on which the success of 
 their labcurs were founded. There were 
 good artificers in Metal lu^fore the principles 
 of Chemistry were known." 
 
 " Mighty masses were raised into the air 
 before there was a theory of the Mechani- 
 cal Powers. The earlier generations did — 
 the later explained how it had beep possible 
 to do. Art was the mother of Science, — tho 
 the comely mother of a daughter of far loftier 
 antl screner beauty." 
 
 " Stimulated by the sight of such massive 
 works of human skill — stimulated still more 
 by the natural working of these powers of 
 man, from which such skill had arisen — men 
 were led to seek for Science as well as Art — 
 for Science as the natural complement of 
 Art, and fulfilment of the thoughts and hopes 
 which Art excites, — for Science, as the fully 
 developed blossom of which Art is the won- 
 derfully involved bud." 
 
 liut with us, however, who have 
 seen, and continue, I regret to say, 
 daily to see so many blunders and mistakes 
 made in practice from no other cause than u 
 lack of a previous knowbdge of Si ientith! 
 Principles, there will be little hesitation, 1 
 think, in accordiog to that " daiiKbter of 
 loftier and screner beauty,'' of which 1 >r Who- 
 whell speaks, the preceedence in the course 
 of study which we shall recommend to fbose 
 who an> about to commence their training 
 as Engineers, 
 
 And this brings me to speak more particu- 
 larly of the course of study wo are prepared 
 to offer in this University, 
 
 In the first place, in the province of Pure 
 Science, will be found a complete and well- 
 considered course of Mathematics. Such a 
 course as will, in fact, enable those who have 
 a turn for the subject, and pursue it fully, to 
 investigate for themselves all thost^ higlier 
 probletus in Molecular Physics, upon which 
 ultimately depend the whole theory of the 
 
11 
 
 action of fiirpss and the strength of material ; 
 or will, in itn moie rcRtricttd form, afford a| 
 siiffi' ii'Ht insigbt into tho nature and mode 
 of nianipuiatiDii of such formula) as the Ea- 
 gint'cr in called upon to employ. 
 
 Chemistry, Mineralogy an,l Zoology each 
 receive due attention. So that if all these 
 clnK-ien lie attended, no man who haw panned 
 thidUsih the cnurKew ol i-tiiiiy whieh they era- 
 brace, witli diligi'iiee iind attentii n, need for 
 a mnnient hesilate, when ho fiiitlri liimsclf 
 cut olV from aU chance of eousulling hooks, 
 orof takitiv the opinion of another, about the 
 liime Stone ho ought to subject to calcina- 
 tion a« being the best fitted for the manufac- 
 ture of the mortar he may reiiiiire ; or as to 
 tlie quarry from which lit; would take his 
 buihiing stone ; or as to tho ore he should 
 attempt to reduce ; or as to tho position of 
 the coal he may expect to win. 
 
 Then, ai;ain,iu the more strictly profession- 
 al part of the course and in its earlier stages, 
 the piincipal sidijects taught will he Survey- 
 ing, Li'velljng, Sitting out and Drawing, 
 • each of wlii( h is capable, we l)elieve, of be- 
 ing ]iretty thoroughly tnastere<l during the 
 time apportioned to the College periini of 
 the Ktigineers' education, and will moreover 
 render a pupil or assistant at once useful up- 
 on his (ir.st entry into jirai tice. 
 
 In the hit'T years of study, the Philoso- 
 phy of Constructive Scii'uce will form a 
 prini'ipal item in tlxt course, and all the 
 time availalile will \w devoted to its con- 
 sideiiition. Sulijei ts illiistrative ofitsajiidi- 
 catioii— such as the making; o( Uoads and 
 Railways, and the consiiuction of I'iers. 
 Hreakwatirs, and the like, being from time 
 to time selected as texts for the Lecture so 
 as to suittlie prospective rcipiirenients of the 
 Students, 
 
 In adilition to these Lectures, the 
 Students will receive instruction in the ac- 
 tual design of, and preparation of estimates 
 tor siK'h works as hav<' formed the subject of 
 the l4!ctures, and will be encoinaged to visit 
 anil report upon any Works or Manufactories 
 that may happen to be accessible to them, 
 during th'^ N'aeation as well as during the 
 Session. And the haliit of observation and 
 power of description which this system will 
 foster, cannot Imt be of very great service, 
 We fed sure, in al'ti r lite. 
 
 A course of Lectures, also, in the third year, 
 will be delivi'red on Appliid Mechanics and 
 the Principles of .Mec hanisni. 
 
 For those students who are destined to 
 liecome Mining Kngineers or Assay»'rs, a 
 L)iboratory and all appliances for Practical 
 Instruction are provided ; — the whole branch 
 of study biiiig under the able direction 
 of my friend, Dr. llarrimrton. 
 
 One or two matters which ari' found in our 
 curriculum I have iiin'posely delayed mention- 
 ing ; uluce 1 feil that they re(]uire s|)i'eial no- 
 tice, and pel haps, in the eves of some, a word 
 or two of jiistilbation, if not of apology, as 
 h'lvitig found a place in our course of 
 of study. I refer to the Lectures on the Kng- 
 UmIi and Modora lauguagua (FrencU aud 
 
 German), and Logic, in giving a place to 
 which, it is not improbable that we shall be 
 charged with inconsistancy — something after 
 this fashion. "Engineering anil Mining are 
 altogether Practical affairs, and have nothing 
 whatever to do with the vanities of a liberal 
 education; and why then, — in the name of 
 all that is fitting and reasonable, — are you 
 going to flit away a p'Mlion of your time, 
 whieh is all too short alri ady, in the study 
 of such useless things, wh(;n you might em- 
 ploy it better aud with real advantage other- 
 wise." 
 
 To objections of tins sort our answer is 
 very simple. For, in the first place, is not 
 the Engineer cosmopolitan, and fnnuently 
 called upon to exercise las calling in other 
 countries than his own ? Surely, then, if 
 'Uch be the case, a knowledge of one or two 
 of tiie more prevalent languaires is no longer, 
 in tile phraseology of the Indies school, a 
 mere "accomplishment," but a neces.sity. 
 And no case coidd lie more in point than our 
 own, hero in (Canada, wlieie Fremh con- 
 tinues to le tho language spoken by a larjie 
 portion of the Arti/.an population — the very 
 people, in fact, with whom we, as Engineers, 
 shall hav(! to deal. 
 
 With regard to tho study of the IOiikHsIi 
 Language and its Litcrattne, and Loiiic, we 
 are glad to believe that the time is biip|iily 
 now past when the study of th.se siilijei ts is 
 to be considered non-essential, if not, sup' r- 
 tluous, for any one claiming to exercise one 
 of the professions ; and that it is now be- 
 coming to be acknowliiigd that no amoiiMt 
 of cidture need bii considered iticom|iatilile, in 
 any way, with practical ability. 
 
 Depend upon it, gentleman, this thing 
 cidture, is worth the aflainiic-;. For its own 
 •sake it is valuable and satisfying : — and not 
 oidy this, but 1 am persuaded that those who 
 possess it in the fullest degree will be found 
 in the coming struggle of life to \w those 
 who will till! sooner rise to places of emi- 
 nence and distinction. 
 
 There was a time, indeed, not verv long 
 ago, when the Engineer was reiranled by tlie 
 general public as being nothini; more than a 
 bi'tfer sort of "Tinker" or " N.ivvy," as the 
 case might be. P.iit old ideas, — as things, 
 ari! passing away and giving place to new 
 ones; among which we are glad to recognize 
 a betti'r appreciation of the work and luean- 
 iiig of our profession. 
 
 I warn) on, also, not to be lead away by 
 those who tell yon that the business of your 
 lives will he such as to precliidi! the possibi- 
 I lity of your being ableto snatch an occasion- 
 al hour for special reading. For this is not 
 so. l,ook around yon, and it will not take you 
 lorn; to convince yourselves that it is the 
 busy man alone who has leisure, and knows, 
 moreover, how to employ and ap|ireciate 
 it. 
 
 We will now pass on to indicate the kind 
 
 of standard which we jiropose to exact in 
 
 those who desire to graduate among us in 
 
 jPiaetical Science. And I may as well say at 
 
 joucu that our text will bu "that, if a tiling U 
 
12 
 
 worth doing at allj-^it is worth doinjj well."Ulpgree which wo propose to confer, will Boon 
 And to eiismo tlie fullilmoiit of this principle liecoiije to bi; ostiiuntod in the Pioftssiou at 
 the number of .sulijrtts u|)iin wliich Lectures; what we believe to be its true value, 
 are delivired is restiictnl ami made as little[ It is furflicr jjroposed that the supi rior de- 
 discur^ive as possilile, and esi)i tially, is tliis ' frr,,. of " Miister in Knuineering" be conferred 
 so, in tlie ca^e of the teclmieal luancluH on tluise wlic>, liavin« spent not less tliau 
 Tlierefore we sliall ni lUi' ourt xiiuiiuatioiisof tlnee years on houi'i tiih' Knitineerinfr Works, 
 8Uch a nature as will unmi>t;ikiilil,v sliew how; citinT Civil or Meilianit al, sulisetpieiit to 
 tlie work i)riscrilid li.is luen dune: and [ bavintr obtained the liiiclulor's de^'ree, sluill 
 none need expect to nciive the htiim|) of this satisfy tlie Examiners as to tbeir yciicz-rt^ 
 University upon bis ciiib ntials wlio has not i knowled^^e of the Tlieory aud I'racticc of 
 takt 11 tlie troul'Ie to do tlie iiiodii'uni of! Enirineeiing, — n/ie inl referei)ce litiii;/ had to 
 work rupiir-dof liim in a thorough awV t/mt /nirticidur liranch ution ir/iir/i, tlunn;/ the 
 honest soit ot way. three !/e<ir.i, they hue hten etK/'ii/id. And to 
 
 A little work really well done is of fari make this degree really indicative tliat the 
 more value, alike to liiiu who does it tts toi (pialilications of those upon whom it is con- 
 hiiii tor whom it is done, llian mucli accom-. t. rred .in- sucli as to entitle tbeiii to rank as 
 plisbcd in a slip-shod and careless manner, duly (inalilied llngineers, possissing a coin- 
 Too giiat stiess cannot b^^ placi'd Ui)on futent Tik oretiral and I'laetical knowled^;e 
 the iieossity of a^ ipiirinj; habits ol accuracy ' of tlnii- piol'ession, it is under con^ideraliiui 
 in all that you may have to do. The youna to appoint a second Examiner to act, from 
 lOnginecr it lif be not accurate in his woik. time to tinu', with tlie I'rol'i ssor, in test- 
 is worse than usi less in any (■111 >', and iiei d iiig the knowKd>,'c of tin' eandidates ; — 
 UeVir t x))ei t to lie ehtriisted with any mat-isoiii' g.ntleman in fact who is well known 
 ter of intei'ist or iiiipo; taiiee by bis Chief in the l'rofe>sion, and dislinguislud by ids 
 l"'or it is upon'liis A-.-i.-tiinis that an Ivigimer; Iduh st .ndiujf and ca parity, 
 n lies lor tlie colKetion and anang mriitsoli Ity this im ans it is briieved that this l)e- 
 nine-t<iitlis of the d. taiU-il information upon i uice of ".Master of Kimincciiiig" may bo 
 wbii Ii the p ■!!' ctiiii; and suecess of any! made worth tlie worUiiiir for; and at tiie 
 
 sclii me on whirli hr is eiiiraged will mainly 
 depend; and if the I'lans thus fiirnisln d to 
 him be not tine, and the K'port reliable, 
 the fate of huge sums of inonry may be 
 jilaced ill j.-oparily, an(l the npiitation of the 
 Eii^'ineiT hiiiisclt si'riously conipniniised. 
 
 L t your aim, tlun fore, be (Jnality rather 
 tlian tjiiantity. If you are so fortunati' as to 
 be able to comliine tlie twii, so much the 
 better; but never sai rili e the furni.r fortlir 
 latti-r, lior allow yoursilvrs to In' di'celvid 
 into thinking that either dasli, brllMain y or 
 
 the p.iw. r of coviriiig a lai>;e aiiMunt ol| Engineers 
 
 same tinii' t' nil to fo^iti-r in this eountry a 
 complete and satisfactory system of educa- 
 tion for the EiiKinecr. 
 
 Oil tliosc who ilo not pursue Engineering 
 after having graduated in rrrctieal Seiein e 
 in tile tirst instance, but liave b •.ome eii- 
 iiajed iip.m some other hiaiich ()f Appliid 
 SeiiMice, such as Assaying or Analytiial 
 Clnniistry, the diKree of "Master in I'lacti- 
 eal S iiiiee" will hi- confernd, and npi'ii 
 similar eondilions, as to cirtitieates and < x- 
 iniin itioii, as will bu n (piired iit tlio case ot 
 
 ground in a short spa e of time can coiiipi n 
 Kate for the lac k of aeciiraey mid truth 
 Those attriliut-^ are all very w.dl in their 
 way, but unless tln-y b.' assot iati (i willi.and 
 
 And now, grntleinris, were I ni^t to add a 
 word or two upon what may be regarded as 
 the iiioial aspect t>f your lives lure, I fi el 
 that 1 siKPiild iniiir a ;.'iave responsibility; 
 
 leavi in(l by, prni^ioii and exactness tliciii lor there is no oilier walk in III' ix-i haps, so 
 
 teiidi'iicy is 1 vi r rati < r tir shipwreck than t 
 jiroinote the reputation of liiin wlioiiossessis 
 tht'iii. 
 
 At the (lose of the tliree years of study 
 heri' it is proposed to eolifer the degree ol 
 '• ll.icb.'lor of I'laetieal Sriciice" on tho-e who 
 are louinl wiprihy, upon examination, to ri;- 
 ceive the disiiiK lion. 
 
 We have natiiially shrunk from proposliit; 
 any d> gree wliii b could be construed Into a 
 ccitilieate of its bean r being a fully iiualilled 
 Engineer upon the c 'lupletion of what W( 
 cannot regard as beinut more than tin- jiri- 
 niary pliase of his teihnieal training. Let it, 
 however, on the other hand, be well midcr- 
 Htood that this primary deyr^.e i» intended to 
 indicate lb.it lie who holds it possesses such 
 liiiri ly SI ieiitilie as well as technical know- 
 ledge as will render him of real and imme- 
 diate assistance to anv ICiigineer wlio may 
 receive him into bis oili.c or manufa' tory, 
 
 And we are persuailed that, upon a few 
 trIuU of out "Aluuiui' being made, this lirijt 
 
 beset with temptations and ulliiremeiits 
 iML'iiig you to cross the narrow line wliieh 
 siparabs the ritrlit fioin llie wroni;, as that 
 upon which you are alioiit to < liter. 
 
 And if you would aojuire that strength of 
 prineiph' which will compel you to utter a 
 decisive "No" when the persuasive voice of 
 sidl interest would prompt you to say " Ves," 
 with an ac( iiinpaii) ing sai rilic' of honesty, 
 however trivial or im apablu of detection it 
 may seem to lie, you must luarii in youth to 
 shape your lives accoiiliimly. 
 
 Let, then, gentlemen a high standard of 
 honour exist among you In re, frowning down 
 any attempt to introduce its loathsome op- 
 posite, ami intolerant id' the niercBt sign of 
 immoialily in either word or de;d. 
 
 1-et llie nuidiiiK principle of each of your 
 
 lives be that the So( iely as a wliide may bo 
 
 as we woiilil have It — the cultivation of a 
 habit of truth, honour and iiurity, so that it 
 -hall never be Kaid, in after life, that any 
 "Alutuua" of thi» (JoUegu id guilty of pruc 
 
13 
 
 ticeg tho intoprity of which can ho qiiPH- And, nfxain, what a gloiious heritage also 
 tinned. An<l let it ever Ix) our hoast tliat i.s yours ; — 
 
 they who Imvo comtnencud their eareer in .. Yon. llio Iwlrs of nil llioii.:o--ln the foremost 
 tliis phiee[aie known as tliose who own hut one liles nf lime." 
 
 rule of lit;.,— and that their conscience; that y j,„. i„„„.,ii,^,. p„cceRsors of the Sniea- 
 they are alike as incapable of otlenng as they j„„,_ ^|„, ■,-,.lfoi.ls, the V/i.tts, the Stephen- 
 are of reueivin!,' a hrilm. sons, th., D.ivvs, the Ihuii.ls, and a iiost of 
 We miKht enquir.- into tho history of Ap- ,,j,,..;,^ ^^,,„^^ -j^.^,,,,.^ ,, t.,,,,,^,,,, „„,i 
 plied Science an.l trm^e Its pro-ress as It has ^.,^^ ,^,,,, ,,^ „_,, ,,j^„„,^. „f ,i„. „.^rM, 
 moved from point to point out of an ohscure j,,^,,,,,,,,, „, ,h,y i^.^ve mnqurud sea., and 
 oiif,'inin times the only recnis of wliieh „,i„i,„,| ,,,„ti„,.„ts in a fir truer sens. ,V,rm 
 are uncertain myths and ya-u.. traditions, iij, „^^. ,„mhtiest Monanh that ever tjreath, d , 
 to its present maKniucent(h.velopm,.nt, with ,,,,,, ^.,^, -^ j,,„ ,„,,t,.,„,,„ „f „„.ir m.-mory 
 hoth mter.st a.id instr>iction. 1 iit tim. ,•,,,,, ■f„„u the " har sinister" of blood; Hml 
 .Ids me .Iraw this ad< ivss to a close and ,„.,^^^ ^,,^.,^^„.., „,„ j^ „„^ ,.„,,,,^,„j „f .. ,^,^.g^, 
 leave this sul.j.ct for tiie present, at least, i^,^,■• i„ ^,Uv^ „( c.,^^,„.•' 
 
 untouched. ., , , ' And it is to vou, and such as you, Kenth;- 
 
 IVrmit me, however, gentlemen before we ,,,,^4 ^^ -^ ,^,,^^ ^.j^,,.,, j„ ,.^^,.,.y ,„^ „^„ 
 
 part.toieniindyouot theend ao.l meiftiiuu' ^^.,„.,. ^^.,,i,,,, „,,.^,. „,„„ |,„ve b-uti,;, and, as 
 
 of that path IP lite which you have eh-eted ,.i, as th. ir d .y allow. .1, s,. nol.lv fiiHiMe,l. 
 
 totnad. \ our wh« are about to enter on a >. ,^, „,.,, ,,„^^ ^„„ ,.,^,^,.,, „,;. ^,„,, „,„^ 
 
 journ.'y whos.- every step will be foun.i i.rec- ,,„„„„i,„ ,, ,„ ,,,„r u, ,,,,j„j,, ,i„d abuse it lu.t ; 
 
 nant with son,.- scientilie ..niu'Uii.t nr.y be, ,„,^ ,.,^„^,,,. ,.,.^,^,,,, j^ ,,^ ,„_,. ,,j. „,,. „,,,,,,.^j 
 
 hut whcse cv.'ry fo<.tfall may ueveith,dess ,j.,^ j^ ,,^,^ ,.^.,.,, ,,„,,,, j,^ „^,. „^^,,.,, ,„■ „j,^,, ^^ 
 
 echo the shout of yet another victory won ,„ ,„, ,„ ,,|, ,,,„,„,,. „, ,|„,, j^ i„„„„.j,so 
 
 in the subjupition ot tlie miit.rial worhl to ^,„|,.,. ,,^. ,,,„,.,„i,,|„„ ,iH„u.jh vur lian.Is, 
 
 use of man. ,. , , A-llhoiiL'h tli.v b^iv.' done mm b, it is for 
 
 What a lile of usefulness, tlien, lu'S bef„re ^,,,,, ^^^ ,,,^ ,j^,,,.,^ - ,,.,,,. ^^,,„|^ ^^.,_.,.,, „,,,^, ,_^^^ 
 
 jou. It you will but a.c, pt it.s ivsponsibilitl. s "i,^,^,,,,, j^ proi^iv.ssive ;-,ind if yo.i would bo 
 inaspirltofearnestn...ss am industry. ,,,.|,| „„.,in'oflhe place in the ranks ..f the 
 
 riicolo^ry, Mcdi.ine and I/iw have each .vorkmen wlii.h vou are calcd U(.on t.. fill, 
 done noby ami well tor mi.iove. ^.^^^^ ,^^,1^^ i^^^, ^^„;,^^ „^^, |,„j,,,j^^^, ^^ ,^,,^^. ^,^ 
 m.nt ami elevation of the human race. liut j,, ,.,.,,,,i^.„ i„,Vrior or fiuilv miteiials 
 
 Applie.l Science has wrouirht yet more nobly „,r„„^,,, ,.„„r i„,.,tn. ss or incapacity, 
 than themall, for It isthetruitther.ot which ^,,,, ,:,,,^,| ^,,„„,.„„,, ,•„ ,,,.,,,.y ,,„„,,t 
 makes tt possible tor each and all to operate ,^,^,, ,,i„i nity, in all times of trial and vexa- 
 to the full. .,,. , , , ., , . tion, let the all-powerful watchword of per- 
 
 Christianity m-irht imie,., ex.rt its b, niun ,^^ „,^, u-rai.dest of the heroes of Appli..<l 
 inthi.ne.. over a tew is,dat,-d spots of earth, s i..n,e-(i..orueSt,phenson— b,' vour watch- 
 but it is Practical Seience which has carried ^^.^,,,, ,^,,„_/.,,„,,,,,,.,,_,i,„i „„.„• shall vol; 
 it to the four.iuartc'rsot the (.U,be, and tlier.. ,,,^^.,. „„ ,,,,„„,^ j,^ ,|„, ^,, ,„,,^ ,„ ,,„ „slrimed 
 continu.'s to nourish and support it with its ^,,. „_,, |„„.,_,,^, ^ ^,,.,,,. ,„ iniuibK— whi.li 
 civilizimr power. ^.„„ ,„j^.,, ,„^,, ,, j„ f,„.,i„,,.ii,ir th.u sublime 
 
 Medicine may copo with disease ami alle- ;.,„| t„ which' we all look, and f..r the con- 
 viate pain, but it is the part of tlie Sanit.iry „„„„„tj,,„ „,■ ,vhieh, bv .hawing the nations 
 Engineer to liuhtrti the sulleiinKs ot thou- ,,f,|„, ,.,,,,1, ..v.relos.r and clos.r to-ether, 
 
 Hands where the Physician ean relieve hut ■^ -^ y„„^ p,ivibre s iallv to lahuiir. 
 
 tens ; and, If our later views be not fall.uK.us, ,,,,,,^^ ,-,j^.j„,, „,,,,^ j,,,,^,,,,, j,,„ ,,,^,^.,j ^f 
 
 to render a ^r.^at number of tlie more des- ^^,,^j,,,^ „,j„„,,. ^.,,„ j p,.,.i;umce may live 
 
 tructive and terrible forms ot disease U"- ,0 see, but whiih nevertheless 
 possible. 
 
 The Legislator mav cna.t kindly lawsaHdl, ,. , . " We e.v. but trust, at last, sliill fill, 
 
 , r »!• ■ x/. ..!»■. " \t iii^it-lar oit— 111 la-t to !iU. 
 
 scheme a perfect form ot (.ovennneiit, but it , .. \vi„mi the wic-.hum n.robs no l(.nger-an(liho 
 Is tin' works of thi^ Kimilieer which j,'ives to! hatlle-llnits ar.' I'uc e.t 
 
 the one vitality, and the other strength '» '' ''\J/c ^v,';",','''.'''''''^"'' '"'"i- 1"" f oieratlon of 
 tho fulfilment of its fuuctious,