xxxviii REPORT — 1844. 



had conferred tlie degree of Doctor of Laws, a step the more remarkable 

 since he belonged to the sect of Quakers. At all the meetings of the British 

 Association he has been present, and has always been surrounded with the re- 

 verence and admiration of all who feel any sympathy with the progress of 

 science. May he long remain among us thus to remind us of the great ad- 

 vance which chemistry owes to him." 



This was written in 1837, the year in which an attack of paralysis se- 

 riously impaired his powers. He last appeared among us at Manchester, 

 where he received the respectful homage of the distinguished foreigners and 

 others who were there assembled. He died on the 27th of July last, in the 

 78th year of his age : his funeral, which was public, was attended by all classes 

 of the inhabitants, who felt justly proud of being the fellow-citizen of so 

 distinguished a man. 



I now proceed to notice some other topics which are connected with the 

 distribution of the funds, and the general conduct of the affairs of the Asso- 

 ciation. 



Like other public bodies, we have had our periods of financial prosperity 

 and decline, and like other bodies, we have sometimes drawn more freely upon 

 our resources than their permanent prospects would altogether justify ; tiie 

 statement which will be read to you by our excellent Treasurer (see ante, 

 p. xii.), will show that during the last year our capital has been reduced : the 

 great number of life subscribers, which at one time rapidly augmented our re- 

 sources, has a natural and necessary tendency to reduce our annual subscrip- 

 tions at every succeeding meeting, and some alterations in the conditions of 

 admission for those inhabitants of the places where we are received, who are not 

 likely to follow the further movements of the Association, have not tended to 

 swell our receipts, though rendered at the time necessary by the great num- 

 bers who crowded inconveniently some of our sectional meetings. 



I regret to find that some currency has been given to the notion, which I 

 believe to be altogether erroneous and unfounded, that a large excess of in- 

 come above our necessary expenditure, which may be devoted to the promo- 

 tion of scientific researches and scientific objects, is essential to the successful 

 working of the business of the Association, and that our movements should 

 therefore be always directed to those places where our coffers are most likely 

 to be filled : it may be quite true that the objects of the Association are most 

 certainly and eflfectually promoted by going to those places which are likely 

 to attract the largest concourse of scientific visitors, and that our financial thus 

 becomes immediately dependent upon our general prosperity; but if under any 

 circumstances these two principles of selection should ever come into collision 

 with each other, there can be no doubt to which of them our preference should 

 be given ; and though I think we should very imperfectly accomplish the de- 

 sign of our institution, if our tour of visits did not comprehend in their turn 

 every important district in the three kingdoms, yet it would be not only un- 

 advisable, but dangerous even to our very existence, if we fixed our standard 

 in any locality which did not present a reasonable prospect of procuring the 

 requisite scientific supplies, and of not sustaining the union as well as vigor- 

 ous action of the body to which we belong. 



There are some great principles which have generally governed the Com- 

 mittee of Recommendations in recommending, and the General Committee in 

 confirming, grants of money for scientific objects, which I hope we shall never 

 lose sight of, — that no part of our funds should ever be applied to defray the 

 personal expenses or to compensate the loss of time or labour of any of our 

 members in making researclies or experiments, even when they are undertaken 



