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moral philosophy, of geometry, and of the fine arts ; so in these latter 

 times, the course of events, taking another direction, has led the nations 

 of Europe to the investigation of the physical sciences. The Royal 

 Society has been one of the results of this movement ; but being once 

 established it became itself a cause, and has been a most powerful 

 and efficient instrument for the carrying on, and giving a right direc- 

 tion to, the movement in which it had itself originated. It has been 

 the means of bringing those who have the same objects in view into 

 communication with each other; and we all know how the interchange 

 of knowledge and opinions, and the spirit of emulation, tend, at the 

 same time that they increase the energy and activity of the imagina- 

 tion, to correct and mature the judgment. Nor should we overlook 

 the fact, that the institution of the Royal Society has always afforded 

 an honourable distinction for those whose labours have contributed 

 to build up the fabric of human knowledge, a distinction which has 

 this peculiarity, that it can never be obtained through favour or 

 interest, while the selection of candidates for the Fellowship is as 

 carefully and impartially conducted as is the case at present. 



Among the portraits which we see around us is one of the Sove- 

 reign who granted us the charter by which we are incorporated, and 

 who conferred the title of Royal Society on us. Whatever defects 

 posterity may have discovered in the character of King Charles the 

 Second, we are bound to express our obligations to him, not only for 

 the charter which we hold, but for the real interest which he seems 

 to have taken in our Society when it was yet in its infancy, and for 

 the attention which he paid to it during the early period of his reign, 

 at a time when the patronage of the Crown was of so much the greater 

 importance, as there were but few among the public who sympa- 

 thized with the new association in its pursuits, or were capable of 

 estimating the objects for which it was established. Nor did His Ma- 

 jesty merely grant us a charter, but it was one especially suited to the 

 genius and character of the English people. When nearly forty years 

 afterwards the Academic des Sciences was founded by King Louis the 

 Fourteenth, it was placed wholly under the dominion of the Crown. 

 The number of its members was limited : those belonging to one of its 

 sections received pensions from the State ; and when a vacancy oc- 

 curred in any of the sections, it was necessary that the election of the 

 new member should be confirmed by the Crown. Now we must not 



