lioj/al Society. 13] 



which they can appear, whose decision is always for honour, and 

 never for condemnation. 



It is for these reasons, Gentlemen, that I feel myself justified in 

 expressing my opinion that the power possessed by your Council of 

 conferring honorary rewards is a most salutary power, provided it 

 he exercised boldly, impartially and diligently ; and that it may 

 greatly promote the taste for scientific pursuits in this country, by 

 presenting a more immediate prospect than would otherwise ex- 

 ist, of a public and distinguished recognition of any valuable dis- 

 covery, or of the completion of any important and laborious course 

 of investigation. 



I had occasion, Gentlemen, when I had last the honour of address- 

 ing you, to remark that there were many circumstances in the con- 

 stitution of society in England, and perhaps in the form and work- 

 ing of our Government, which were unfavourable to the cultivation 

 of Science as a distinct and, as it were, a Professional employment. 

 Though many of the causes of this evil, if so it may be considered, 

 are too deeply seated to be reached by any legislative enactment, 

 and though its existence may be the result of a system, the ge- 

 neral effects of which are favourable to the interests and happiness 

 of society at large, yet I think it is the duty of a wise Government 

 to neglect no opportunity of promoting, by liberal encouragement, 

 the developement of the intellectual as well as of the physical re- 

 sources of a nation. Without venturing to give an opinion from 

 this Chair, which it would ill become me to do, whether the various 

 Administrators of the Government of this country, for more than a 

 century past, have adequately fulfilled this duty, by animating indivi- 

 duals to the cultivation of Science by all the influence at their com- 

 mand, I rejoice and feel proud at finding myself at full liberty to give 

 free utterance to the language of my feelings when speaking of the 

 Royal Patron of the Royal Society, who has shown himself in this 

 as in every other capacity, the Friend, the Protector, and the Pro- 

 moter of whatever is dignified with the name and character of Sci- 

 ence in this country. The King, Gentlemen, is the Fountain of 

 Honour; and although His Majesty has been graciously pleased to 

 authorize the President and Council of the Royal Society to act as 

 his Official Advisers, in awarding his Royal Medals, he will not on 

 that account regard them as less worthy of being considered as the 

 immediate gifts of his Royal bounty, and as the honourable symbols 

 of his Royal approbation. 



It will be my first duty, Gentlemen, to distribute the Ten Royal 

 Medals which have been already adjudged during the life-time of His 

 late Majesty, to Philosophers who are amongst the most illustrious 

 in this country or in Europe : they form a glorious commencement 

 of a philosophical chivalry, under whose banners the greatest amongst 

 us ini^lit feel proud to be enrolled; and though it may appear pre- 

 sumptuous in me to hope that a constant succession of associates can 

 be found, either at home or abroad, who shall be considered worthy 

 of being ranked with those noble Founders of this Order, yet 1 am 

 confident that the Council of the Iioyal Society will feel an boncmr- 



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