200 Centenary Commemoration, 1799-1899. [June 5, 



fructify. He thought the world was greatly indebted to the Insti- 

 tution for the progress made, but the members of the organisation 

 had always made progress with prudence and intelligence, and with- 

 out rashness. Nowadays, they saw new things introduced which were 

 not always carried out with the judiciousness they would desire ; but 

 their Institution was sound to the core, because it had gone on 

 continuously, without rashness and with all that intelligence which 

 was worthy of such an important Society. They rejoiced to find that 

 their feelings were gradually becoming general throughout the world. 

 There was reciprocity in science, and whilst they were delighted to 

 see the representatives of science of other nations, they, he hoped, 

 were ready at all times to hear and appreciate the endeavours made 

 in this country of those engaged in scientific work. That was one of 

 those principles which should go to regulate the world in the future. 

 He was himself a soldier, and had been for years, and he felt they 

 were greatly indebted as soldiers to that Institution for having intro- 

 duced improvements which made wars, not impossible, but very much 

 less likely than they used to be. At the same time, they were heart 

 and soul loyal to the Crown, and loyal to themselves, and when they 

 had occasiou to show that loyalty they were quite ready as heretofore, 

 as sailors and soldiers, to do their duty. Scientists had made war 

 much less likely and much less possible, but he sincerely hoped that 

 every endeavour made at the Hague Conference to modify the miseries 

 of war by judicious and prudent regulations would be crowned with 

 the success that it deserved. The progress of the world was extremely 

 indebted to a large number of the eminent and great scientific men 

 who surrounded him that evening, and he was sure they would all 

 join in a hearty welcome to the present Duke of Northumberland, 

 and would diink to the prosperity and the extension of the usefulness 

 of that great body of men known as the Royal Institution. He gave 

 the toast of " the Prosperity of the Royal Institution," and coupled 

 it with the name of the Duke of Northumberland, who had suc- 

 ceeded his distinguished father, the late Duke of Northumberland, 

 as President of the Institution. 



The Duke op Northumberland, in acknowledgment of the toast, 

 said that the appreciation expressed by his Royal Highness of the 

 work of the Institution and the reception of the toast were signal 

 proofs of the esteem in which the work of the Institution was held. 

 It was a great honour that so many eminent representatives of foreign 

 science had honoured with their presence the Centenary of the Insti- 

 tution. It was just one hundred years ago when the Institution 

 entered upon its present premises. A long roll of names had lent 

 lustre to their labours. Davy, Faraday, Young, Tyndall — above all 

 they should remember their founder, Benjamin Thompson, Count 

 Kumford, whom it was easy to criticise, but whose virtues had been 

 productive of great results. The work of the Institution had been in 

 large measure the carrying out of Count Rumford's ideas. It was said 



