privilege to be admitted to his personal intimacy. I believe that scientific research has succeeded in establishing on a physiological basis certain evidences of intelligence even among oysters; and certainly there is, I think, one form of intelligence which is conspicuously displayed by the oyster which might, perhaps, be cultivated with advantage by after-dinner speakers in my position. The oyster knows when to shut up. Admonished by that very interesting and suggestive fact in natural history, what little else I have to say upon behalf of literature, I shall confine to the expression of a hope that the well-deserved relaxation from his more systematic scientific labors in connection with the Royal Institution may enable my valued and honored friend Professor Tyndall to enjoy an increased leisure for the continued cultivation of that department of literature which has already been so richly adorned by his admirable writings."
Sir Lyon Playfair, M. P., proposed the next toast, "The Public Services in Relation to Science." He said that undoubtedly the public services were intimately connected with science, and were profoundly affected by its progress, but, unfortunately, the truth was only beginning to be recognized in this country. In the United States scientific men were attached to all public offices, but in this country the attachment was of the loosest possible character. Nevertheless, science had undoubtedly affected our public services in the most profound way. The telegraph had altered the whole system of commerce, and also the methods and the powers of government. There was to be a great naval review next month; it would be interesting to imagine Elizabeth's thirty small ships, which conquered the Armada, sailing through two miles of modern ironclads. The largest piece of ordnance used in the Crimean War cost less than a single shot fired from the huge guns of our ironclads. But it was in peace rather than in war that science rejoiced in aiding government. A strong feeling was arising that we must improve our intellectual position as a nation, and this, at last, was being recognized by the Government. A material index of progressive civilization had always been desired. Liebig contended that the best index of civilization was the quantity of soap consumed. When the Queen ascended the throne we consumed per head 734 pounds of soap, and now we use 10 pounds per head. The consumption of paper was a more reliable index. At the commencement of the Queen's reign the consumption was 114 pound of paper yearly; now it was 12 pounds, while in the United States it was 10 pounds, in Germany 9 pounds, in France 8 pounds, and in Italy 4 pounds. But the main question was whether we were developing the national intellect at the same rate as other nations. Our general intelligence is still high, but our trained scientific intelligence is low. Our secondary education in all matters relating to science was far behind that of the United States, Germany, and France. Neither
