Royal Astronomical Society. 257 



nomer — merits of which the Memoirs which have recently 

 reached us, convey the most abundant evidence in both de- 

 partments. 



I have observed that, when taken in all its relations, the 

 discovery of an eighth satellite of Saturn cannot be regarded 

 as quite an insulated fact. Between lapetus and Titan there 

 existed a great gap unfilled, in which (as formerly between 

 Mars and Jupiter) it was not in itself unlikely that some ad- 

 ditional member of the Saturnian system might exist. The 

 extreme minuteness of Hyperion forcibly recals the analo- 

 gous features of the asteroids, and it would be very far from 

 surprising, if a farther application of the same instrumental 

 powers should carry out this analogy in a plurality of such 

 minute attendants. 



Mr Lassell, as you are all well aware, is bound to astro- 

 nomy by no other tie than the enjoyment he receives in its 

 pursuit. But in our estimation of his position as an amateur 

 astronomer, it must not be left out of consideration, that his 

 worldly avocations are such as most men consider of an en- 

 grossing nature, and which entitle them, in their moments of 

 relaxation, as they conceive, to enjoyments of a very different 

 kind from those which call into fresh and energetic exertion 

 all their faculties, intellectual and corporeal. It is no slight 

 and desultory exercise of those faculties which will enable 

 any man to carry into eifect so much thoughtful combination, 

 and to avail himself with so much consecutiveness of their 

 results when produced. And however we may and must ac- 

 knowledge that such a course of action is really calculated to 

 confer a very high degree of enjoyment and happiness, we 

 ought not to feel the less gratefully towards those who, by 

 their personal example, press forward the advent of that 

 higher phase of civilization which some fancy they see not 

 indistinctly dawning around them ; a civilization founded on 

 the general and practical recognition of the superiority of the 

 pleasures of mind over those of sense ; a civilization which 

 may dispense with luxury and splendour, but not with the 

 continual and rapid progress of knowledge in science and ex- 

 cellence in art. 



I think I should hardly be doing full justice to my subject, 



