452 Freedom of the City conferred on M. Arago, ^c. 



ceedings of the British Association in this light, the Council 

 had felt^anxious to do all in their power to mark their approba- 

 tion, by conferring the only honour which it was in their power 

 to bestow, upon some of the distinguished members of that body, 

 feeling satisfied, that, in so doing, they were conferring honour 

 on themselves, while they attempted to do so to them. In se- 

 lecting the individuals, they had certainly had much difficulty, 

 from the great number of men of the first-rate talents and ac- 

 quirements who had honoured their city by their presence. 

 His Lordship trusted, however, that the selection which had 

 been made, of the very distinguished President, and the four 

 accomplished Fellows of the Association, Messrs Arago, Moll, 

 Dalton, and Brown, would give universal satisfaction. Men 

 more eminent in their respective branches could not easily be 

 found. He, therefore, would now proceed to place in their 

 hands the extract of the Town Council, conferring upon them 

 the freedom of the Town. The extract was then read by the 

 clerk, and a diploma, as freeman of the city, presented to 

 each by his Lordship. His Lordship presented the diploma to 

 M. Arago as the chief of physical science on the continent of 

 Europe — to Mr Brown, as placed by the universal consent of 

 botanists at the head of botanical science — to Dr Dalton, as 

 founder of the atomic theory — to Professor Moll, as celebrated 

 for his discoveries and writings ; and to Sir Thomas Makdou- 

 gal Brisbane, famed as an astronomical observer and discoverer. 



On its being presented to M. Arago, he craved leave to 

 address the Council, which he did in French. Sir Thomas 

 Brisbane begged leave to act as interpreter, and stated that 

 M. Arago expressed the high sense he entertained of the 

 very great honour now conferred upon him, of being enrolled 

 as a citizen of Edinburgh — a city which had been distinguish- 

 ed by such eminent names as Stewart, Leslie, &c. He now 

 felt as a citizen of Edinburgh, and should any of its sons 

 ever visit Paris, it would be sufficient for them to ask for M. 

 Arago, to receive the utmost attention he could bestow upon 

 them. 



The diplomas granting them the Freedom of the City, ha- 

 ving been all delivered, Sir Thomas Brisbane addressed the 

 Lord Provost, expressing how highly honoured he felt in being 



