It may be a question whether there is any topic of social or individual interest which is not in some way or other to be tested by statistical results; at all events it may be contended that when statistical results are attainable, they will tend much to the solution of any and every controversy. Every argument is strengthened if it can take a mathematical or arithmetical form; and the tendency of all enquiry is to subject every contingency to some law of harmony or order. The great controversy of the day is, whether any event in the widest regions of space or time escapes, or can escape, from the irresistible despotism of universal law. Thoughtful men are beginning to test the great workings of Providence, once deemed unapproachable, as they would test the working of any instrument produced by the hands of man. If they look at the machinery of a watch, they would judge of its excellence from the absence of aberrations-that it went well, and recorded the progress of days, or hours, or minutes, or seconds with unswerving accuracy. If it failed, they would properly deduce trom its failure the imperfect hand of the watchmaker. It is not necessary that they should be personally acquainted with the watchmaker to assist the conclusion at which they would arrive. Nay; it would be actually impossible for them to trace the various parts of the complicated work to their origin. And so in the infinite variety of the machinery of creation. There the watch never fails; there there is no eruption, no convulsion, which is not a part of the great scheme of law. We no more see the

Creator of the universe than we see the fabricator of the watch; but the evidence of the existence of the Framer is infinitely stronger than the evidence of the existence of the watchmaker, because the products of creation are infinite in number, and extent, and duration-the products of man, few, limited, and perishable. But in truth even in the world of imagination and figures play a prominent part: the poet measures his verses; we sum up the aptitudes or the defects of the painter; we deduct the shortcomings from the excellencies of the architect; and in cases of great architects, like Michael Angelo or Shakspeare, we cannot help multiplying their claims.

I may be accused of wandering too far into the domains of science, and of discussing questions which more especially belong to other departments than that to which these observations are devoted; but is it not true that all the departments of science are affiliated and connected to one another, and that in all that concerns this material world statistics are

a very valuable auxiliary? Wherever facts are associated with figures and how very small a portion of the field is there in which figures are not or may not prove an important element—and the nearer figures can be brought to represent or approximate to facts, the more accurate will be the conception of what is or ought to be. Mathematics and algebra, nay, poetry, music, painting, sculpture, and architecture themselves, represent proportions which bear a direct relation to numbers, and by the use of arithmetical signs will be better conceived. The fanciful song of the bard has its numbers, like the grave enumeration of the people in the Pentateuch, or in the returns of the Registrar General. Advocates are disposed, no doubt, to over-estimate the value of their own art or science; but the important position which statistics in their multifarous forms and varieties now occupy will serve, it is hoped, as a justification, at all events an apology, for the character of this address.

ARNST

ON THE

FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY OF HOLDING INDUSTRIAL AND ART EXHIBITIONS AT THE ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THIS ASSOCIATION.

BY J. PHILLIPS.

IN bringing this subject before the association, I would wish to present it in two distinct aspects.

1st. As a means of spreading and encouraging the attainment of scientific information; and,

2nd. For the encouragement of the industries of the county. I have made this division for the sake of convenience, and because there is a certain amount of distinctness in the two objects set forth; and placed them in the order in which they stand because I regard the first as of the greatest importance.

I imagine all present would desire to see the spread of correct information with regard to those subjects, the advancement in our knowledge of which is one of the chief objects of the association. The Government, through the science and art department, greatly assists this; but I think it can be shown that there is much yet left to be done.

I presume it is not necessary for me to say anything now as to the wisdom and feasibility of imparting scientific knowledge to the working classes; for while I well remember, a few years since, a distinguished scientific gentleman saying that he had known a great attempt made in this direction, and all that resulted was an "immense failure;" I am also aware that during the past winter many members of this association have been successfully engaged in imparting such information to those who are specially distinguished as "the people." I will therefore content myself with saying, that I believe here is to be found a wide field of kindly soil, wherein may be sown the seeds of scientific knowledge, with every promise of a rich and abundant harvest.

I have said, that the department of science and art do much for the spread of knowledge; I have also said, that I think much remains to be done.

INDUSTRIAL AND ART EXHIBITIONS.

107

At the commencement of last winter, I received from South Kensington information respecting the establishment of science classes, and also the examination papers which had been used at the last examination, and I found that what was required of the students to enable them to answer even the easiest of the papers was very far in advance of anything that ordinary working men would be at all likely to attain in one season, and the effect was therefore at the very commencement most discouraging to would-be science students, of the very class that it would appear to be of the very highest importance to encourage by every possible means; for it is stated to be the bona fide working classes whom the Government are specially desirous to aid, but who it also appears in many cases are not the persons who actually receive that aid; and I am informed that the standard may not be lowered in consequence of the very large number of persons who now manage to avail themselves of the advantages offered. As far therefore as I am able to see, little is done towards the cultivation of science amongst the bulk of the working classes, those who are now students being quite the élite of that class, and persons of a somewhat higher grade.

Perhaps I may best set forth how I conceive these difficulties may be met, by briefly stating what on a very small scale has been tried at Bovey Tracey with, as far as the attempt went, an encouraging amount of success.

During the last summer an industrial exhibition was held there, which from every point of view was eminently successful, and great interest was manifested in the undertaking by the artizans of the place, the exhibition in the evenings being crowded to overflowing. A hope was expressed that the interest then manifested might lead to the formation in the village of classes for science and art during the ensuing winter, and that funds might be supplied by that exhibition to promote such classes; and as it was also then hoped that a similar exhibition would be held this year at Newton, the results of such work might then be brought forward, and prizes awarded.

At the commencement of the winter classes were opened; one for chemistry and one for drawing, in addition to others for the ordinary work of night schools. At Christmas a meeting was held, and the following report from one of the local papers will give some idea of the commencement which had been made :

"The students of the night classes in connection with the Working Men's Club were entertained on Monday evening,

28th Dec., in the large room opposite the Town-hall. After a tea a conversazione was held, which proved a great success in every way. Hung around the room were paintings and drawings (kindly lent for the occasion), including a number brought by Mr. Holmes, master of the Torquay and Newton Schools of Art, chiefly the work of his pupils. Many of the drawings were exceedingly well executed. On a screen were placed the works of the Bovey class, which, considering the short time it has been at work, reflected great credit on the pupils. The tables were supplied with portfolios of drawings, engravings, &c., also stereoscopes and a 'wheel of life.' The Vicar (the Rev. and Hon. C. L. Courtenay) addressed the students in encouraging terms, commending them for the work which they had performed, and pointing out the advantages which such a course of study as that now open to them would afford if diligently used. Mr. Phillips said there were now 25 students in the different classes, including a drawing and a science class. Very fair and, he thought, encouraging progress had been made. He urged the pupils to exercise all the pluck they possessed in overcoming the difficulties which they must expect to meet, and by hearty co-operation and perseverance to prosecute the work they had so well begun. They were sometimes told that a little learning was a dangerous thing, which he believed was quite correct, but they were aiming at that amount of learning which carried them past that point, to the stage where they should learn, what they perhaps did not now all of them think, that they really knew very little indeed, when they saw what there was yet to learn. He thanked most heartily the ladies and gentlemen who had afforded such an interesting evening to the students and their friends. The evening was enlivened at intervals with music and reading by some of the company who were present. In addition to the classes connected with the club, there are more than fifty lads in the night school, which is under the able management of Mr. Westwood, the parish schoolmaster."

This was quite the first acquaintance of these people with science or art under any form, and it will not be difficult to imagine that some little time would have to be spent in their becoming accustomed to the nature of such study, and to the phraseology which is absolutely necessary even after the subject is divested as far as possible of technicalities; but at the same time I also think it will be seen that these persons, having the wish for such information, are of all others those to whom it would be most desirable to impart it by every available means.