Royal Society. 57 



The attention of our great philosopher was by a natural pro- 

 gress carried on to a consideration of the tides, which ex- 

 hibit phaenomena in apparent direct opposition to their cause ; 

 and which remained utterly incapable of solution till the dis- 

 coveries of Newton disclosed the powers of centrifugal and 

 centripetal forces. La Place, in the investigation of this most 

 interesting, curious, and important problem, has not only taken 

 into account the declinations and parallaxes of both the great 

 luminaries, but also the oscillations of fluids in transmitting 

 motion as connected with their depths. And hence he has 

 been enabled to form a probable conjecture respecting the 

 depths of our great oceans. From investigating the laws of 

 Nature as displayed by the heavenly bodies, La Place de- 

 scended to a subject not less difficult or intricate, — the action 

 of particles on each other in capillary attraction, and in the 

 transmission of sound. And in a separate work he has ex- 

 hausted, by the most ingenious expedients, a subject scarcely 

 less profound than either of the former, — the doctrine of pro- 

 babilities. I do not notice separate memoirs and communi- 

 cations to Societies, most of which are embodied in his subse- 

 quent works. He is said to have contemplated a rigorous 

 mathematical survey of the atomic theory, as developed by 

 definite proportions. But the fate common to humanity has 

 interposed. La Place has lived sufficiently long for his own 

 fame : but no extension of his life would have satisfied the 

 expectation or the demands of science. The time is not ar- 

 rived, nor can I presume to assign to this extraordinary man 

 his rank among those that are no more. Yet, speaking from 

 this place and on this occasion, I will say, that Newton holds, 

 and ever must hold, the highest station in the fane of philo- 

 sophical renown. That to him 



Non viget quicquam simile aut secundum. 



But although the second niche must remain unoccupied, yet 

 one approximating to that of Newton will hereafter become 

 the elevated station of La Place. 



On delivering the Royal Medal for Sir Humphry Davy. 



It is with feelings the most gratifying to myself, that I now 

 approach to the award of a Royal medal to Sir Humphry 

 Davy ; and I esteem it a most fortunate occurrence, that this 

 award should have taken place during the short period of my 

 having to discharge the duties attached to the office of Pre- 

 sident ; having witnessed the whole progress of Sir Hum- 

 phry Davy's advancement in science and in reputation, from 

 his first attempts in his native town, to vary some of Dr. Priest- 



New Series. Vol. 3. No. 13. Jan. 1828. I ley's 



