20 SIR RCBERT S. BALL, LL.D., F.R.S., ON NEW STARS. 
very old friend and former colleague—Sir Robert Ball, for his 
kindness in coming forward on this anniversary of our Institute, 
at great inconvenience to himself; for to-morrow morning he is 
bound to start for Glasgow to attend a function in that city to 
which all eyes are at this present moment turned. Therefore, we 
thank him, not only for the fact of this most remarkable lecture, 
which has carried us into regions of thought and delight beyond 
expression, but we beg to thank him for having put himself to so 
much inconvenience, in order to gratify and instruct us as he has 
done this evening. 
Sir Rosert Batit.—I am much obliged for the very kind way 
in which you have received my address. When I sat down, I was 
only conscious of the things I ought to have said which I left 
unsaid. 
The Rev. Canon GirpLestone, M.A.—I am sure you will allow 
me to propose that the thanks of the meeting be presented to our 
President, who occupies his position, I am sure, to-night with infinite 
pleasure. He has never, I should say, presided at a gathering 
which has had more interest and satisfaction to his own mind, for 
we have been carried in thought into the magnitude of creation. 
We have been brought to a contemplation of many little specks in 
the universe, and of our sun, the centre of oursystem; but we have 
felt too the marvellous gift which is given to maa to read the 
nature of the stars, thanks to the spectrum analysis, so that there 
has been thrown on this sheet the interpretation of this wonderful 
event which has been occupying our minds this evening; and as 
we think of the closing words of the lecturer, I cannot help 
rejoicing in the conviction that the Being who has scattered all 
these material globes through space is one we can call, ‘‘ Our Father 
in Christ’’—that we can still say in the depth of our conviction, 
“In the beginning it was God who created the heavens and the 
earth.” (Applause.) 
I have great pleasure in proposing that the thanks of the 
meeting be presented to our President. 
Dr. THrornitus Prxcurs.—I beg to second the resolution. 
[The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. | 
The Prustpent having acknowledged the vote of thanks, the 
proceedings then terminated. 
