62 Proceediftgs of Philosophical Societies. [Jan, 



To some of the members of the Society, who have not fol- 

 lowed closely the usages of the Council, a question may arise, 

 why, in two successive years,* the cultivators of a science, 

 which, during that time, has been distinguished by no remarka- 

 ble discoveries, should receive the highest honours which this 

 philosophical association has to bestow? 



The progress of science has no annual periods ; and when a 

 medal is to be bestowed every year, not merely important scien- 

 tific facts, but likewise trains of useful labours and researches 

 must be considered, and the zeal, activity, and knowledge of 

 those persons, who, having been contributors to the Transac- 

 tions, must be considered as competitors, are to be taken into 

 the account. 



It has now and then happened that the Royal Society has had 

 the felicity to mark some great and brilliant discovery, such as 

 that of the aberration of light, or the magnetic effects of electri- 

 city, by this token of its respect ; but in general the medal is, 

 of necessity, bestowed for contributions of a more humble cha- 

 racter; to reward those laborious philosophers who have 

 enlightened science by correct observations or experiments ; or 

 those sagacious inquirers, who, by accurate reasonings, or inge- 

 nious views, lay the foundations for new researches, or new 

 theoretical arrangements, or applications of science to the uses 

 of life. If any one department of natural knowledge requires 

 encouragement more than another, it is Astronomy ; for having 

 arrived at a mature state, and presenting few striking objects of 

 discovery, it can only be perfected by the most minute, laborious, 

 and delicate inquiries, which demand great attention, great 

 sacrifice of time, and often of health, since they must frequently 

 be carried on at a period usually devoted to repose. 



Dr. Brinkley has long been known as an enlightened and 

 profound mathematician, and his papers in the Memoirs of the 

 Royal Irish Academy, and some of those in the Philosophical 

 Transactions, contain abundant proofs of his skill in the higher 

 departments of analysis. Whoever, said the President, is in 

 possession of the higher resources of the mathematical sciences, 

 may be considered as gifted with a species of power applicable 

 to every department of physical knowledge. It is, indeed, for 

 this species of knowledge what muscular strength is for the 

 •different branches of human labour. It not only generalizes the 

 results of experiment and observation, but likewise corrects 

 them, and leads to new and more refined methods of investiga- 

 tion. The guide of the mechanical and pneumatical philoso- 

 pher, and the useful assistant of the chemist, it is of still more 

 importance to the astronomer, whose results depend entirely 

 wpon magnitude, time, and motion. 



* The Copley medal was last year given to tbe Astronomer Royal. — Ed. 



