it is to the highest possible standard. Machinery puts the child on the level with the adult. It enables any one of sufficient intelligence to attend a machine to do as much work, and as good work, as the most skilful man. Machinery spreads a given quantity of work over the fewest possible hands. But what are the unions doing? Their object is to bring down labour to the lowest practicable standard, and to lower the work of the adult; to prevent a man of industry and intelligence from doing more than a fixed low average of work; in short, to spread a given quantity of work over the greatest number of hands. Trade unions are, therefore, antagonistic to machinery, and the introduction of the latter, instead of hand labour, into every department of industry, is one of the means of counteracting their bad effects. I do not, however, consider that strikes and unions are interfering with the general progress of arts and manufactures, or the civilisation of the world at large. On the contrary, their tendency is perhaps to benefit the general cause of civilisation, by improving the resources of other countries. In many branches of manufacture England hitherto has had a monopoly, which she cannot hope to retain always. But now the price of labour in this country, combined with the low standard of work allowed by the unions, and the uncertainty in the labour market, which prevents manufacturers entering into large contracts with safety, must break down some of the monopoly we have enjoyed, especially in the iron trade. It is no secret to engineers that a great deal of work is at present being done abroad, which some years ago would have been done in this country. It is for the working men of England seriously to consider whether they are wise to follow a course of action which may drive away trade to countries fully prepared,

by low wages, by a high standard of technical education, by the introduction of railways, and by the development of mineral wealth, successfully to compete with us in the markets of the world.

In not attempting what, in my hands, might have been an imperfect review of the recent progress of science and art, I have, of course, been influenced by the yearly increasing difficulty of giving a condensed account of science in its many branches, and of invention in its meteor-like streams. The world is in a state of scientific tension. Discovery after discovery, invention after invention, nay, whole sciences are rushing into existence, and springing up in the highly prepared and cultivated ground. In these days no man, looking back to the science of his boyhood, dare predict the wonders which his children may not live to see. It was not so formerly. The seeds of many of the most useful modern inventions were sown long, long ago, in barren ground, by men thoughtful beyond their age. The vital and essential principle was there, but required the sunshine of advanced civilisation and knowledge, or the forcing heat of necessity, to ripen it. The idea of the steam-engine was sown at Alexandria 120 years before Christ, but lay inert, like the ear of wheat in the mummy's coffin, till it burst into full activity 1800 years afterwards. The bricks of Babylon were stamped with hieroglyphic characters; but the invention of printing only sprang up in the 15th century, after lying dormant for 3000 years. Thales of Miletus, 600 years before the Christian era, noticed the phenomenon of light springing from rubbed amber; but that light was quenched and almost forgotten, till Gilbert of Colchester, twenty-two centuries afterwards, founded the science which he named after "Electron," the Greek for the sage's amber.

A man in one age used formerly to sow; another, at some distant future age, to reap.

It is to be noticed, however, that now-and the idea is a solemn one to thoughtful men-the interval between seedtime and harvest is quickly becoming shorter. Many great discoveries, many useful inventions, are sown, spring up, and ripen in a century, nay, in the lifetime of one man. Geology and photography are sciences but of yesterday; and Wheatstone has lived to see the junction of two hemispheres by an invention at whose birth he was present.

What is to be the end of all this knowledge? If knowledge be power, then is man indeed getting powerful. To what is it all tending? What limit of knowledge can a created being attain ?

We know that there was once a period in the early history of man's civilisation when they began to build a tower whose top might reach to heaven, and we are told that "the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded: and the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."

Are we approaching another crisis in the history of man's progress? We cannot tell; but we do know, and are sure, that all things are working out the wise purposes of Him,

"Who out of darkness called forth light."

391

CONFERENCE ON TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

A Conference on Technical Education was held, under the auspices of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts, on Friday, 20th March 1868, in the Society's Hall, No. 117 George Street, Edinburgh. In the circular of invitations sent out for the Conference it was stated that its object was "to bring prominently before the people of Scotland the great want of scientific and industrial instruction in the education of the various classes of the community, the necessity which exists for a more thorough recognition of science as a branch of study in every sphere of life, and the best means which can be adopted for carrying out a system of technical education in the universities, art and other schools, mechanics' institutions," &c.

The chair was occupied by George Robertson, Esq., C.E., President of the Society of Arts, and Dr Stevenson Macadam acted as Secretary of the Conference. There was a very large and influential attendance, including many gentlemen from distant parts of the country. Among those present were

Sir David Baxter, Bart. of Kilmaron; SirJames Coxe; Messrs David Milne Home, of Wedderburn; J. Scott Russell, C.E., London; Buckmaster, of the Science and Art Department, London; and J. Stewart Hepburn, of Colquhalzie; Professors Lyon Playfair, Balfour, John Wilson, Duns, Archer, and Macdonald of St Andrews; Sheriff Hallard; Drs Andrew Wood, Sibbald, Page, and Stevenson Macadam; Messrs R. W. Thomson, C.E., and John Milne, Vice-Presidents of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts; Edward Sang, C.E., Secretary, and John Scott Moncrieff, C.A., Treasurer; the Rev. W. H. Gray, M.A.; Messrs Henry Stephens; George Seton, Advocate; Thomas M'Kie,

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Advocate; David Smith, William Lees, M.A.; John Cox of Gorgie; William Smith, Vice-President of Philosophical Institution; George Harrison, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce; James Greig, Secretary, do.; James Duncan, Master of the Merchant Company; Thomas Mylne, Chairman of the Chamber of Agriculture; Robert Sturrock, Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Dundee; and deputation from the South of Scotland Chamber of Commerce, consisting of Messrs A. L. Cochrane, Galashiels, President; John Laing, Hawick, Vice-President; Walter Wilson, Hawick, Director; Walter Laing, Hawick, Director; William Brown, Galashiels, Director; A. K. Turnbull, Hawick, Member; and Thomas Cathrae, Hawick, Secretary; Provost Whitelaw, of Dunfermline; Provost Corsar, of Arbroath; Provost Wilson, of Hawick; Bailie Handyside, Bailie Blackadder; Messrs Charles Cowan, of Valleyfield; R. Urquhart, Town Councillor, Aberdeen; and William Paterson, Engineer, Perth; Dr Donaldson, Rector of the High School; Messrs William Macdonald, High School; J. Carmichael, High School; and W. Cooper, High School; Dr Macmillan, late of High School; Dr Ferguson, of the Edinburgh Institution; Dr Bedford, of George Heriot's Hospital; Messrs W. T. M'Culloch, Secretary to the School of Arts; W. Scott Dalgleish, of Dreghorn College; James Sime, of Craigmount House; John J. Rogerson, of Merchiston Castle; W. M. Begbie, Circus Place School; Robert Brockley, A.M., of Cauvin's Institution; and Henry B. Dow, Rector of the Grammar School, Musselburgh; Drs Thomas Miller, Rector of the Perth Academy; and Thomas W. E. Robson, Rector of the Madras Academy, Cupar Fife; Messrs Robert Armstrong, HeadMaster, English Department, Madras College, St Andrews; William H. Cairns, Rector of the Academy, Dumfries; A. C. Weir, Secretary to the Educational Institute of Scotland; John Mayer, F.C.S., Science Teacher, Glasgow; James Wylie, of Free St George's School, Glasgow; the Rev. Donald MacHardy, of New Machar; John B. Hamilton, of Hawick; John Donaldson, of Pleasance Schools; J. Philip, of Free St Paul's School; George Morison, of the Free Church School at Fountainbridge; M'Lachlan, Leith; John Wilson, of Bantaskine; David Pryde, of the School of Arts; Rev. Dr Brown; a deputation from the Aberdeen Mechanics' Institution, consisting of Messrs Thomas Melville, VicePresident; James Brebner, ex-President; and J. W. Barclay; Mr Charles Dalton Wason and the Rev. John Spavin, Paisley; the Rev. John Geddes, Barrhead; Messrs Andrew Wylie, of Prinlaws; Robert Douglas, of Kirkcaldy; W. L. Cockburn Muir, C.E.;