538 WRITINGS OF JOSEPH HENRY. [1878 



I therefore ask leave to renew my request to be allowed to 

 resign the presidency of the Academy, the resignation to take 

 eflFect at the next meeting. I retain the office six months 

 longer in the hope that I may be restored to such a condi- 

 tion of health as to be able to prepare some suggestions which 

 may be of importance for the future of the Academy.* 



CLOSING ADDRESS TO THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIEljfCES.f 



(Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences; vol. i, pp. 132, 133.) 



Read April 19, 1878. 



Gentlemen: I have been much interested in the proceed- 

 ings of the present meeting of the National Academy. Al- 

 though I have been unable to be present, except during a 

 small part of the session, yet I have been made acquainted 

 with everything that has occurred. 



Whatever might have been thought as to the success of 

 the Academy, when first proposed by the late Prof. Louis 

 Agassiz, the present meeting conclusively proves that it has 

 become a power of great efficiency in the promotion of science 

 in this country. To sustain this effect however much cau- 

 tion is required to maintain the purity of its character and 

 the propriety of its decisions. 



For this purpose great care must be exercised in the selec- 

 tion of its members. It must not be forgotten for a moment 

 that the basis of selection is actual scientific labor in the way 

 of original research, (that is in making positive additions to 

 the sum of human knowledge,) connected with unimpeach- 

 able moral character. 



* [Eesponses were made by Messrs. F. A. P. Barnard, and W. B. Kogers, 

 and it was unanimously — 



Resolved, That with every sentiment of sympathy and regard for Professor 

 Henry, the Academy most respectfully declines to entertain any proposition 

 looking to his retirement from the office of President.] 



f [Address by the president of the National Academy of Sciences, at the 

 close of its session in April, 1878 ; read by the home secretary of the Acad- 

 emy.] 



