208 EARL DE GRETS ADDRESS. [May 28, 1860. 



more to gain from the prosecution of geograpliical science than any 

 other nation ; and the researches of geographers are no less im- 

 portant to our statesmen and onr merchants, than to onr men of 

 science themselves. I feel, therefore, no doubt that our recent 

 prosperity will still be continued and extended, if we bear in mind 

 that, while the spread of science is our first object, it is also our 

 duty to render the knowledge we acquire and store up as available 

 as possible for the general information of our countrymen. I believe 

 that our readiness to do this has added much to the popularity, as I 

 am confident that it has greatly increased the usefulness of the Eoyal 

 Geographical Society. 



Now, gentlemen, it only remains for me in concluding this 

 Address to resign into your hands the honourable post to which 

 you were pleased to call me a year ago. The usual custom would, 

 I believe, under ordinary circumstances have justified me in hoping 

 to be permitted to occupy this chair for another year. But I 

 thought it right some time ago to intimate to the Council that I 

 should feel it my duty to resign the office of President at the termi- 

 nation of the first year. When I was elected last May I had every 

 reason to believe that I should be able to devote ample time to the 

 discharge of the duties of your President, and at least to do my 

 best to serve the Society in the high position in which they had 

 placed me. But, as I am only too keenly conscious, this has not 

 been the case. Having been called very shortly after my election 

 to fill a laborious and important office in the Government, it has 

 been impossible for me to give that attention to the afiairs of the 

 Society, which it would otherwise have been a great pleasure to me 

 to have afi'orded ; and if the Society's interests have not suffered in 

 consequence, it has been due only to the efforts of my colleagues on 

 the Council, who I fear at much personal inconvenience have 

 most considerately and efficiently supplied my place. Under these 

 circumstances I could not hesitate a moment as to the course which 

 I ought to take. I was aware last year when I entered upon this 

 office how little fit I was to fill it ; I knew that I owed the honour 

 of your choice far more to your grateful recollection of your first 

 President than to any personal qualification of my own; but I 

 hoped to be able to prove my gratitude to you by a zealous devotion 

 to the interests and business of the Society. When that became 

 impossible to me, my own inclination would have prompted me to 

 have tendered you my resignation at once ; but, as I understood 

 that such a course would not be convenient to the Society, I have 



