56 Royal Society. 



had been provided for their distribution, as would tend mo.-t effect- 

 ually to promote the advancement of science, and would most 

 certainly accom])lisli the liberal and patriotic views and intentions 

 of their Royal Founders. I further ventured to advert to the close 

 connection which exists between the cultivation of Science and 

 the Arts, and the progress and developement of the great elements 

 of the prosperity and hajjpiness of nations, and to express my 

 earnest hope and prayer that the triumphs of the arts of peace and 

 commerce, which had so signally marked the beginning of Her 

 Majesty's reign, might be continued without intermission to its 

 distant conclusion. 



The Queen having received the Address in the most gracious 

 manner, was pleased to sign her august and royal name in our 

 Charter-Book as Patron of the Royal Society : after which the 

 officers and difi'erent members of the Council were presented by 

 me to Her Majesty, and had the honour of kissing Her Majesty's 

 hand. 



The alterations in the laws for the distribution of the Royal Me- 

 dals, which Her Majesty was graciously pleased to authorize and 

 permit, have been made by a Committee of the Council appointed 

 for that purpose, and have since received the especial sanction 

 and approbation of Her Majesty. They are directed to be given 

 hereafter to such papers, and to such papers only, as have been 

 presented to the Society, or inserted in its Transactions, within 

 three years of the date of the award ; and they are to be awarded 

 to dejiartments of science whose order of succession is defined by a 

 cycle of three years, comprising in the first Astronomy and Physi- 

 ology, in the second Physics and Geology, and in the third Mathe- 

 matics and Chemistry. And it is further added and commanded, 

 that no departure from this order of succession shall be allowed, 

 unless it shall appear that no memoir of sufficient merit to be en- 

 titled to svich an honour shall have been presented to the Society 

 within the period afore-named ; in which case, and in which case 

 only, it shall be competent for the Council, with the approbation 

 of Her Majesty, to award the Medal to one of those branches 

 of science which are comprehended in the cycle of the preceding 

 year. 



I trust, Gentlemen, that these laws for the distribution of the 

 Royal Medals, if strictly adhered to, and judiciously administered, 

 will be found to stimulate the exertions of men of science, by se- 

 curing to their labours, when inserted in our Transactions, that cer- 

 tain and periodical revision which they are naturally so anxious to 

 obtain ; and by signalizing any remarkable investigation, or notable 

 discovery, by the marked and jorompt approbation of those persons 

 in this country who are most likely to be able to judge of its value. 



It Avas partly for the furtherance of the same great object, which 

 was proposed in framing the statutes for the award of the Royal 

 Medals, so as to secure to each branch of science in succession its 

 due amount of notice and encouragement, that the Council have 

 determined to establish permanent Committees of Science. They 



