450 Proceedings oftfte British Associaiion. 



ahd over whom the angry tempests of war passed innocuous, a 

 government was taking the best means to facilitate that which 

 ought ever to be their chief aim — peace on earth, and good will 

 among men. He might remark also, that as among individu- 

 als, the older they grew, they became the more sensible that 

 life was too short to be spent in personal quarrels ; so he was 

 happy to say, that the world was now too old, and too experi- 

 enced, for neighbouring states to engage in war with little or no 

 ground of quarrel. A great part of this softening influence was 

 to be attributed to science, which formed a bond of brother- 

 hood between learned men of all countries. It was, therefore, 

 on scientific principles, and on the principles of an enlightened 

 philanthropy, that he cordially seconded the motion of his re- 

 verend friend. 



M. Arago returned thanks in a very energetic speech. 



On the motion of the Rev. Dr Robinson, seconded by Sir 

 Charles Lemon, thanks were voted to the Rev. Wm. Vernon 

 Harcourt for his continued and unremitted exertions as General 

 Secretary. 



The President then addressed the meeting as follows : — 

 Gentlemen, as the humble organ of this great intellectual body, 

 I rise to return thanks for the reception the Association has re- 

 ceived at Edinburgh. I have had the good fortune to attend 

 the whole of the meetings of the Association at York, Oxford, 

 Cambridge, and I am proud to think that Edinburgh has not 

 fallen short, but has far exceeded the most sanguine expecta- 

 tions of any member of the Association, which is most gratifying 

 to myself as a Scotchman ; and the pleasure is enhanced by the 

 honour I have this day received, namely, the Freedom of the City 

 which I now hold in my hands. I therefore, congratulate the 

 Association on its increasing prosperity ; but how can it be other- 

 wise, when so many distinguished individuals are found in our 

 society, and when even the Lord Chancellor attends our meet- 

 ing. The distinguished foreigners who have assisted in our 

 labours, have all expressed their desire to co-operate with the 

 Association in its different objects, and my friend M. Ar- 

 ago, who is a most distingufshed deputy of France, — a Philoso- 

 pher and Astronomer unrivalled on the Continent of Europe, 

 whose name is a host in itself, and whom I have had the happi- 



