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" evolved." With the feeling expressed in these two sentences I most cordially sympathise. I have omitted two sentences which come between them, describing briefly the hypothesis of "the

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origin of species by natural selection," because I have always felt that this hypothesis does not contain the true theory of evolution, if evolution there has been, in biology. Sir John Herschel, in expressing a favourable judgment on the hypothesis of zoological evolution, with, however, some reservation in respect to the origin of man, objected to the doctrine of natural selection, that it was too like the Laputan method of making books, and that it did not sufficiently take into account a continually guiding and controlling intelligence. This seems to me a most valuable and instructive criticism. I feel profoundly convinced that the argument of design has been greatly too much lost sight of in recent zoological speculations. Reaction against frivolities of teleology, such as are to be found, not rarely, in the notes of learned Commentators on Paley's "Natural Theology," has I believe had a temporary effect in turning atten

tion from the solid and irrefragable argument so well put forward in that excellent old book. But overpoweringly strong proofs of intelligent and benevolent design lie all round us, and if ever perplexities, whether metaphysical or scientific, turn us away from them for a time, they come back upon us with irresistible force, showing to us through nature the influence of a free will, and teaching us that all living beings depend on one ever-acting Creator and Ruler.

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

TO THE SOCIETY OF TELEGRAPH

ENGINEERS.

1874.

[The Twentieth Ordinary General Meeting was held on Wednesday, the 14th January, 1874, Sir William Thomson, F.R.S., LL.D., President, in the Chair.

The President read his Inaugural Address as follows:

GENTLEMEN, I thank you most cordially for the great honour you have done me in electing me to be your President for the year 1874. Our first two Presidents, Mr. Siemens and Mr. Scudamore, in their interesting and valuable addresses, have explained the object of the Society of Telegraph Engineers, and have amply demonstrated its reason for existence. The success which it has already achieved, exceeding the most sanguine expectations of its well-wishers, must be very gratifying to its public-spirited founders, as a fruit

earned by the toil and trouble they have voluntarily bestowed upon it. In numbers, in popularity, in usefulness, the Society of Telegraph Engineers has indeed grown with telegraphic speed.

When first addressed from the presidential chair, not quite two years ago, the Society consisted of IIO members. Since that time it has augmented to 500 including our Postmaster-General; the Directors-General of the great Telegraphic Administrations of Great Britain and India; many of the officers and operators of those systems and of the great Submarine Telegraph Companies; many scientific men interested in the subject, although not holding official positions in connection with practical telegraphy; and a list of distinguished names constituting our honorary and foreign members.

In his inaugural address our first president said, "Let us hope that our joint efforts may lead us in the direction of true scientific and practical advancement ;" and we all know how strenuously and effectively he has himself laboured to promote the harmony of theory and practice, not only in

the department to which this Society is devoted, but in all branches of the grand profession of engineering, of which he is so distinguished an

ornament.

Before we commence the business of the session upon which we are now entering, may I be permitted to offer a few remarks on the relations between science and practice in engineering in general, but more particularly in telegraphic engineering. Engineering may be defined as the application of practical science to man's material circumstances and means of action. As usual in classification, the nomenclature of branches of engineering is full of what the logician calls crossdivisions. Thus we have civil and military engineering, and again, civil and mechanical engineering; then architecture and building, engineering and contracting. We have, it is true, in the distinction between military and civil engineering a good logical division. Every subject of civil engineering is included in military engineering, because an army has all the wants of any large body of civilians. But military en

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