Proceedings of the Royal Society. 305 



us that narrow policy which would contract the minds of indi- 

 viduals, and injure the interests of nations, by cold and exclusive 

 selfishness, which would raise the greatness of one people by 

 lowering the standard of that of another. As in commerce, so in 

 science, no one country can become worthily pre-eminent, except 

 in profiting by the wants, resources, and wealth, of its neighbours. 

 Every new discovery may be considered as a new species of 

 manufacture, awaking novel interest and sagacity, and employing 

 new capital of mind. When Newton," said the president, " de- 

 veloped the system of the universe, and established his own glory 

 and that of his country on imperishable foundations, he might be 

 regarded as giving a boon to the civilized world, for which no ade- 

 quate compensation could ever be made ; yet even in this, the most 

 difficult and sublime field of discovery, Britain has been repaid, if 

 not fully, yet fairly, by the labours of Euler, La Grange, and, above 

 all, La Place, perfecting the theory of the lunar motions and plane- 

 tary perturbations, and affording data of infinite importance in the 

 theory and practice of navigation. Fortunately, science, like the 

 nature to which it belongs, is neither limited by time or space ; it 

 belongs to the world, and is of no country and of no age — the more 

 we know, the more we feel our ignorance — the more we feel how 

 much remains unknown, fyc. ; — and in philosophy, the sentiment 

 of the Macedonian hero can never apply — there are always new 

 worlds to conquer." 



On delivering the medal to Mr. Barlow, the president said, 

 that although he had already been honoured by marks of appro- 

 bation more valuable in a pecuniary point of view, he trusted that 

 none would give him more durable satisfaction ; " for this award," 

 said Sir Humphry, " has, I believe, never been made, except after 

 dispassionate and candid discussion ; never to gratify private 

 feelings, or to call for popular applause. "We trust," continued 

 the president, " both on account of the public good and your own 

 glory, that you will engage in and accomplish many new labours 

 You have not merely had scientific success, but one still more 

 gratifying to your feelings — the idea that you have been useful to 



