Proceedings of (he Royal Socie/i/. 503 



liave been conducted with as much care and precision as if he 

 had been possessed of. the coaveniencies and luxuries of a Royal 

 Observatory, and the advantages and repose of the happiest 

 climate and situation. 



Sir Humphry then entered into some historical details 

 respecting the researches connected with the length of the 

 seconds' pendulum in different latitudes, and its application to 

 determine the figure of the earth. The true investigation of 

 the properties of the pendulum as an universal standard of 

 measure was owing he said to the zeal and enlightened views 

 of Mr. Davies Gilbert, who had directed all the scientific 

 talents and resources of the country to the object, by making it 

 a question of national importance in parliament ; the fortunate 

 result had been the invariable pendulum contrived with such a 

 happy spirit of invention, and examined with such unceasing 

 activity and minute accuracy, by Captain Kater. 



" Captain Sabine did not accompany the Arctic expedition 

 now absent, because," said the President, " he conceived that 

 he had effected all that he was capable of performing with the 

 pendulum in northern latitudes, which was the great object of his 

 researches in the two former voyages; but his scientific ardour nad 

 induced him to endeavour to complete his investigations, even 

 to the Line ; and having braved the long night and perpetual 

 winter of the Polar Regions, he was now gone with the same 

 laudable object to expose himself to the burning sun and con- 

 stant summer of the Equator." 



In Captain Sabine's absence, the President delivered the 

 medal to his brother. " In informing him," said Sir Humphry, 

 " of what has taken place this day, you will, I trust, state to 

 him our deep sense of his merits ; his knowledge of this ex- 

 pression of our opinion may, perhaps, animate him during the 

 diflficult enterprise he has undertaken, for he has already shown 

 how highly he values the praise of the Royal Society, which, 

 with the good opinion of his countrymen, has been hitherto 

 the only reward of his labours. Assure him how strongly we 

 feel iiis disinterestedness and genuine love of science, and that 

 our ardent wishes arc expressed for his safe return, and fur the 



