Turn to your river, the beautiful Clyde, which eighty years ago could be forded at Erskine, while Port Glasgow was as far as ships could then come up—­a striking contrast to what is now to be seen at the Broomielaw, where the largest steamers and ships drawing thirty feet of water are moored in the very heart of the city, discharging produce from all parts of the world.  What has done this but steam—­the energy of man; steam cutting a channel by dredging to admit of ships passing so far up the river:  and this has been to Glasgow a great source of wealth by the promotion of commerce.  Art has been permitted to work out great things for your city, and I trust still greater things are in store.  Take the trade now in full progress on the banks of the Clyde.  The shipbuilding is fast leaving the Thames and finding its way here.  It is a pleasure to hear people say:  “There is a fine ship—­she is Clyde-built.”—­“Who built her?  Was it Napier, or Thomson, or Tod, or M’Gregor, or Randolph & Elder, or Caird, or Denny of Dumbarton, or Cunliff & Dunlop?” Pardon me if I have left out any name, for all are good builders.  Then, again, it may be asked:  “Who engined these ships?”—­“Oh, Clyde engineers, or those who built them.”  I had the pleasure of being this year on board the Trinity yacht “Galatea,” on a cruise when fourteen knots an hour were accomplished; and that yacht is a good specimen of what Clyde shipbuilders can turn out.  She was built by Caird.  I have also had the pleasure of a trip in the “Russia,” one of the finest screw-vessels afloat, built by Thomson; and she has proved herself perhaps the fastest of sea-going steamers.  Does not all this show what science applied to art has done?

Glasgow has also a College of the first order, one that is looked up to as sending men of high standing forth to the world.  Watt worked under its roof as a poor mathematical instrument maker, and although enjoying little of its valuable instruction, he produced the steam-engine—­a lesson as to what those ought to do towards promoting the application of science to art who have the full benefit of a scientific training such as your College affords.

Each day brings forth something new—­the electric telegraph, for instance, by which our thoughts and desires are transmitted to all parts of the world, so to speak, in a moment of time.  When we think that we are within an instant of America, it gives one a feeling of awe, for it shows to what an extent we have been permitted to carry the application of science to art.  A small wire is carried across the great Atlantic, and immediate communication is the result.  The achievements of science were shown to a great extent in the laying of this cable, and perhaps still more in its recovery after it had been broken.  A small cable is lost at the bottom of the ocean, far from the land, and in water about two miles in depth—­a ship goes out, discovers the spot, and then grappling irons are lowered.