The New York herald., 1874-08-31
SCIENTIFIC PARLIAMENT.
Meeting of the British Asso-
citation at Belfast.
Opening Address Of Pro-
fesSOr Tyndall.
THE BELFAST STRIK f.

BELFAST, August l9, 1874
This evening at eight O'CLOCK the meetings Of
the British Association were commenced in the
Ulster Hall, Bedford street. on going there about
half an hour before the time mentioned your cor
respondent found a line OF carriages drawn up in
front OF the building, and iashionably dressed la
dies and gentlemen descending from them and
hurryng into the hall to secure their places The
interior was very, handsomely decorated with
flags and Dannexs OF all nations. The
hail. which is oblong has galleries around three
Sides 1t is ordinarily used as a concert room. At
one end there is a large platform, and to the
OF this Is splendid organ. The building is lighted
by eight windows at either side, and at night by
gas jets placed in the ceiling About 2 500 persons
were in attendance all apparently OF the highest
respectabity, and many OF them in full evening
costume.
THE NEW PRESIDENT.
This year the British Association meets under
the presidency OF Professor John Tyndal +. X. S.,
the celebrated natural philosopher, who in ability
is said to be equal to Professor Huxley. Professor
Tyndall, though descended nom an English
family, Is an Irishman. He was born at Leigh
Bridge, in the county OF Carlow, in the year 1920
In 1880 he was employed on the Ordnance Survey
at Leighlin Bridge. Alter that he did some engi-
neering on railways In 1s47 he was teacher for
about year at Queenswood college, in Hamp
shire, and there became acquainted with Ed
ward Frankland, the philosopher who was
! associated with Tyndan at the Royal Institution
Tyndall. in the course OF his studies, formed last
ing friendships with German professors and SCI
! entists. He became the friend OF Faraday. on
his way to the meeting OF the British Association
at Ipswich he first met Huxley, and the two have
ever since regarded each other as brothers. In
1858 the Royal Institution raised Tyndal to the
chair OF physics The year preceding he became
Fellow Of the Royal Society His works on
philosophical subjects are numerous. He has dis
covered cotton wool as q means of preventing
| injection, and firemen, when they are engaged in
the perilous duty Of entering and trying to save
burning houses, must eel grateful TO him Tor hav-
ing invented the smoke respirator.
| PROMINENT PERSONS PRESENT.
Among the other learned men who are to take
part In the meetings are Professor huxley, Sir
John Lubbock, M. p, DR.. Alexander W. Williamson,
of University College, London; Dr.. W. D. Carpenter
(whO delivered the opening address OF the Associ-
alton at Brghton), Sir Bartle Frere, Lord OHagan,
ex-Lord Chancellor OF Ireland; Professor JelIett,
Fellow ofTrnty College. Dublin Professor Edward
Hull, Professor George Gabriel Stokes, Dr.. Joseph
Dalton Hooker, DR.. Crum Brown, Professor Archi-
bald Geikie, Mr.. William Donnely, Sir William
Wilde, Professor Purser, Of Queens College, Bci-
fast; Dr. Henry, President, and DR.. Andrews, Vice
President, OF Queens College, Belfast; Professors
Fuller. Hodges and Dr.. Redfern.
The platform is higher from the floor than have
ever seen in any public building, and, although
considerably larger, is not half as convenient as
the platform Of the Cooper Institute, in New York.
Tie arrangements for the press were Of the most
imperfect and indifferent character. Many
porters had 10 stand for considerable time before
chairs were supplied to them.
OPENING OF THE SESSION.
The platform was crowded with the friends OF the
association. Professor Tyndall. the principal
speaker of the evening, on making his appearance
was loudly applauded. James Alexander Hender.
son, Mayor OF Belfast, wearing his chain OF ofce,
on coming into the meeting received a round OF
cheers.
Professor Williamson, without being introduced
and amid a deep silence, came forward and, III
brief address, resigned his office OF President OF
the association. He rather humorously observed
tnat his oflcial head, as such President, now
cat or but that this head would be replaced on
the shoulders Of Professor Tyndall. whom he in
troduced as President Of the British Association
SPEECH DY PROFESSOR rYNDALL.
Professor Tyndall was greeted with cheers: He
ectua lace He occupied about two hours IN
the reading OF his address. which enunciated
ner is quick and nervous. During the reading Of
cheers
| honor they had conferred upon him, and the
audience for their cordial reception OF him, and
OF scientific study was received from Mr.. James
Thomson Of the Belfast Academical Institution.
hypothesis that animals are automatic" He
sketched out the rise and progress OF eXac. scien-
aud investigate is Inherent in man. Even at an
early period OF our history these crude beliefs IN
but the embodiment and enlarged conceptions Of
| the imperiectons OF a very imperfect type OF the
race aea 70 ,S satisfy t many men wno sep
arrive at some definite foundations of knowledge.
they became me-. wear5 S Of the the ecssn,ricies % OF the
and nrm footing, freed and relieved from the
caprice Of such snpersensual beings and sought
to place absolute reliance upon law in nature. TO
this Is to be referred the origin OF scientific investi
cation It was the nrss break from the vaguely
! Professor Tyndall briefly explained the theory of
Democrtus, glanced at the notion OF "love and hate
| introduced among the atoms' by Empedocies
traced the influence OF Epicurus, the next domi-
nant figure in the history Of atomic philosophy
developing the Epicurean philosophy. The mental
activity AMI learning OF Greece are then noted but
WHAT stopped the hitherto VICTORIOUS advance ~
why was the scientific intellect compelled, like
miIenniums before 1T could regather the elements
necessary to It's fertility and strengths ?" Many
causes have been suggested; but, practically DR..
Tyndal attributes the check to the passionate In
terest which came to he felt in purely spiritual
the p pronisacy @ S Of OF the age" they ascerned % the
their spiritual wants were also the measure OF
their science" The rein was thus put upon
science, and 1t was not likely to make much prog
ress in the circumstances.
Later on the strife between the Church and civil
government must have done much to stifle inves-
tigation. The influence OF Aristotle in the Middle
| Ages Is then discussed; an interesting comparison
| Is made between him and Goethe, and the activity
| OF the Arabian intellect while the intellect Of
| Christendom was almost dormant is dwelt upon.
But q period OF ''wOrd wearinessu was at hand.
| Christendom grew sick OF the ''school philosophy
! and its verbal wastes" and gradually scientific
investigation revived Copernicus followed
by GlOrdanO Bruno, was In the field
| OF astronomy, but the doctrine OF atoms had
| slumbered during the Middle Ages; 1t slept until
| its revival in the seventeenth century by Pere
Gassandi, who, "without lncurring the censure OF
tue Church or the world" contrived to Outstrip
Mr. Darwin Thus we are led on until come to
| the labors OF Bacon, Descartes Hobbies and
others, until the chemical law OF multiple