May 23, 1859.;] CONCLUSION. 345 



,. I must here express my sincere satisfaction, that one of the 

 results to which I have looked with deep interest for many years has 

 been attained since I last addressed you. We have obtained a Royal 

 Charter, which secures to us all those claims upon the State to which 

 our works had already well entitled us ; and, as we are now placed 

 in precisely the same public condition as any of the older scientific 

 Societies of the metropolis, it enables me with truth to take leave of 

 my dear friends, as the really good " Fellows of the Eoyal Geo- 

 graphical Society." The use of my name as your President in this 

 Eoyal Charter will indeed be to me a source of pleasing reflection 

 through life, whilst it will acquaint those who follow us that I 

 have been bound up with your rise and progress. 



Lastly, as the moment has now arrived when, in accordance with 

 our rules, it is my duty to bid you farewell in the capacity of Presi- 

 dent, let me assure you that I should do so with infinite pain, if 

 the act were to be accompanied by any severance of those ties of 

 reciprocal esteem and aff'ection which I am proud to say have 

 united us in close relationship during many years. Believe me, 

 that in whatever post I may be placed, my heart is too firmly fixed 

 in the prosperity of this Society not to strain every nerve to aid 

 its advancement. I shall, indeed, ever look back with the truest 

 satisfaction to the happy days I have passed among you, and shall 

 never cease to be grateful for the warm support you have in- 

 variably afforded me when occupying this chair; thus securing 

 that unanimity and cordiality with which we have all pulled 

 together. 



As our meetings are now so numerously attended, and partake 

 so essentially of a popular character, I deem it most fortunate that 

 at this stage of our progress we have been enabled to secure the 

 services of the Earl of Eipon, the son of our first President, who, 

 inheriting the engaging manners and enlightened purposes of his 

 parent, has already shown, both in the Senate and amid large bodies 

 of his countrymen, that he possesses all the qualities which will 

 enable him to maintain our Society in harmonious action. At the 

 same time I also feel confident, that with his attainments and liberal 

 views, he will essentially promote the higher objects of our 

 science. 



In handing over to his care the interests of a body so dear to me, 

 you must permit me to say, that as every Eoman citizen who had 

 more than once served as Consul was assured that a notice of this 



2 c 2 



