316 Royal Astronomical Society. 
mean density of the earth is the numerical result: but one more 
assurance that a century of patient and truth-loving inquiry will 
not fail of its reward, is the moral result. ‘ 
It generally happens that in the award of our honorary di- 
stinctions, our immediate interest is limited to that which we must 
always take in an extension of our science, whether of principle, of 
process, or of fact; from what country or quarter soever it may 
come. Wealways acknowledge an addition to astronomy as a claim 
upon our gratitude : how particularly then is it incumbent upon us 
in the present instance, when the character of the Society depended 
upon the fulfilment of the pledges under which the means of making 
the experiment were obtained. Had that experiment failed, had it 
shown that Cavendish had deceived himself when he thought of 
obtaining the earth’s mean density by his now established mode, 
there might indeed have been regret, but there would have been no 
shame. In any human undertaking no censure need be justly 
feared, when it can be shown that extreme diligence, unshrinking 
honesty long} deliberation, and the most candid research after, and 
use of, the suggestions and advice of others, have marked its pro- 
gress from the beginning to the end. But when to all this we have 
a right to add suecess—when we can feel that we now present to the 
philosophical world a result on which they may confidently rely, 
knowing that the history of the experiment bears.evidence which 
cannot be mistaken of its intrinsic value—we must consider this 
medal a token of what I may venture to call the personal gratitude 
of the Society towards one of its body who feared neither responsi- 
bility nor toil in its cause. 
When, at some future time, those who are to protit by the labours 
of our day shail, with improved instruments and extended know~ 
ledge, once more repeat the interesting experiment to which these 
remarks refer, they will find in the records of this attempt proofs 
of its honesty which are now hidden from us by those very instru- 
mental deficiencies and theoretical imperfections, the removal of 
which will be the signal to renew the process. And, in like manner 
as we now render due honour to Cavendish, not only for the first 
actual performance of the experiment itself, but because, with com- 
paratively rude apparatus and few trials, he came so near the truth 
of which he was in search, so will they remember to celebrate the 
patience, the integrity and the sagacity of the philosopher who 
made the next step, and who showed them the path of ameliora- 
tion. I cannot better express my strong feeling for the honour 
and welfare of this Society, than by claiming your response to an 
earnest wish and desire that, when that time shall come, our Fellows 
may be among the foremost promoters of the revival of this ex- 
periment, and that they may find among themselves one to whom 
they dare intrust the sole superintendence, and who will justify 
their confidence as well as Mr. Baily has done that of your Council 
on the present occasion. 
