ADDRESS. 



On looking back at the long array of distinguislied Introduc- 

 men who both in this and in the sister conntries have 

 filled the chair of the British Association ; on consider- 

 ing also the increased pains which have been bestowed 

 upon, and the increased importance attaching to, the 

 Presidential Address ; it may well happen when, as on 

 this occasion, your choice has fallen upon one outside 

 the sphere of professional Science, that your nominee 

 should feel unusual diffidence in accepting the post. 

 Two considerations have however in my o\vn case 

 outweighed all reasons for hesitation : First, the uniform 

 kindness which I received at the hands of the Associa- 

 tion throughout the eight years during which I had the 

 honour of holding another office ; and secondly the 

 conviction that the same goodwill which was accorded 

 to your Treasurer would be extended to your 

 President. 



These considerations have led me to arrange my 

 observations imder two heads, viz., I propose first to 

 offer some remarks upon the purposes and prospects 

 of the Association with which, through your suffrages, 

 I have been so long and so agreeably connected ; and 

 secondly to indulge in a few reflections, not indeed 

 upon the details or technical progress, but upon the 

 external aspects and tendencies of the Science which 

 on this occasion I have the honour to represent. The 



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