and Neta Museum. 219 



making through this kingdom; you all know how the people are 

 making great strides in the acquisition of knowledge; and it behoves 

 every man to promote the diffusion of knowledge in every way 

 which his humble abilities M'ill permit. Gentlemen, I will not de- 

 tain you any longer. I will only express the great gratification with 

 which I appear before you this day, as the humble instrument for 

 making a proposition 1 know will be so acceptable. It is the first 

 opportunity I have had of showing my respect for my reverend 

 friend; and I hope he will not think that my feelings are the less 

 sincere, because I now so imperfectly express them. 



The Chairman rose, and as soon as he could obtain a hearing from 

 the cessation of the applause with which he was received, he said — I 

 had Undoubtedly the greatest reason, in the morning, to blush at hear- 

 ing the very flattering manner in which I was taken notice of by my 

 friend on my left ; and I have reason now to be overwhelmed by feel- 

 ings it is difficult to express. lam well aware that the compliments ex- 

 pressed are far greater than any exertions of mine can demand ; but 

 lam not the less grateful for thefeeling,kind, and affectionate manner 

 in which my health has been proposed, and in which the meeting re- 

 ceived what my friend has been pleased to say of me; I am not the less 

 delighted to find, that my exertions, whatever they may have been, 

 are satisfactory to this meeting. But it is a maxim of common 

 prudence to remember, " quid valeant humeri, quid ferrerecusent." 

 I am not so much elated by applause, of which I have reason to be 

 proud, as not to know that, although in the infancy of the Institu- 

 tion I may have had it in my power to be of use to it, the case is 

 different when it has arrived to maturity. Very different powers are 

 required to nurse the infant and to govern the man ; and I feel that 

 the time is come, when a person of higher station in the county, 

 and of greater abilities, should be called to occupy the office I now 

 fill. Whilst the Society is in difficulties, however, it will not be- 

 come me to relinquish it; whilst that is the case, you may alwa3fs 

 command my best exertions. And when I relinquish my post 

 (which I shall be happy to do, because I shall leave the Society no 

 longer in want of the assistance I have been able to give it), I shall 

 still retain a vivid recollection of the uniform kindness of its mem- 

 bers, and of those with whom I have been more immediately in the 

 habit of acting ; and to whose exertions 1 feel the Society is more 

 indebted than it is to myself. 



The Chairman proposed the health of the future Chief Magis- 

 trate of this city. The Hon. Edward Petre, — which was received 

 with great applause. 



Mr. Petre in returning thanks, expressed his earnest desire to be 

 a supporter of every scientific institution in the city. 



The Rev. D. 11. Currer proposed the health of Sir George Cay- 

 ley, the President of the York Mechanics' Institute. 



Sir (j. Cayley said, — Mr. I'resident and Gentlemen, I thank you in 

 the name of the Mechanics' Institute, for the honour you have con- 

 ferred ujion us. The Mechanics' Institute is ahumble sister of the 

 same I'umily as the Philosophical Society. Science ami Art stand, 

 2 F 2 with 



