before the British Association. 313 
_ British Association the most valuable electrical observations have 
been made at Kew, and Mr. Ronalds has continued from year to 
ha 
been published in our Annual Reports. I trust, however, that 
With no common pleasure, that the Government of this coun- 
try has, during the last twenty years, been extending their pat- 
ronage of Science and the Arts. That this change was effect- 
ed by the interference of the British Association, and by the 
_ Writings and personal exertions ‘of its members, could, were it 
necessary, be easily proved... But though men of all shades of 
ae ih : : 
Political feeling have applauded the growing wisdom and liberal- 
and too painfully torn from the affections of his country, whom 
the science of England must ever regard as its warmest friend 
and its greatest benefactor. To him we owe new institutions for 
advanei ienee, | 
and hadProvidence permitted him to follow out, in the serene 
evening of life and in the maturity of his powerful intellect, the 
_ Views which he had cherished amidst the distractions of political 
Strife, he would have rivalled the Colbert of another age, and 
would have completed the systematic organization of Science 
and Literature and Art which has been the pride and the glory of 
another land. ‘These are not the words of idle eulogy, or the ex- 
_ Pressions of a groundless expectation. Sir Robert Peel had en- 
_ tertained the idea of attaching to the Royal Society a number of 
_ active members, who should devote themselves wholly to scien- 
_tifie pursuits ; and I had the satisfaction of communicating to him, 
through a mutual friend, the remarkable fact, that I had found 
_ Stconp Series, Vol. X, No. 30.—Nov., 1850. 40 
ity of the State, and though various individuals are entitled to — 
'’ Share in the applause, yet there is one statesman, alas! too early — 
scienée, and new colleges for extending education e. 
. ‘Sy. 
