THE LUMINirEROUS ETHER. 101 



scientific eminence of Sir Grabriel Stokes and others who might 

 be named, who have taken a leading part in our proceedings, I 

 think the Society will be able to successfully accomplish its 

 mission. (Applause.) I may mention that his subject was most 

 kindly undertaken by Sir Gabriel Stokes in consequence of the 

 illness of the gentleman who had announced his intention of 

 giving the Address. The President, at very short notice, came 

 to the rescue. (Applause.) I have no doubt that the value 

 and importance of the Address, which has just been given, will 

 be appreciated by all and especially by those who are most 

 competent to understand the subject, and I am sure you will 

 agree with me that the thanks of the members and associates 

 of the Victoria Institute and of all present are justly due to the 

 President for the Address which he has just delivered, and 

 also to those gentlemen who have read papers during the Session. 

 I will therefore ask those who are in favour of the motion to 

 signify the same by holding up their hands. 



The resolution was carried unanimously. 



The President.— I rise partly on my own behalf and partly on 

 behalf of those who have read papers during the Session, to return 

 you thanks for this vote. As regards my own share, I feel deeply 

 the deficiencies in the Address which I have just delivered. I 

 have made allusions to various scientific conclusions, which per- 

 haps, only a minority of those in the room are acquainted with, and 

 that, therefore, much that 1 have said has not been fully intelli- 

 gible to perhaps the majority. Still I hope even those who have 

 not previously attended to the subject, may have gathered some 

 ideas as to the nature of these very curious and interesting investi- 

 gations on which scientific men throughout the world have been 

 engaged. I do not know whether all of those who have read papers 

 during the Session are here present, but I retui'n you thanks on 

 their behalf also. 



The Rev. Canon Girdlbstone, M.A. — Ladies and Gentlemen, I 

 have to remind you that Sir Gabriel Stokes is here in two capacities, 

 as the reader of a paper, and as presiding over this meeting, and I 

 have been asked to propose a vote of thanks to the President for 

 presiding over the meeting. It was very easy for him no doubt 

 to preside over himself, and, I suppose, easy to preside over 

 us, because we were so wrapped in attention, while he took us 

 through infinite space, and told us about finite matter that we 



