247 



adventurous navigator addressing his crew, about to leave the narrow 

 seas and launch out on a great and unexplored ocean, in these 

 animating lines : 



" Fatti non foste a viver come bruti, 

 Ma per seguir virtute e conoscenza." 



The interesting expedition to the Peak of Teneriffe, to which I 

 called your attention on a previous occasion, has now been brought 

 to a conclusion, and we may congratulate Admiral Smyth on the 

 return of his enterprising son in safety, after having performed im- 

 portant services to astronomical and physical science. Great credit 

 is due to Mr. Piazzi Smyth for the perseverance and skill with 

 which he surmounted difficulties. The allusion to this Expedition 

 imposes on me the pleasing duty of commemorating the liberality of 

 Mr. R. Stephenson, M.P., in placing his yacht and her crew at the 

 unreserved disposal of Mr. Piazzi Smyth for some months ; a pro- 

 ceeding which deserves the grateful acknowledgments of all true 

 lovers of science. 



I understand that the value of the meteorological observations 

 made by Mr. Smyth has been much enhanced by the excellence of 

 the instruments supplied to the Expedition by the Board of Trade, 

 after having been tested at that valuable establishment, the Kew 

 Observatory. 



Having had occasion to allude to this Observatory, I am sure you 

 will be glad to hear that your Council have lately had an opportunity 

 of proving, that their desire to uphold useful scientific undertakings 

 is not exhibited alone in the support of establishments organized by 

 themselves, and yielding fruits of which they reap the fame, but 

 that they are willing to extend a helping hand wherever real 

 Science has taken root, and has need of a friend. It had become 

 necessary to light the Kew Observatory with gas, in order to pro- 

 secute conveniently and successfully the important processes there 

 carried on of testing meteorological instruments for the Government 

 and foreign nations, and the photographic registration of physical 

 phenomena. An application was made to Government to defray the 

 cost, estimated at ^250. A long correspondence ensued, which is 

 no bad illustration of the defects of the existing relations between 

 Science and the Executive authorities of the State. The application 

 was declined. Immediately upon receiving notice of this disappoint- 



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