1827. ^Ex. 49.] SIR HUMPHRY DAVY. 393 



' Valde miserabilis ' is not an unfrequent expression at 

 this time, commonly accompanied with mention of 

 diminished power of limbs and general feebleness, with 

 pain and numbness. Sometimes he was in despair of 

 recovery and resigned to his fate, at other times 

 indulging in hope, thankful for feeling better, and 

 expressing thanks (and he does it very often) by the 

 use of letters ; as Gr. Gr. D. (Thanks and glory to Grod) ; 

 0. 0. 0. ; or more fully thus, Gr. 0. 0. 0. D. 



On July 1 he wrote to his friend Mr. Davies Gilbert, 

 who was on the council of the Eoyal Society. He says 

 that the expectations of his complete and rapid recovery 

 have not been realised. 



Under these circumstances I feel it would be highly 

 imprudent, and perhaps fatal, for me to return and to at- 

 tempt to perform the official duties of President of the Royal 

 Society ; and as I had no other feeling for that high and 

 honourable situation except the hope of being useful to the 

 society, so I would not keep it a moment without the 

 security of being able to devote myself to the labour and 

 attention it demands. I beg, therefore, you will be so good 

 as to communicate my resignation to the council and to 

 the Society at their first meeting in November, stating the 

 circumstances of my severe and long- continued illness as 

 the cause. At the same time I beg you will express to 

 them how grateful I feel for the high honour they have 

 done me in placing me in the chair for so many successive 

 years. Assure them that I shall always take the same 

 interest in the progress of the grand objects of the Society, 

 and] throughout the whole of my life endeavour to con- 

 tribute to their advancement and to the prosperity of the 

 body. 



