PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING. XI 



end, as among the steps towards some lofty generalization. 

 And with a most happy prescience of the points to which the 

 rays of scattered observations were converging, he has more 

 than once seen light while to other eyes all was yet in darkness ; 

 out of seeming confusion has elicited order ; and has thus 

 reached the high distinction of being one of the greatest legis- 

 lators of chemical science. 



" It is my delightful privilege this day to announce (on the 

 authority of a Minister of the Crown who sits near me,*) that 

 His Majesty, King William the Fourth, wishing to manifest 

 his attachment to science, and his regard for a character like 

 that of Dr. Dalton, has graciously conferred on him, out of 

 the funds of the Civil List, a substantial mark of his royal 

 favour." 



The Rev. William Whevv^ell, being called upon by the 

 President, delivered the following address : — 



" The British Association for the Advancement of Science 

 meets at present under different circumstances from those 

 which accompanied its former Meetings. The publication of 

 the volume containing the Reports applied for by the Meeting 

 at York, in 1831, and read before the Meeting at Oxford last 

 year, must affect its proceedings during our sittings on the 

 present occasion ; and thus we are now to look for the operation 

 of one part of the machinery which its founders have endea- 

 voured to put in action. Entertaining the views which sug- 

 gested to them the scheine and plan of the Association, they 

 must needs hope that such an event as this publication will 

 exercise a beneficial influence upon its future career. 



" This hope is derived, they trust, from no visionary or 

 presumptuous notions of what institutions and associations can 

 effect. Let none suppose that we ascribe to assembled num- 

 bers and conjoined labours extravagant powers and privileges 

 in the promotion of science ; — that we believe in the omnipo- 

 tence of a parliament of the scientific world. We know that 

 the progress of discovery can no more be suddenly accelerated 

 by a word of command uttered by a multitude, than by a 

 single voice. There is, as was long ago said, no royal road to 

 knowledge — no possibility of shortening the way, because he 

 who wishes to travel along it is the most powerful one ; and 

 just as little is there any mode of making it shorter, because 

 they who press forward are many. We must all start from 

 our actual position, and we cannot accelerate our advance by 



* The Right Honourable T. Spring Rice. 

 b2 



