Address of the President of the British Association. 239 



the same place, a lecture on the subject of new discoveries in 

 Electricity and Magnetism. Saturday morning was occupied in 

 excursions to Swindon, Shotover Hill, and Blenheim — and boat 

 excursions on the Isis to Moreham, where the Archbishop of 

 York had thrown open his grounds to the Association. For 

 those who preferred business, there was a meeting of the General 

 Committee in the morning, at nine ; and meetings afterward in 

 the mathematical and chemical Sections. In the evening there 

 was a conversational soiree at the Taylor buildings. On Sun- 

 day, the Bishop of Oxford preached a Sermon at St. Mary's, 

 which we understand will shortly be printed, at the request of 

 some leading members of the Association ; and in the evening, 

 Prof. Powell held a soiree at his house. On Monday, the pro- 

 ceedings in some of the Sections were enlivened by the presence 

 of Prince Albert, who arrived in the morning, accompanied by the 

 Duke Saxe Weimar : and in the evening, Mr. Strickland deliv- 

 ered at the Radcliffe Library, a conversational lecture on the 

 Dodo, and the Dean of Westminster some Geological Remarks. 

 On Tuesday, after the sectional meetings, there was an evening 

 exhibition of Microscopes at the Radcliffe Library. On Wednes- 

 day morning, the members of the General Committee gave a 

 breakfast in the hall of Christ Church to the foreign visitors of 

 the Association — and several of the Sections met for business. 

 At one o'clock the concluding meetings of the General Com- 

 mittee were held for the purpose of sanctioning the grants which 

 had passed the Committee of Recommendations ; and at three, 

 the concluding general meeting of the Association assembled to 

 Pass the customary votes of thanks." 



On Wednesday afternoon, at three o'clock, the general meeting 

 convened to hear the speech of Sir Roderick Impy Murchison, 

 °n retiring from the chair. " Sir R. H. Inglis then took the 

 c hair, and after a brief pause delivered the following address :— 



THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



"May it please you, Mr. Vice Chancellor, Sir Roderick Murchison, 

 Gentlemen of the British Association :— When I consider the attain- 

 meats of the distinguished person whom I succeed in this chair, 1 might 

 w ell shrink from a position which places me in any degree in compar- 

 l8 °n with him : and when 1 look back on the array of the most »»o*n- 

 °us names in science of this age and nation, some of whom add civil 

 an <* social rank to the eminence which they have acquired by their 

 Phonal labors, and who have in succession been your presidents. I 

 ,e el far more strongly than I can express, the undeserved honor which 

 Was most unexpectedly conferred upon me when the Council desired 

 nominate me to my present position. Though in early years, when 

 J enjoyed more leisure, I took such interest as I could in some branches 

 2 natu ral philosophy and in chemistry,— and though I look back to 



"tose opportunities with the most grateful recollection of their value 





