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ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT. 

 ISAAC FLETCHER, M.P., F.R.S. 



When I reflect how ably the chair of this Association has 

 been filled on two former occasions by the Lord Bishop, I cannot 

 but express my regret that his mantle has not fallen on a more 

 worthy successor; but the responsibility rests not upon me, but 

 upon those who have elected me President for the current year. 

 I have received a touching letter from your late President, ex- 

 pressing his warm and unabated interest in the Association and 

 its doings, and also his great regret that on the one hand, the 

 duties of his important office at this season of the year, and on the 

 other, the overwhelming sorrow which has so recently overtaken 

 him, render it impossible for him to carry out his intention of 

 being present on this occasion. Every member of the Association 

 will unite with me in an expression of sympathy and condolence 

 with the good Bishop and his family, in the sudden removal from 

 their midst of one so young, so amiable, and so full of promise. 



. Although perhaps I am not in a condition to speak with 

 perfect impartiality, I cannot but think that the Association has 

 done a wise thing in selecting Cockermouth for holding one of its 

 early gatherings. The main object of the Association I take to be 

 to diffiise a love for literature and science throughout the district 

 we represent ; and Cockermouth and its neighbourhood are honour- 

 ably associated with both literature and science. Cockermouth 

 was the birthplace of Wordsworth ; — of Wordsworth I will say 

 nothing, but simply congratulate you on the fact that the immortal 

 bard will form the subject of a lecture to-morrow evening by 

 Professor Knight, who possesses every qualification for such a task. 

 An audience like this need not be reminded that the neighbouring 



