THE  CACADIAN   JOURNAL.

                    NEW  SERIES.

          No.  XCIV.— APRIL,   1877.
 

THE  PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.
 

           BY JAMES LOUDON, M.A.,

Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, University College, Torontoi
 

Read January 27th, 1877.
 

   In accepting the honour you have done me1 in electing me to

preside over the meetings of the Canadian Institute, I have thought

it would be in keeping with the present occasion that I should devote

my remarks to some question which would serve to indicate the

objects of our Association.   For this purpose, the subject  of the

Advancement of Science, although perhaps the most difficult, seemed

to me the most appropriate.  I have accordingly endeavoured, though

in a crude and imperfect manner, to treat this comprehensive question

from such points of view as were calculated to indicate to us our true

position with regard to Science.

   It is a prominent feature of  our modern civilization, and one indi¬

cative of  its very advanced  stage, that increasing efforts  are being

made to extend the boundaries of Science in every direction.  Unsatis¬

fied by the present range of knowledge, the human mind still strives

after universal empire, and in divers ways we  still see manifested

that, restless spirit which prompts men to new ventures, and revives

the recollection of the mythical stories of the heroic age.  With regard

to Science, it  is  in many respects the beginning of a golden age,

wherein the glory of advancing knowledge shall  not only be the fond