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ANNUAL ADDRESS. 
 
 niLtvEnit) Br 
 
 PROFESSOR JACK, A.M., PRESII)E\T, 
 
 BIFORE THR 
 
 FREDiRICTON ATHIMUM, 
 
 FEBRUARY 20, 1854. 
 
 PRINTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE SOCIETY 
 
 PREDERICTON. 
 
 '. «MP90«, ,mNfM TO TH« QW.h's Mo.T IXCHL.NT MUtSTT. 
 
 1854. 
 
X 
 
 '/ 
 
 -; 
 
ANNUAL ADDRESS. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 One of the duties pertninin/nr to the high office which I have 
 had the honor to hold among yon, requires me, before descend- 
 ing from my temporary eminence, to furnish some account of 
 the proceedings of tho- Society for the last twelve months. To 
 this duty I have looked forward with no small degree of trepi- 
 dation, knowing how much more worthily it could have been 
 performed by many of those around me. 
 
 On reviewing the transactions of the past year, it gives me. 
 I assure you, no small pleasure to be able to say that, in my 
 opinion, the Society has well maintained its ground. Its ranks 
 have been strengthened by the addition of several new mem- 
 bers ; and, although at our meetings we may have missed more 
 frequently than we could have desired, or might have reason- 
 ably anticipated, some old familiar foccs whose presence was 
 wont to cheer and encourage us, yet upon the whole, the 
 attendance has been pretty good. 
 
 If we consider the many disadvantages under w! .-I a Society 
 such as the Fredericton Athenaeum must necessarily labour, 
 when established in so small a community as that to which we 
 belong, we shall, I think, find an)ple reason to be satisfied with 
 the measure of success it has hitherto enjoyed. It is true we 
 have among us a more than average proportion of nen well 
 versed in history, general literature, and science ; yet, taking 
 them altogether, the number is so few, that we can scarcely 
 aflford to dispense with the hearty co-operation of a single indi- 
 vidual. Of these too. every one, as might be expected in this 
 new country, has to toil for his livelihood; and professional 
 duties or the cares of business occupy so much of his time, that 
 
lie »nn th.'volc but a scanty portion of it to other pursuits. — 
 Moreover, as few of our members follow the same occupation, 
 the course of reading an«l ihc train of reHcction into whicli 
 they will b«; naturally led, will be varied and dissiur'ur ; and 
 hence, the subjects brou<;ht before them must be of such a 
 general nature as to secure, in some degree, the attention and 
 interest of all. A learned discpiisition on some dark point in 
 Chronology, a scientific discussion of some yet unsettled fpics- 
 tion in Geology or Natural History, or an abstruse mathema- 
 tical investigation of some problem in Philosophy, would be 
 erpially out of place in such an assemblage. Hence it is that 
 we can perhaps lay no claim to having made any really original 
 contribution to the stock of knowledge in the world. Never- 
 theless I am sure that many of the papers that have been laid 
 before this Society during the seven years which it has now 
 been in operation, would have been listened to with both plea- 
 sure and profit by associations of mucii higher pretensions. 
 Nor ought it to be forgotten that we have in various ways, by 
 publications and otherwise, attem|)ted to do something for the 
 general weal. For my own part, I am ready to confess that I 
 have derived great benefit and satisfaction from our meetings; 
 and I could adduce the published testimony of several of my 
 predecessors in this chair, that in this respect I do not stand 
 alone. I trust, therefore, that all will cordially unite, and zea- 
 lously strive to maintain our yet youthful association in full 
 life and vigour. Most of the Societies that now enjoy a world 
 wide reputation, started into existence under no more promis- 
 ing aspects; and, why may not we, or, at all events, our 
 successors, accomplish something to make the Fredericton 
 Athenteum famous, and its origin worth enquiring into ? 
 
 I reluctantly acknowledge that during the past year we have 
 lived more within and for ourselves than heretofore. No 
 Almanac, prepared and issued under our auspices, has apprised 
 the public of our existence ; nor have we made any further 
 effort to benefit the mariner, and gain a better character for 
 the Bay of Fundy, by urging those in authority to procure, 
 through means of an accurate and systematic series of obser- 
 
 ^ 
 
u 
 
 vntions, reliubic information rcgardiii<; its iinrlioiirti nnd tides. 
 It is, however, griitifying to learn that tliore i.s some prospect 
 of the last mentioned subject being taken up in the proper 
 quarters, and nieetiiigwith theattcntiun itsimportance disserves. 
 Two years ago, the Government of the I tiitcd States proposed 
 to that of CIrcat Britain that they shouhl oo-opcrate and collect 
 facts for the elucidation of various oceanic pluuionienn, which 
 not only possess general scientific interest, but the better under- 
 standing of which would tend vastly to the improvement of 
 navigation. Tlie proposal was favourably received ; and lately 
 the commanders of the vessels of botii nations have been 
 instructed to make regular observations on wimls, tides, cur- 
 rents, temperature, ond sundry other matters, in conformity 
 with a plan |)re3cribed by Lieutenant Maury of the I nited 
 States Navy, who has for nmny years interested himself in such 
 investigations. Last summer, Lieutenant Maury was sent to 
 Europe for the express purpose of enlisting the Continental 
 Powers in the same cause ; and in the object of his mission, he 
 has, 1 believe, been generally successful. Indeed, a discussion 
 of the facts he had previously and not without much dilHculty 
 obtained, had already enabled him to reduce by nearly one 
 half the voyages to Rio and to California ; so that with such 
 practical demonstration of the advantages to be derived from 
 carrying out his scheme, it could not fail to be well received. 
 It may be thought tliat these proceedings have a more imme- 
 diate reference to the open ocean ; but they will doubtless be 
 gradually extended into every nook and corner of it, and we 
 may fairly presume that the Bay of Fundy, which presents so 
 many peculiar and highly interesting phenomena, will not be 
 the last to be minutely examined. Nevertheless, it might has- 
 ten the matter, if at this in some respects favourable juncture, 
 our merchants, shipbuilders and legislators would nil bestir 
 themselves, and exert their united influence to promote what 
 so nearly concerns the commercial prosperity of the Province. 
 When we first drew public attention to the subject, our views 
 were approved of by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, 
 and he was pleased to communicate them both to the Home 
 
e 
 
 and tlic I'rovincinl Aiithoi ities'. IJiit if is uiUHjrcssary for mc to 
 <k'tuiti voii lon«ror on this point : tliuse who nro more directly 
 interested ou«^hl now to take it up, ns this Society cnntiot rea- 
 sonahly he expected to expend not only the time hut the money 
 which is re<piisite for |)ursuin<f it further. 
 
 I nuist now eiuleavour to give a short account «»f each of the 
 papers that have been laid before the Society during the term 
 of my Presidency. 
 
 In the month of March, the evening on which wc were to 
 have met happened to be exceedingly tempestuous ; and 
 although numy members and several visitors had the courage 
 to face the storm, the want of a single one to complete our 
 perhaps rather numerous- quorum prevented our proceeding to 
 business. 
 
 i 
 
 .f 
 
 At our meeting in the following month, the paper read was 
 one which had been prepared by myself on the subject of 
 •Weights and Measures." It had, as I then stated, been 
 })reviously read before the Society of Arts in London ; and I 
 have since learned that it was honoured with ti place on their 
 premium list. In the first part of it, after making some 
 general remarks on the origin of Weights and Measures, and 
 the necessity for the early introduction of definite material 
 standards, I attempted to give a brief sketch of their history, 
 especially in England, down to the end of the 18th century. 
 
 Experience soon shows that in the same country there should 
 not be allowed to exist a diversity of Weights and Measures ; 
 and hence we find that wherever, from a mixture of races or 
 other causes, it lias unhappily been introduced, legislation has 
 at length seen the necessity of coming foiward to effect its 
 removal. But at the present stage of the world's progress, 
 from the facilities of communication between the remotest re- 
 gions of the earth being almost as great as those enjoyed by 
 the different districts of the same kingdom scarcely a century 
 ago, all nations are brought into closer proximity and fellowship, 
 and such a frequent and general interchange of commodities 
 
Iins been the oonscquornc, that not only the philoHophor luif 
 tho mcnj mnn of husiiioa« \n Itcconiin^^ r-very day more an«! 
 more Morisiblc «f the U(lvniitas;«'H that would he gained l»y the 
 prevahincc of an universal uniformity of \Vei;,'hts and Measures. 
 On this poitit I ntn tcni[)t<>d to treat you with n cpiutation froni 
 a recent American writer, ahhoiigh I mu'*t confess that to 
 ordinary mortals Hke myself the grandilcxpienceof the hin^nnffo 
 is so (\i\'/./.\'iug as somewhat to ohscurc the sense. — " If u 
 Millennial period for this world ia (!ver to come, as many wise 
 have dreamjd an<l pious proyetl, it must lie preceded hy one 
 common language and one common system of Weights and 
 Measures, rut the basis of intercourse. And the way to this ia 
 to be built, not by tho al>sor|)tion of other and diverse systems 
 into one, but rather by a compromise into which all may blend. 
 When the Earth in her historical orbit shall have reached that 
 point, (as it stood ere mankind were scattered from the plain 
 of Shinar) and not till then, may we begin to hope that her 
 revolutions will be stilled, and that before long the W^eights 
 and Measures of fleeting time will be merged and lost in the 
 infinite scales and illimitable quantities of eternity." 
 
 In the second part of my paper, I showed that men of science 
 bad long desired and anxiously sought a metrical unit whose 
 value should be fixed and immutable, and which being derived 
 from nature, might commend itself equally to the adoption of all 
 nations, and thus relieve them from the many inconvcniencies 
 and perplexities which chance had originally introdurod. 1 
 briefly explained the steps taken by the French to i)rocure 
 such a unit from the measurement of a quadrant of the 
 meridian, and pointed out two very obvious errors that had 
 been committed in the process of reduction. The more unpre- 
 tending effort of the English to give fixity to their existing 
 standards by determining their relation to the length of the 
 second pendulum was also shown to have been equally unsatis- 
 factory. Thus it appears that the dimensions of no natural 
 unit have yet been ascertained with such absolute precision as 
 would enable us to replace, simply by means of it, lost 
 standards of measure. 
 
8 
 
 In the third part, I examined in detail our Tables of Money, 
 Weights, and Measures ; and advocated the introduction of 
 the decimal system to a considerable extent. This required 
 a change of nomenclature ; and although for the purpose of 
 "ivingasort of uniformity and symmetry to all the tables, and 
 also of designating the relation of each denomination to its 
 primary, I preferred the employment of general prefixes, yet 
 whether owing to the genius of the English language, or my 
 own want of invention, it must be confessed that the terms 
 proposed are neither so simple nor euphonious as those which 
 the French have so happily introduced intothcir metrical system. 
 
 As the unsatisfactory state of the Weights and Measures of 
 this Province first induced me to take up the subject, I ought 
 not to omit referring to the Bill which was passed during 
 the last Session of our Legislature. This enactment gives a 
 stability and certainty to our system which it did not formerly 
 possess; and although some may regret that, in deference to 
 the order of things in the countries immediately surrounding 
 us, we have been obliged to retain the old wine gallon as the 
 standard of liquid capacity, and also the Winchester bushel as 
 that of dry measure ; still the j)rovision of the Bill which 
 authorizes the buying or selling of all grains, roots, Sec, by 
 weight, renders this diversity less important. The abolition 
 of heaped measure must also be regarded as a step in the right 
 direction. I have likewise been given to understand that the 
 Government has sent an order to Troughton and Simms of 
 London, to prepare a superior set of standards to be kept at 
 Head Quarters, and sixteen other sets with less pretensions to 
 extreme accuracy, for the use of the diflferent Counties. 
 
 At our meeting in April, Dr. Robb favoured us with a paper 
 on Decimal Coinage. He ably insisted upon the many advan- 
 tages of such a system, and urged the expediency of its speedy 
 adoption. After enumerating various points which ought to 
 be taken into consideration in attempting to eflfect the change, 
 and showing that through want of attention to one or other of 
 these, many erroneous views had been promulgated, he pro- 
 
f Money, 
 net ion of 
 required 
 I r pose of 
 bles, and 
 ion to its 
 ixcs, yet 
 c, or my 
 he terms 
 se uhicli 
 il system. 
 
 asures of 
 
 , I ought 
 
 [1 during 
 
 it gives a 
 
 formerly 
 
 jrence to 
 
 rounding 
 
 )n as the 
 
 )ushel as 
 
 1 which 
 
 «fcc., by 
 
 abolition 
 
 he right 
 
 that the 
 
 mms of 
 
 kept at 
 
 nsions to 
 
 ;s. 
 
 a paper 
 J advan- 
 s speedy 
 
 ught to 
 change, 
 other of 
 
 he pro- 
 
 ! 
 
 cccdcd to state the practical difliculties with which the subject 
 was encumbered, and then showed how, in his opinion, they 
 might best be smoothed over. He contended that l'n<jlisli 
 coins should have good Englisli names ; and that the silver 
 Crown piece possessed the highest claims to be selected us the 
 imit of account. lie thought the hundredth part of il would 
 be a convenient coin, and sufficiently smsll for all the ordinary 
 purposes of life; and that by adoptiug the centesimal scale, 
 as wou'd naturally be done, all sums could bo er pressed in 
 two denominations. Furthermore, he showed that the Crown 
 was nearly identical in value with several coins of various 
 nations, one or two of which are perhaps better known and 
 more widely circulated than any others are ever likely to be. 
 
 The advantages of the decimal principle are so numerous 
 and obvious that it is rapidly gaining ground among civilized 
 nations. Indeed, at the present day, it has been adojjted by 
 probably one half of the human race. It is established in Franco, 
 Holland, and Belgium ; in Portugal, Greece, Sardinia, and 
 some of the Swiss Cantons ; and prevails throughout the vast 
 empire of Russia, and the populous regions of China. It has, 
 moreover, found footing in Persia and Egypt, and is fast 
 penetrating into the Ottoman dominions ; and is, as you well 
 know, used all over the United States, Mexico, Central 
 America, and the Brazils. Great Britain also has at length 
 and after much discussion taken it into favour. There, it has 
 been settled that the Pound sterling is to be retained as the 
 unit of account ; and, already a two shilling piece, denominated 
 a Florin has been issued from the Mint, and become a current 
 coin of the realm. It has, I believe, been proposed by the 
 Committee of the House of Commons appointed to consider 
 the matter, to call the tenth of the Florin, or the 'umdredth of 
 the Pound, a Cent, and the tenth of the latter a Mil. Now, 
 throughout all British America, the introduction of the two last 
 names would occasion endless perplexity and confusion, as 
 these term? have already been appropriated to coins of much 
 smaller value, with which our position has necessarily rendered 
 us familiar. On this point, iTierefore, I hope that no definite 
 
 2 
 
10 
 
 and irrcvocnble conclusion has yet been arrived at. Besides, 
 it would be exceedingly cumbersome to have to express a sum 
 of money by four ! ^nominations, Pounds, Florins, Cents, and 
 Mils ; and in fact, experience has taught us that they would 
 never all be employed. We could not, as in the United States, 
 drop the last, because the hundredth part of the Pound is not 
 sufficiently small for the minor transactions of business ; but 
 we might, I think, dispense with the word Cent, and advan- 
 tageously substitute in place of Mil the term Milin, from its 
 similarity in sound to Florin, and also as expressive of its 
 relation to the primary unit. But if a good old Saxon name 
 is to be preferred, I would suggest Mite as an appropriate 
 designation for our lowest coin ; though some might probably 
 think that by retaining the word Farthing, the masses would 
 be more readily induced to adopt the new system. On this 
 plan, accounts would be kept in three denominations. Pounds, 
 Florins, and Milins, Mites, or Farthings, the last being counted 
 as high as one hundred. The present shilling and six pence 
 would still remain in circulation as convenient coins, being the 
 half and quarter florin, or 50 and 25 mites respectively. 
 
 Your time will not allow me to discuss minor details, or to 
 enquire what new coins would be necessary ; but before leaving 
 this interesting subject I would remark that although in the 
 English, the French, and other national scales, the actual value 
 of the unit is and will probably ever continue difl*erent, yet if a 
 common principle, such as the decimal, pervades all, the 
 methods of comparing them become mu,^h more simple and 
 expeditious : and further, if the same principle were likewise 
 introduced into the diverse systems of Weights and Measures, 
 all calculations connected with them would be greatly facili- 
 tated ; and the memory also would be relieved from the 
 grievous load which it must now attempt to carry. 
 
 When we met in June, we had the pleasure of listening to 
 a paper on "American Antiquities," prepared and read by the 
 Rev. Charles Coster. His observations were chiefly confined 
 to an account of the social and religious conditions of Mexico 
 
t. Besides, 
 press a sum 
 , Cents, and 
 ; they would 
 nited Stales, 
 Pound is not 
 usiness ; but 
 , and advan- 
 llin, from its 
 essivc of its 
 Saxon name 
 1 appropriate 
 ight proliably 
 masses would 
 em. On this 
 ions. Pounds, 
 being counted 
 and six pence 
 )ins, being the 
 ictively. 
 
 r details, or to 
 before leaving 
 though in the 
 le actual value 
 
 erent, yet if a 
 vades all, the 
 re simple and 
 
 were likewise 
 and Measures, 
 greatly facili- 
 
 ved from the 
 
 ry. 
 
 of listening to 
 
 ind read by the 
 
 hiefly confined 
 
 ions of Mexico 
 
 11 
 
 and Peru, at the period of the concpiest of these countries by 
 the Spaniards, lie described the complicated form of govern- 
 ment established among the Mexicans, their progress in legis- 
 lation, agriculture, fortification, and many of the mechanical 
 arts ; and remarked upon their picture writing, their system 
 of Arithmetic, and their wonderful attainments in Astronomy. 
 After contrasting such indications of a high state of civilization 
 with the grossness of their mythology, and the revolting rites 
 of their religion, he carefully examined the many conflicting 
 hypotheses that have been formed respecting their origin : and 
 on the whole, seemed to incline to the notion of their intimate 
 connection with the Shepherd Kings of Egypt. 
 
 It is interesting to observe how intimately the Serpent has 
 been intertwined with the superstitions of various nations. In 
 the old World we find it playing a conspicuous part in Egypt, 
 Crreece, Assyria, and China, and in every country peopled by 
 the Celtic race.* In the new, we trace it among the ancient 
 monuments on the banks of the Mississippi and its tributaries, 
 the carvings on the altars of the Natches, the paintings of the 
 Mexicans, and the temples of Central America. Among the 
 Egyptians the Cobra was the sign of royalty and power ; and 
 ID the Mexicans the feathcr-hcaded-rattle-snake conveyed the 
 same idea, and was also the peculiar symbol of their Sun- 
 God. 
 
 The existence of mighty nations enjoying an advanced state 
 of cultivation in America at the time of its discovery, fills us 
 with astonishment ; but when we find that the Mexicans, who 
 had erected stupendous edifices that rivalled those of Egypt, 
 as well as the Peruvians, who, at a time when there were no 
 public highways in Great Britain, except such as were relics 
 of Roman greatness, had constructed admirable roads thou- 
 sands of miles in length, over lofty mountains, and across 
 frightful ravines, — that these, I say, were but of yesterday, and 
 probably inferior in every respect when compared with the 
 Toltecs, or with the inhabitants of the mysterious cities of Cen- 
 
 • See " Stukeley's Stonehenge and Abury." 
 
12 
 
 irtil America, who had nearly if not entirely vanished from the 
 earth, and left not even a name behind them ; and when, 
 moreover, from the monuments of the Mississippi valley, and 
 similar remains that stretch into Pennsylvania and the northern 
 part of New York, and even as far as Oregon, we obtain silent 
 but incontrovertible evidences of a once numerous and power- 
 ful, but long since utterly extinct people, who must have been 
 far superior to the rude hunter tribes which roamed through 
 the forests of North America 300 years ago, our wonder and 
 curiosity are raised to the highest pitch, and questions of the 
 greatest importance in an archteological and ethnological point of 
 view are immediately suggested. What affinities had these 
 nations to one another, and to those of the old world ? Where are 
 we to look for their origin ? To what cause can we attribute the 
 ruin and decay of the Toltecs, and how shall we account for 
 the final disappearance of the Mound builders, and the highly 
 civilized communities of the central regions of the continent. 
 It has been conjectured, and not without some show of reason, 
 that the race of the mounds was the primitive stock from 
 which came the various semi-civilized nations which formerly 
 inhabited Central America, the Sierras of Mexico, and the 
 plains of Peru. But whence came that wonderful people who 
 have left scattered over such a vast extent of counlry so many 
 imposing monuments of their skill and industry ? We cannot 
 believe that they were indigenous, or sprung from a family 
 created for the express purpose of peopling the so called New 
 World. The book of Revelation, as it is commonly interpreted, 
 seems plainly to assert that all mankind are descended from a 
 single pair ; but, as the difficulties with which the subject is 
 confessedly surrounded have unhappily betrayed some persons 
 into the opinion that there are three or more races of one spe- 
 cies, it is matter of congratulation to every devout believer to 
 have his faith confirmed by the independent testimony of the 
 book of nature. We are glad therefore to accu mulate evidence 
 from every quarter, and to be able to call upon Anatomy, 
 Physiology, History, Philology, and General Science to mar- 
 shall forth such master witnesses to the truth as Blumenbach, 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
13 
 
 Ticdenmn, Weber, MiiUcr, Priclmid, Latham, and Humboldt, 
 with a host of others whom it would be tedious to name. 
 The best authorities arc agreed that all the original inhabitants 
 of America belong to the same tv/r/r/y of man as the Hindoos: 
 and assuming Asia to have been the cradle of the whole human 
 race, the passage thence could have been effected by several 
 routes; and doubtless the transit occurred at a very early period, 
 and civilization attained its fullest developement independently. 
 Tlie fluctuations in civilization maybe accounted for on grounds 
 similar to those whereby we explain the great social and moral 
 changes that have taken place in various portions of Europe 
 and Asia within the limits of authentic history. 
 
 Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona 
 Multi ; sed onmes illacrymabiles 
 Urgentur ignotique longa 
 
 Nocte, carent quia vate sacro. 
 
 When we consider the vast numbers of the better classes of 
 Mexicans that perished at the commencement of the Spanish 
 conquest; and that European ferocity was more especially 
 directed against the Aztec priests, who in a measure monopo- 
 lized the learning of the country ; and when, moreover, we 
 learn from the chroniclers of the time that the first Spanish 
 Archbishop of Mexico, (Don Juan de Zumarraga, a pious man 
 of " heroic virtues," who is said to have confirmed no fewer than 
 14,500 Indians), considered the hieroglyphical paintings by 
 which every kind of knowledge was transmitted from genera- 
 tion tc generation, as nothing better than idolatrous books of 
 Magic, and therefore caused them to be collected in groat 
 quantities, and burnt in "mountain heaps"; and that he was 
 everywhere diligently assisted in the work of destruction by his 
 inferiors; we cannot wonder at the degradation which speedily 
 followed, and at the gloom which envelopes the history of the 
 ancient nations of this continent. 
 
 Indeed, the wl ole Indian tribes are rapidly disappearing from 
 North America, and we ought to neglect no opportunities of 
 learning all we can respecting them, while they yet remain. 
 
14 
 
 Catlin found abundant proof that their number at the time tljc 
 Anglo Americana first arrived was upwards of 14,000,000; yet 
 Cupt\in Lefroy in a valuable communication to the Canadian 
 Institute, furnished statistics which show that in the whole of 
 British North America, which is eepml in extent to l-'20th of 
 the habitable globe, there arc at present no more than 125,000; 
 and that in the United States, Texas, Mexico, and Oregon, 
 the aggregate is not over 250,000. 
 
 It is much to be desired that some gentlemen of this Society 
 would undertake the task of collecting information regarding 
 the Indians of this Province, their traditions and antiquities. 
 
 After our customary Summer recess, we were in September 
 indebted to our indefatigable Secretary for coming forward 
 and favouring us with an oral lecture on the "Microscope." 
 He traced the history of that instrument from the simple con- 
 vex lens down to the most improved form to which the com- 
 pound microscope has been brought in the present day. He 
 explained and clearly illustrated by diagrams and lenses, vari- 
 ous difficulties that had to be encountered, such as those arising 
 from spherical and chromatic aberrations, a limited field of 
 view, and want of sufficient illumination; and showed how and 
 to what extent each of these defects had been remedied. The 
 purchase of a fine compound Achromatic Microscope for the 
 College, enabled the lecturer to give point to what he said 
 about the wonders it revealed, by gratifying us with an exami- 
 nation of several of the test objects by which it was accompa- 
 nied. 
 
 The Telescope and the Microscope are constructed upon a 
 common principle, which will be readily understood. You all 
 know that if a luminous object is placed in front of a convex 
 lens, ati image of it will be found at a certain distance behind 
 the lens. If the object is gradually moved from the lens, it 
 will be seen that the image approaches it on the other side, 
 and becomes smaller and smaller as the distance diminishes. 
 In the case of the Telescope, the object, the sun for instance, 
 is very remote, and the image formed is smaller than the actual 
 
15 
 
 size of that luminary in the ratio of the lcs«icr distance n< 
 which it is fonnd behind the ions. On the other hand, if wc 
 now return to our experiment, and l)rin^ the olycrt gradiially 
 nearer and nearer to the len?, it will be seen that the image 
 recedes from it on the otlier side, and that it becomes larger 
 and larger as the distance increases. In the case of the Micro- 
 scope, a small object is brought very near to the lens — within 
 a fraction of an inch — and its image is formed at a compara- 
 tively great distance, and is therefore proj)ortionately enlarged 
 in dimensions. Having thus obtained these two images — the 
 first much less than the object, and the second much greater — 
 they are then treated in exactly the same manner in both the 
 Telescope and Microscope, namely, examined by a magnifying 
 lens or eye glass. 
 
 The impression left on the mind of the Christian philosopher 
 by viewing the works of creation through the one or other of 
 these instruments are so beautifully contrasted by Dr. Chal- 
 mers in the following passage, that I am sure you will pardon 
 my taking this opportunity of bringing it under your notice. 
 "The one," says that eminent divine, "led me to seeasystem in 
 every star : the other leads me to see a world in every atom. 
 The one taught me, that this mighty globe, with the burden of 
 its people and of its countries, is but a grain of sand in the 
 vast field of immensity. The other Peaches me, that every 
 grain of sand may harbour within it the tribes and the families 
 of a busy population. The one told me of the insignificance 
 of the world I tread upon. The other redeems it from all its 
 insignificance; for it tells me that, in the leaves of every forest, 
 and in the flowers of every garden, and in the waters of every 
 rivulet, there are worlds teeming with life, and numberless as 
 are the glories of the firmament. The one has suggested to 
 me that, beyond and above all that is visible to man, there may 
 lie fields of creation which sweep immeasurably along, and 
 carry the impress of the Almighty's hand to the remotest scenes 
 of the universe. The other suggests to me that, within and 
 beyond all that minuteness which the aided eye of man has 
 been able to explore, there may be a region of invisibles j and 
 
16 
 
 thai could \vc draw aside the mysterious curtain which shrouds 
 it from our senses, wo might there sec a theatre of as many 
 wonders as Astronomy has unfohlcd, a universe within the 
 compass of a [)oint so small as to elude the powers of the 
 Microscope, but where the wonder-working God finds room 
 for the exercise of all his attributes, w here he can raise another 
 mechanism of worlds, and fill and animate them all with the 
 evidences of his glory." 
 
 Countless myriadsof microscopic animalcules swarm in every 
 body of water, whether salt or fresh, from the Ecpiator to the 
 Poles, and increase with such astonishing rai)idity that not only 
 iL« it certain that their absolute number far exceeds that of all 
 other animals together, l)ut it is even probable that their collec- 
 tive volume is also greater. Moreover, the shelly coverings 
 with which many of them are encased, being composed either 
 of lime, flint, or iron, retain their shape and structure for ages 
 after the death of their tiny inmates, and are therefore con- 
 stantly forming copious deposits at the bottoms of lakes, rivers, 
 and seas. Of extensive strata of calcareous earth, stones, and 
 rocks, deposited in this way, many examples might be adduced; 
 but it will be sufficient to particularize one, in order to give 
 some idea of the number aiul minuteness of these creatures. 
 The Tripoli, or polishing slate of Bilin, which occuj)ies a 
 surface of great extent, and is as much as 14 feet in thickness, 
 consists entirely of siliceous cases of animalcules ; and, accord- 
 ing to Professor Ehrenberg, each cubic inch of it contains on 
 an average 41,000 millions of individuals. Of this enormous 
 number, occupying such a small space, let us try to obtain a 
 more accurate conception than the mere mention of it conveys. 
 Estimating the population of Fredericton at 5000 persons, and 
 supposing that each could count at the rate of 100 per minute, 
 and was able to work without intermission for twelve hours a 
 day, they would require a period of more than three years, 
 before by their united efforts they could reach this number. 
 
 At our meeting in the month of October, after the usual 
 routine of business, we had the pleasure of listening to Mr. 
 
17 
 
 ntlier 
 
 Roberts' paper "on the relations that exist between Science 
 and Art." The subject embraces such a wide range, that the 
 autho; expressed his re<jret that the limits of a single lecture 
 prevented his discussing it so fully as he could have desired, 
 or as the interest with which it is at present regarded, might 
 appear to demand. As Science and Art have long been, and 
 still are, variously defined, and rather loose and confused ideas 
 generally prevail regarding their respective limits, he com- 
 menced by explaining the meaning he wished to be attached 
 to them on the present occasion. The one he considered as 
 the methodically arranged fruits of patiert research and deep 
 reflection : the other as the result of well directed practice. 
 They are, however, so intimately related that neither can be 
 separated from the other without injury to both. Their com- 
 mon field of operation is the material universe, which the 
 almighty, wise and bountiful Creator has spread out for the 
 investigation and use of his intelligent creatures. Of their 
 mutual dependence and harmonious and rapid progress when 
 united, and of their " unloveableness" when disjoined, Mr. 
 Roberts furnished us with many interesting and striking exam- 
 ples from a variety of sources. This paper formed a most 
 appropriate sequel to that on the Microscope, — an instrument 
 which in its construction exhibits in a remarkable degree a 
 combination of the most profound science with the highest artis- 
 tic skill. To this happy union, both Astronomy and Micro- 
 scopic knowledge are indebted for the great advances they 
 have recently made. 
 
 So long as philosophers assumed, rather than ascertained by 
 direct enquiry from nature, the several properties of matter, 
 their learning was, not undeservedly, looked upon with con. 
 tempt by practical men. But when they followed in the path 
 pointed out by the illustrious Bacon, and recognized the truth 
 of his maxim that " Nature is subjugated only by obedience," 
 the value of their researches, even in a purely practical point 
 of view, began to be slowly acknowledged. It is now admitted 
 by every one who can pretend to any acquaintance with the 
 subject, that no amount of mere manual dexterity can supply 
 
18 
 
 tlic wnnt of theoretical knowledge: and that, on the other liancif; 
 practice niiiHt he looked to for the foundations on which to build 
 theories, and for data to confirm and perfect them. A more 
 accurate knowledge of the (pmlitics and functions of ditl'erent 
 bodies leading to improved processes in manufacturing indus. 
 try, and the extensive introduction of complicated and delicate 
 machines into all the mechanical and useful arts, are everyday 
 rendering muscular energy or brute strengtli less |)roductive 
 than the exercise of refined intellectual power. The London 
 Exhibition seems to have convinced the people of Great Bri- 
 tain that, although they had attained an eminence of commer- 
 cial and manufacturing prosperity unrivalled in any age of the 
 world, they must, if they would retain it, put science in it^ pro- 
 per place as the guide and director of art, and have recourse 
 to all the aids and appliances which it can ailbrd. " The whole 
 of industrial competition," says Dr. Playfair, "is now resolved 
 into a struggle to obtain a maximum effect by a minimum 
 expenditure of power." British manufacturers are, therefore, 
 becoming alive to the urgent necessity for some good and effi- 
 cient system of industrial instruction; and no small stir ii 
 being made by the highest and most influential personages in 
 the realm, to procure the establishment of such institutions as 
 will effect this desirable object. 
 
 In the month of December, we were indebted to the Rev- 
 Mr. Brooke for a paper entitled " Horre Mosaica?," the pur- 
 pose of which was to show to what a surprising extent the 
 leading facts of the Mosaic narrative were corroborated by the 
 traditions of ancient and widely separated nations, and by the 
 testimony of profane w^'iters. By adopting a systematic 
 division, and presenting under distinct heads the several points 
 which he considered it most important to illustrate, the Rev. 
 Gentleman brought to bear upon each in succession such a 
 mass of concurrent evidence as could scarcely have been 
 anticipated by those who had not made the matter a subject of 
 special research. My not having done so forbids my attempting 
 to follow in his footsteps, or to add anything to what he has 
 advanced. As, however, the immediate object of his paper 
 
r liand; 
 tu build 
 A more 
 i tie rent 
 ^ indiis. 
 ilelicute 
 icvy day 
 oductive 
 London 
 oat Bri- 
 :onimer- 
 se of the 
 1 itri pro- 
 recourse 
 lie whole 
 resolved 
 ninimum 
 hereforo, 
 and effi- 
 ill stir 11 
 onagos in 
 tutions a» 
 
 the Rev. 
 ' the pur- 
 (xtent the 
 ited by the 
 ind by the 
 systematic 
 oral points 
 3, the Rev. 
 ion such a 
 have been 
 a, subject of 
 attempting 
 hat he has 
 r his paper 
 
 h) 
 
 allowed him to alhulc oidy incidoutally to the manner in which 
 the discoveries of modern science mny be expoctcd to attest 
 the truth of the inspired record, I am tcni|)ted to say a few 
 words on tlii> point ; more especially bccimse the book of 
 Revelation and the book (»f Natur*; — works of the same di\ine 
 author — in place of establishing and confirming each other, as 
 they undoubtedly will when rightly interpreted, are in ninny 
 instances supposed by some to be in direct opposition. This 
 fallacy generally arises from not reflecting that each has in 
 view a separate and distinct object. The one being intended 
 to teach the whole of mankind religion, is written in such 
 popular yet sublime language as to be easily understood by 
 the most humble as well as the most enlightened, and not in 
 such strict scientific terms as to satisfy — even granting that 
 such a thing were possible — each and all of the successive and 
 ever-varying phases of scientific discovery. It tells us that all 
 things had a beginning, and that this beginning, no matter how 
 far back, occurred in fi/ite, and was the result of the fiat of an 
 eternal, self-existent, and independent Creator. After enun- 
 ciating this grand and important truth, it passes over with little 
 or no notice all intermediate events as irrelevant to the main 
 end in view, and proceeds at once to give the history of God's 
 dealings towards him to whom it is especially addressed, 
 carefully and clearly pointing out man's high place in the 
 creation, and the duties which it imposes. The other displays 
 the power, wisdom, and beneficence of the Diety in the immen- 
 sity, perfection, and harmony of his works, and opens to his 
 intelligent creature, who was made but " a little lower than the 
 angels," sources of the highest and purest delight, by afl^brding 
 a glorious field whereon he may find the most ennobling exercise 
 for the great faculties wherewith he has been endowed, and 
 which he was intended to train to higher and higher perfection. 
 Those who would have the Bible convey lessons in science 
 as well as in religion, seem to forget the j>rogressive nature of 
 the former. Do they wish to find in the teachings of the Holy 
 Scriptures a perfect accordance with the knowledge of the 
 present day ? May, or rather will not the very next gene- 
 
20 
 
 ration prove timt inucli of tliu now existing wisdom is only 
 foolislincij.s ? Would any of the greatest philosophers that have 
 ever lived, have prestuncd to uflirm that more was known to 
 him than remained unknown? Were a Newton or a Hum- 
 holdt to answer the ({uestion, we are well assured that it 
 would not be in the afllrmative. Was it not better then, that 
 the inspired narrative should have been so worded as to be 
 intelligible to the simple and uncultivated people to whom it 
 was first addressed ? Would the Israelites, who were naturally 
 hard of belief and prone to idolatry, have had their faith con- 
 firmed by being told that the solid earth on which were planted 
 the great pyramids of Egypt, was a round ball spinning rapidly 
 on its axis ; that, properly speaking, the sun neither rose nor 
 set ; that the soft silvery light of the moon was not her own 
 but borrowed from the lamp of day ; and that each of the 
 numberless stars that stud the firmament was a sun, the centre 
 of a system of worlds each perhaps more grand and glorious 
 than the tiny orb they inhabited. 
 
 In my opinion, strong proofs of the inspiration of the books 
 of Moses are furnished by the facts, that while they convey a 
 meaning acceptable touninstructed minds which trust implicitly 
 to appearances and the direct evidence of the senses, they are 
 at the same time so readily susceptible of such a construction 
 as to negative none of the established principles of science ; 
 and that there are nowhere found in them any of the fallacies 
 of the Egyptian philosophy, though we are told that " Moses 
 was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians," and would, 
 therefore, had he been left to himself, have been naturally 
 anxious to display the knowledge he had acquired. 
 
 To those who wish to sec how well the discoveries of modern 
 science may be reconciled with the sacred narrative, I would 
 recommend the perusal of " Hitchcock's Religion of Geology," 
 or " Dr. John Pye Smith's Geology and Scripture." 
 
 Last month, I regret that a variety of unfavourable circum- 
 stances prevented our coming together in such numbers as to 
 make a quorum. Those, therefore, who in spite of obstacles 
 
y> 
 
 >> 
 
 21 
 
 fav(uirc<l us with their prcwrnce, were, nt the ciul of the year 
 as at its conimenccincnt, (i)>li<;e(l to separate witlioiit obtaining 
 the object for which they iiud asscnibhd. 
 
 It will be observed thut n my rom^rlcs upon each paper, I 
 have carefully abstained from <'MloiTi/,ing the author, however 
 sensible I may have been of his merits. I have, in every rase, 
 been more concerned about the matter than the man ; and 
 wherever I thoUj>rht I rould introduce some additional food for 
 reflection, I have attempted to do so. 
 
 I have no change to propose in the organization of the 
 Society, as I can sec none of any importance that could be 
 made without entirely altering its constitution ; and T am 
 unwilling that this should be done. 
 
 The Secretary will furnish you with a statement of our 
 financial resources, and connected therewith I shall probably, 
 when the occasion oflfers, make some suggestions. 
 
 Gentlemen, allow me to employ the lust lirief moments of 
 my authority among you in exhorting you to be more earnest 
 in your endeavours to promote the welfare and success of this 
 Society. I well remember the ardour of your zeal at our first 
 meeting. Do not, I entreat you, allow it to cool, and bring 
 upon us the common, and often, I fear, well deserved reproach 
 of being too fond of following after novelties ! As our monthly 
 meetings cannot be considered a severe tax upon the time of 
 any of us, attendance upon them ought to be regarded as a 
 duty, with the performance of which we should allow nothing 
 short of pressing necessity to interfts^e. Every one of you, I 
 am sure, wishes the Society continued existence and prosperity. 
 Let each, then, labour as if its maintenance depended upon 
 his individual exertions ; for, that this is pretty nearly the true 
 state of the case, all of you will on reflection be ready to 
 admit.