XXIII. ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE OPENING MEETING 

 OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT 

 OF SCIENCE, HELD IN DUBLIN, AUGUST 26, 1857. 



Report of the British Aisociation for the Advancement of Science, 1857. 



GENTLEMEN OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION, Before I proceed to 

 the task which devolves upon me this evening, in virtue of the 

 position in which your kindness has placed me, suffer me first to 

 thank you for the high honour you have conferred. But, highly 

 as I esteem the distinction, it was not without hesitation fhat I 

 accepted it ; for no one can feel more strongly than I do myself 

 how unfit I am for some of the duties connected with it, or how 

 much more adequately they might have been performed by others. 

 But I knew, at the same time, that it has been the desire of your 

 Council, when practicable, to select your President from among 

 those local Members who had served in the ranks of the Associa- 

 tion, and had shared in its labours : and with such knowledge, 

 and the consciousness that I had, at least, that humble claim, I 

 felt that I had no right to dispute your choice. 



I do not know whether I may venture to interpret further 

 your motives, and to assign another reason for your selection. 

 Two-and-twenty years have elapsed since you visited this City. 

 Upon that occasion my nearest relative presided, and I myself had 

 the honour of serving as one of your local Secretaries. Many 

 concurring circumstances contributed to make that Meeting an 

 agreeable one ; and if your Council lias thought fit, on this occa- 

 sion, to associate the present with the memories of the past, the 

 motive is, at least, a pardonable one. 



