THE CANADIAN JOURNAL. NEW SERIES. No. LXXI. APRIL, 1870. THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. BY THE REV. WILLIAM HINCKS, F.L.S., F.B.S., EDIN. The President requests permission to insert in the Journal only an abstract of his address, considering a large portion of it as being, though in his opinion suitable at the time, of local and temporary interest; whilst, as he is occupying in another way a portion of the present number of the Journal, he would gladly abridge where it seems to him that the full text would be now superfluous. After acknowledging the honor again conferred upon him, and offering remarks, arising out of the occurrences of the past year, on the condition and prospects of the Institute, expressing regret at the want of union of all the Literary and Scientific Societies of Ontario in one compact body, but in other respects taking an encouraging view of our affairs, he proceeded to speak of the general progress of Science, commenting particularly on matters relating to his own studies. He adverted to the efforts made in Great Britain to obtain from the Government some more efficient aid for the promotion of knowledge; to the interesting and valuable results of recent deep-sea dredgings; to the observations of Darwin and others on the fertilization of plants, in reference to cross-fertilization and the extent of the agency of insects; to Col. Munro's monograph on the Bambusidae, and Mr. Baker's Synopsis Filicum from the papers of Sir W. J. Hooker. Here he took occasion to remark on the extent to which the combination of species hitherto accounted distinct is carried by these writers, and he conceived that if sub-division has often been carried too far, there is at present a little danger of error in the opposite direction. A paragraph relating to the Darwinian hypothesis, it is thought proper to give at length. In the whole field of Natural History, the controversy respecting Darwinianism is still occupying much attention. The new view is defended by several able men of known scientific eminence, whilst those who resist it lie under the disadvantage of being supposed to be influenced more by prejudice than reason. Yet in the sober English mind it cannot be said that the Darwinians gain a rapid or easy victory, and it is quite possible now that even if they cause some change in public opinion, they may by no means secure the prevalence of their own views. There are many minds to which any new doctrine, boldly maintained and pertinaciously urged, seems irresistible. Novelty alone is a strong recommendation, and there is an exceeding pleasure in being carried on by an advancing wave, and seeming to be among the foremost in progressive improvement. It is all very well if the advance is real, but this experience only can test, and history shows us abundant examples of doctrines which have triumphed for a short period, only to pass speedily to the vault of oblivion. Novelty in opinion is neither a recommendation nor an objection. There is far too much yet to be. done in the vast fields of knowledge, for it to be admitted as a sign of error. There are too many examples continually occurring of ingenious speculation, unsupported by sufficient evidence, for it to rank as a presumption of truth. A restless grasping after novelty is a serious fault; setting it up as a bar against the examination of evidence is certainly not a less injurious one. If we may implicitly believe a statement in the new periodical devoted to natural science, Nature, whilst the English are still discussing the possibility of Darwinianism being true, the Germans have so thoroughly adopted it that it has become the foundation for new systems-the starting point for fresh inquiries. This may appear to most of us to be going somewhat too fast; but then Nature may be presumed to be the special organ of the extreme Darwinians, and might be thought to see facts through a somewhat colored medium; and supposing that there is no exaggeration in the statement, |