Meeting of British Association, 389 



American fellow-labourers in science, whom the distance of our 

 present place of meeting has not daunted in their desire to co- 

 operate with us. This prosperous career of the Association, I 

 believe, is, in some measure, due to the element of common sense 

 which mingles with our purely scientific aims. The Founders and 

 Executive of the Association have sought to harmonize its general 

 course of action with the spirit of the social feelings and arrange- 

 ments and constitution of Great Britain. Accordingly, it has been 

 the custom of the British Association for the Promotion of Science 

 to select, in connexion with its highest office, the names, alternately, 

 of those who are habitually occupied in scientific labours, and of 

 those who combine such pursuits, or an active interest in science, 

 with high social rank and its attendant influence and duties. 

 With pleasure we recall to mind, in the latter category of Presi- 

 dents, the Earl of Harrowby, the Marquis of Northampton, the 

 Duke of Argyll ; and now, our election of this day is ratified by 

 the presence of the highest personage nearest the Sovereign of 

 these realms. We derive from the consent of H. R. H. the Prince 

 Consort to charge himself with the duties of the office the best 

 assurance that the constitution and Acts of our Association have 

 met with the Royal approbation. I need not before this assembly, 

 representing as it does those classes who have always best appre- 

 ciated it, dwell on the benign influence His Royal Highness's co- 

 operative labours, addresses and example on every movement and 

 organization tending to advance the moral and intellectual con- 

 dition of the people of Great Britain. Gentlemen, I thank you 

 most respectfully and sincerely for the confidence you have reposed 

 in me during the past year, and, with a grateful sense of the many 

 advantages which I have derived therefrom, permit me to say, 

 that not among the least do I regard my present honourable 

 relation in having, as my final duty, to resign my office and present 

 chair to H. R. H. the Prince Consort. 



The Royal President then rose and said : — 



The President's Address. 

 Gentlemen of the British Association, — Your kind invitation to 

 me to undertake the office of your President for the ensuing year 

 could not but startle me on its first announcement. The high 

 position which science occupies, the vast number of distinguished 

 men who labour in her sacred cause, and whose achievements, 

 while spreading innumerable benefits, justly attract the admiration 

 of mankind, contrasted strongly in my mind with the conscious- 



